Florida and Georgia are our next two states that are ready for their aquaculture profile. Florida is one of the leaders not only in the South but the whole United States in terms of aquaculture production. Florida is well known for its aquarium trade and food fish aquaculture, and its close location and ease of access to water (salt or fresh) make Florida a prime candidate for aquaculture ventures. Oyster and clam aquaculture have been a staple of the Florida aquaculture industry in the Big Bend area, and there is even an inland salmon farm on the edge of the Everglades!
Catfish and trout farms reign supreme in Georgia, and that comes as no surprise. Georgia is almost completely landlocked and is the base of the Appalachian Mountains, with a warmer, almost tropical climate in the southern portion of the state and a more temperate climate in the northern portion. The North Georgia mountains are known for excellent trout fishing, and state hatcheries have popped up all along the rivers to help increase the stocks of trout for fishermen to enjoy. These hatcheries are leading the way for trout aquaculture research and stock enhancement studies. Georgia is also well known for its sport/gamefish aquaculture industry. Let’s take a look at aquaculture in Florida and Georgia!
Florida
While not the leader in Southern aquaculture, Florida’s diverse landscape and access to salt and freshwater opens the door for a variety of different aquaculture practices throughout the state. Ornamental fish and mollusks (clams and oysters) are the top two producing aquacultured species in Florida, and for Florida’s spotlight we will focus on the ornamental fish and clam industries.
Florida’s ornamental (tropical) fish aquaculture is a dominant economic force, accounting for the largest share of the state’s aquaculture output. In 2023, it generated over $60 million in sales, making Florida the nation’s top pet-fish producer, responsible for about 95 percent of all ornamental fish sold in the U.S., with 90 percent being freshwater species. There are roughly 200 producers cultivating over 800 varieties of freshwater tropical fish, using methods such as earthen ponds, above-ground tanks, and recirculating systems, particularly in Hillsborough, Polk, and Miami-Dade counties. Marine ornamentals are produced at far fewer facilities, about 15 in Florida as of 2023, though they carry higher per-unit value and often rely on advanced recirculating aquaculture systems. These marine ornamental facilities have been instrumental in helping slow down the wild harvest of marine reef fish that has wiped out reefs in Indonesia and other parts of the Pacific.
Blue Tang Juveniles bred at UF Tropical Fish Lab – UF/IFAS
Florida’s clam aquaculture is another key sector. Most production occurs near Cedar Key, which accounts for about 90 percent of the state’s farm-raised clams, generating approximately $32 million in sales in 2023 from 111 growers. Nationwide, Florida ranks second in both the number of clam growers and total sales. The farming process involves hatchery-reared seed, nursery tanks, and deployment of mesh bags on the seafloor for growth before harvest. The industry contributes significantly to regional economies but remains highly vulnerable to hurricanes and storms, which have repeatedly caused disruptive losses and threaten farm infrastructure and livelihoods.
The University of Florida has been a major asset to the shellfish aquaculture industry in Florida, with labs focused on topics ranging from sudden unexplained mortality syndrome (SUMS) to broodstock and larval conditioning. The University of Florida, through UF/IFAS, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, and Florida Sea Grant, provides research, education, risk assessments, and extension services for shellfish, ornamental fish, food-fish, and emerging sectors like seaweed farming, helping ensure sustainable, economically viable growth and environmental stewardship in Florida’s diverse aquaculture industry.
Clam Farming – UF IFAS
Meanwhile, the University of Miami Rosenstiel School helps advance marine aquaculture with its Experimental Hatchery, developing hatchery technologies for species like red snapper, cobia, and mahi-mahi, and conducting nutrition and integrated, sustainable multi-trophic systems research to boost commercial viability and coastal resilience. Florida universities remain a leader in aquaculture innovation and research.
| Florida Aquaculture | ||||||
| Category | 2017 Farms | 2017 Value* | 2023 Farms | 2023 Value* | +/- Farms | +/- Value |
| Catfish | 35 | $459 | 19 | $687 | -16 | $228 |
| Trout | 2 | (D) | 1 | (D) | -1 | (D) |
| Other Food Fish | 101 | $4,254 | 78 | $24,930 | -23 | $20,676 |
| Baitfish | 7 | $336 | 6 | $249 | -1 | -$87 |
| Crustaceans | 34 | $4,732 | 41 | $33,831 | 7 | $29,099 |
| Mollusks | 162 | $17,291 | 247 | $53,348 | 85 | $36,057 |
| Ornamental Fish | 158 | $34,506 | 188 | $62,369 | 30 | $27,863 |
| Sport/Gamefish | 24 | $1,784 | 18 | $1,824 | -6 | $40 |
| Other Aquaculture | 113 | $8,816 | 168 | $13,860 | 55 | $5,044 |
| Total | 636 | $72,178 | 766 | $191,098 | 130 | $118,920 |
*x$1,000
Georgia
Florida’s Northern neighbor, Georgia, also has an identity crisis when it comes to climate. The Southern portion of Georgia is known for its vast pine wood forests and almost tropical environment whereas the area North of Atlanta tends to experience a more temperate climate (meaning they really get to experience the seasons, not just Summer Jr, Summer, and “Winter”). Catfish farming takes the number one spot for production, followed closely by sport/gamefish and trout production. Since we have previously discussed catfish farming, let’s take a closer look at the sport/gamefish industry and restoration/stock enhancement trout aquaculture industry in Georgia.
Georgia’s aquaculture sector is modest in scale but diverse and growing, especially in warmwater sportfish like catfish, bass, panfish, and trophy species. The state’s hatcheries, managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), annually produce around 40 million warmwater fry, fingerlings, and adult fish, including channel catfish, bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass, and striped bass hybrids, primarily for stocking public ponds, small lakes, and reservoir systems to boost recreational fishing opportunities.
Georgia Giant Hybrid Bluegill – Ken’s Hatchery & Fish Farm, Alapaha, Georgia
Georgia’s Wildlife Resources Division within Georgia DNR, in partnership with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, stocks around one million rainbow and brown trout annually, dispersed across roughly 160 streams from late March through mid-September. Starting each spring, and occurring almost weekly, they will release about 50,000 trout into North Georgia rivers and creeks, using four hatcheries and nine transport trucks. This program bolsters angler opportunities throughout the state’s nearly 4,000 miles of trout streams.
Trout Being Loaded For Stocking Georgia Rivers – Georgia DNR
Across the private sector, operations routinely culture multiple finfish species: notably catfish (mostly channel and blue), tilapia, and “panfish” like bluegill, redear sunfish, and crappie, as well as bass species, including largemouth, smallmouth, striped and hybrid striped bass. The “Georgia Giant” is a proprietary hybrid sunfish developed by a South Georgia fishery specialist, specifically a cross between female green sunfish and male coppernose bluegill. These Georgia Giants are known for their rapid growth and can reach massive sizes, and they have been a favorite for pond fishermen all around the United States.
The University of Georgia (UGA) plays a central role in supporting this industry through research, extension, and technology transfer. UGA promotes aquaponics and recirculating systems, helping farmers pivot from traditional crops to diversified aquaculture, including sportfish, catfish, tilapia, freshwater prawns, ornamental fish, and even alligators. The state’s favorable climate, abundant natural resources, and strong agricultural infrastructure underpin its potential for further expansion.
| Georgia Aquaculture | ||||||
| Category | 2017 Farms | 2017 Value* | 2023 Farms | 2023 Value* | +/- Farms | +/- Value |
| Catfish | 47 | $1,975 | 26 | $1,692 | -21 | -$283 |
| Trout | 16 | $1,608 | 10 | $1,145 | -6 | -$463 |
| Other Food Fish | 6 | (D) | 4 | (D) | -2 | (D) |
| Baitfish | 3 | $24 | 3 | (D) | 0 | (D) |
| Crustaceans | 5 | $54 | 2 | (D) | -3 | (D) |
| Mollusks | 4 | (D) | 1 | (D) | -3 | (D) |
| Ornamental Fish | 2 | (D) | 2 | (D) | 0 | (D) |
| Sport/Gamefish | 14 | $3,776 | 11 | $1,245 | -3 | -$2,531 |
| Other Aquaculture | 11 | (D) | 20 | (D) | 9 | (D) |
| Total | 108 | $7,437 | 79 | $4,082 | -29 | -$3,355 |
*x$1,000
Up Next – Louisiana and Mississippi!
References:
https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2022/Full_Report/Census_by_State/Georgia/index.php
https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2022/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_1_State_Level/Florida/flv1.pdf
https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2022/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_1_State_Level/Georgia/gav1.pdf
https://shellfish.ifas.ufl.edu/
- Aquaculture in the Southern United States: Part 3 – Florida and Georgia - September 8, 2025
- Aquaculture in the Southern United States: Part 2 – Alabama & Arkansas - August 25, 2025
- Aquaculture in the Southern United States: Part 1 – Introduction - August 17, 2025