Tag: Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory

Farm but no fowl: How Florida aquaculture is growing the economy

by Megan Winslow
March 12, 2025

Florida’s thriving aquaculture industry is a vital part of the state’s economy, generating more than $165 million in sales annually and supporting jobs across rural and coastal communities. Recognized as agriculture by the Florida Legislature ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Coasts & Marine, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agriculture, Alligators, Amphibians, Aquaculture, Aquatic Plants, Bait Fish, Breed, Caviar, Cedar Key Seafarms, Crustaceans, Economy, Evans Farm, Farmer, Farming, FDACS, Florida Aquaculture Plan, Florida Aquaculture Review Council, Florida Department Of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Food Fish, Heath Davis, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Jane Davis, Matthew DiMaggio, Megan Winslow, Mollusks, Ornamental Fish, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Seafood, SFFGS, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, Turtles, UF, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida

Scientists study breeding of pet fish to help protect reefs, fuel Florida’s economy

by Meredith Bauer
February 25, 2025

Florida’s pet fish industry is booming, but many saltwater species in home aquariums are still taken from the wild. Researchers at UF/IFAS want to change that by helping fish farmers breed popular species like clownfish and blue ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Conservation, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: Indian River Research And Education Center, IRREC, Matt DiMaggio, Ornamental Fish, Ornamental Fish Farming, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory

Behind the scenes: How UF/IFAS risk assessments sustain Florida’s $191M aquaculture industry

by Lourdes Mederos
February 17, 2025

From vibrant tropical fish for aquarium enthusiasts to succulent shellfish served as the center of the plate, Florida’s aquaculture industry serves as an economic powerhouse and a national leader. In 2022, the state’s tropical fish ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Conservation, Invasive Species, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Alligator Farming, Aquatic Environment, Aquatic Invasives, Aquatic Plant Production, BMP, Ecosystem, FDACS, Fish Tanks, Florida Aquaculture, Invasives In Florida, Jeffrey Hill, News, Ornamental Fish Farming, Risk Assessment, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Shellfish Cultivation, Species, Succeulent Shellfish, Sustainability, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, Tropical Fish, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida

New technologies may help oyster farmers increase their harvests, reduce labor

by Brad Buck
August 28, 2024

Florida’s oyster population has declined during the past 15 years because of overharvest, hurricanes, changing environmental conditions and more. In particular, Apalachicola Bay has seen a pronounced reduction. “Oyster farming has been ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine
Tags: Apalachicola Bay, Florida Sea Grant, Gulf Of Mexico, Harvest, Labor, Market, New Technologies, Oyster Farming, Oysters, Roy Yanong, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Technology, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, Water Column

UF scientists find good places to grow long-spined sea urchins, a starting point to restore ‘the lawn mowers of the reefs’

by Brad Buck
September 12, 2023

Scientists call long-spined sea urchins “the lawn mowers of the reefs” because they eat algae that could otherwise smother reef ecosystems and kill corals. That’s why researchers affiliated with the University of Florida Tropical Aquaculture ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Aaron Pilnick, Caribbean, Coral Reefs, Florida Aquarium Conservation Campus, Florida Keys, Florida Sea Grant, Josh Patterson, Juvenile, Larva, Long-spined Sea Urchins, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Sea Urchins, Settlement, Substrate, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory

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

by Brad Buck
March 14, 2023

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

Growing Nemo: UF scientist to lead research into improved clownfish production

by Brad Buck
October 11, 2022

Aquarium enthusiasts love clownfish, best known as the featured species in the movies “Finding Nemo” and “Finding Dory.” Recognizing their popularity – and some of the hurdles the industry currently faces-- a University of Florida ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Aquarium Fish, Clownfish, Finding Dory, Finding Nemo, Grant, Matt DiMaggio, National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration, Nutrition, Production, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory

UF research shows a step toward restoring sea urchins: ‘The lawnmowers of reefs’

by Brad Buck
August 15, 2022

Coral reef ecosystems are severely threatened by pollution, disease, overharvesting and other factors. For thousands of years, long-spined sea urchins helped keep reefs intact. They eat seaweed, which can kill or seriously damage coral. Without ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Coral Reefs, Ecosystem, Fish, Florida Aquarium, Josh Patterson, Long-spined Sea Urchins, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Sea Urchins, Seaweed, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory

UF scientist helps perfect tool to reduce invasive species worldwide

by Brad Buck
May 31, 2022

A University of Florida scientist is working with a global research team to help control plants, animals and fish before they become invasive. To do this, resource managers first need protocols. In addition to preserving natural, native fishing ... READ MORE

Category: Invasive Species
Tags: Aquatic Invasives, Fisheries, Global, Invasive Plants, Invasive Species, Jeff Hill, Protocols, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory

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