Tag: Craig Watson

Portrait of the director of the Tropical Aquaculture Lab in the lab.

Longtime director of Tropical Aquaculture Lab earns national recognition

by Brad Buck
April 10, 2026

RUSKIN, Fla. --- Craig Watson started his aquaculture career early. At 16, he started working on a tropical fish farm in Miami. Eventually, while attending Florida State University, Watson worked at an aquarium and tropical fish store in Tallahassee. “That ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Craig Watson, Disease Lab, Fish Farms, Joseph P. McCraren Award, National Aquaculture Association, Risk Management, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Species, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, Tropical Fish
Group of five blue tang fish swimming in a dark water environment.

Tropical Aquaculture Lab celebrates 25 years helping fish farmers, aquarium enthusiasts

by Brad Buck
April 10, 2026

RUSKIN, Fla. --- Aquarium hobbyists count on the hard work of tropical fish farmers to supply the species they adore. Think barbs, tetras, angelfish and more. As a UF/IFAS multi-county tropical aquaculture Extension agent nearly 30 years ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: 25th Anniversary, Angelfish, Aquariums, Craig Watson, Diseases, Extension, Fish Veterinarian, Invasive Species, Roy Yanong, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Tetras, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, Tropical Fish Farming
Group of five blue tang fish swimming in a dark water environment.

UF survey: Florida tropical fish farmers bring state $172 million in sales

by Brad Buck
April 2, 2026

Through a first-of-its kind survey, UF/IFAS has shown that tropical fish farmers bring over $172 million in sales to Florida’s economy. The $172 million reflects the sales of fish by members of the Florida Tropical Fish Farmers Association ... READ MORE

Category: Recreation
Tags: Covid19, Craig Watson, Farm-gate Value, Florida Tropical Fish Farmers Association, Hobbies, Imports, Pandemic, Pet Shops, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, Tropical Fish, Tropical Fish Farming, Tropical Fish Sales
A man in a blue polo stands next to illuminated cylindrical containers in a lab.

New director named for UF Tropical Aquaculture Lab, envisions expansion of researchers and outreach

by Brad Buck
March 30, 2026

Aquarium hobbyists rely on the science and outreach conducted by researchers at the University of Florida’s Tropical Aquaculture Lab to supply their favorite species. Those tropical fish come from fish farmers. Now, the tropical fish industry ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Craig Watson, Fish Farmers, Fish Veterinarian, Florida Sea Grant, Matt DiMaggio, Nonnative Species Ecologist, Ornamental Fish, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory

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