Aquaculture Business Resources

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is here to assist Florida farmers as they apply for the permits necessary to engage in aquaculture. This webpage summarizes pertinent information for aquaculture businesses and provides an overview of available resources to enhance Florida's aquaculture industry.

FDACS also serves as ombudsman to investigate complaints and resolve problems that might arise between aquaculture producers and regulatory agencies. Please contact us at (850) 617-7600 if you need these services or have any questions related to aquaculture business operations in Florida.

Overview of Regulations

Aquaculture Certificate of Registration

All commercial aquaculture producers in Florida are required to acquire an Aquaculture Certificate of Registration before beginning any business operations.

Application information is available on our Aquaculture Certificate of Registration webpage or by contacting FDACS at (850) 617-7600 or Aquaculture_Certificates@FDACS.gov.

Best Management Practices

Florida aquaculture has a vested interest in protecting and managing the state’s natural resources. Through the Florida Aquaculture Policy Act, Chapter 597, Florida Statutes, FDACS established Aquaculture Best Management Practices (BMPs) [ 960.9 kB ] to ensure environmental integrity while eliminating cumbersome and often duplicative permitting and licensing requirements.

BMPs represent a mutually beneficial relationship between commercial aquaculture production and natural resource protection. Farm owners and managers adopt specific BMPs that are appropriate to their facility design and production capacity and to the species they produce. All Aquaculture Certificate of Registration holders must abide by the Aquaculture BMPs. Any person failing to meet the BMPs and/or refusing to implement the BMPs must obtain all necessary permits/authorizations from the appropriate regulatory authority, pursuant to Rule 5L-3.007(3), Florida Administrative Code.

For more information, see: Florida Aquaculture Best Management Practices Manual [ 960.9 kB ] .

Federal Guidance and Background

Action Plans

Action plans are put in place by government cooperatives for the enhancement of the natural resource. The following links are relevant to Florida.

Marketing and Business Resources

"Fresh From Florida"

The FDACS Division of Marketing and Development promotes Florida products and facilitates agricultural commerce through a variety of programs and initiatives, including the Florida Agricultural Promotional Campaign, the “Fresh from Florida” Industry Program and the “Fresh from Florida” Logo Incentive Program.

For more information on these resources and how to join, see “Fresh from Florida” Industry Membership.

Additional Marketing and Business Resources

Although each operation may have its own specific operation methods and needs, the following resources may be useful when preparing budgets, considering unexpected expenditures, conducting daily operations and much more. Review these resources as you consider your own operational practices, but remember to refer to Florida’s Aquaculture Best Management Practices [ 960.9 kB ] for allowed practices, technology and equipment.

Aquaculture for Food Bank Information Sheet [ 1.8 MB ]
AgPlan Business Planning from the University of Minnesota
Budgeting for Agricultural Decision Making (See Table 1, 2, 3)
Business & Production Plans for Farmers (Maine Aquaculture Association)
Developing an Aquaculture Business (Texas A&M)
FarmRaise Business Accounting Tools
FishBizPlan (budgeting tool)
Handling, Processing and Marketing of Aquaculture Products (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)
Harvesting and Marketing Cultured Oysters (University of Florida)
Maps and Modeling Tool Kit (National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science)
National Aquaculture Association Supplier Directory
Small-Scale Marketing of Aquaculture Products (Texas A&M)
The Fish Site

Optional Occupational Guides

The FDACS Division of Aquaculture BMPs [ 960.9 kB ] are required by statute to be followed in Florida. The FDACS BMPs supersede all other guides listed in this section. However, these guides may be reviewed for more information or suggestions that may be applicable for operations.

Aquaculture Best Management Practices Manual [ 960.9 kB ] (FDACS)
The East Coast Shellfish Growers Association has compiled a list of suggestions to help farmers and operators be more aware of their surroundings and avoid conflict with neighbors when possible.
Maine SeaGrant has compiled a list of job descriptions and occupational standards [ Adobe PDF Document ] for aquaculturists looking to hire staff.

Associations and Organizations with Aquaculture Resources

Aquaculture Financial Assistance

As a highly diversified and relatively new sector of agriculture in the United States, commercial aquaculture lacks comprehensive financial assistance information. Identifying appropriate assistance programs for your aquaculture business can be a challenge. We aim to assist aquaculturists by providing a repository of financial assistance information specifically applicable to Florida aquaculture businesses.

Disaster Relief

After a Presidential Disaster Declaration is signed, individuals and farms should contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 1-800-621-3362 or visit the FEMA's Disaster Assistance website to apply for assistance and receive a FEMA application number. Once an application is processed, further assistance will be available at Disaster Recovery Centers. Federal, state and local representatives will be available at the centers to assist with recovery.

The following programs may be available to assist your aquaculture business with recovery efforts:

Disaster Unemployment Assistance: Individuals not covered by regular state or private unemployment insurance may be eligible for unemployment benefits that can be provided until an individual is re-employed or up to 26 weeks after the major disaster is declared (whichever is shorter).
Farm Service Agency: The Farm Service Agency offers loans and financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and agricultural operators.
FDACS Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program
Florida Division of Emergency Management
Small Business Administration (SBA): Offers low-interest loans to individuals and businesses for refinancing, repair, rehabilitation or replacement of damaged property (real and personal).

Hurricanes

For more aquaculture-specific information on preparation for and recovery from hurricanes, see our Preparation and Recovery From Hurricanes (Technical Bulletin #2 English) [ 1.1 MB ] Preparation and Recovery From Hurricanes (Technical Bulletin #02 Spanish) [ 2 MB ] .
Florida Mosquito Control Directory
Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Hurricane Season Resources
National Hurricane Center: Follow the weather and prepare for a storm.
NOAA historical hurricane data: Considering wind speeds, directionality and more to better prepare for future storms.

Grants

The following organizations compile funding opportunities or provide assistance with grant procurement.

Insurance

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP): Provides emergency assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish. For more information, see the ELAP 101.
- The ELAP Decision Tool is a resource only and is not an application for benefits or a determination of eligibility. It is intended to help farmers gather the information and documentation to make your ELAP application process easier and more efficient.
Florida Office of Insurance Regulation: Provides assistance and information to resolve insurance claims.
U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Crop and Livestock Insurance: Provides a range of resources to help agricultural businesses identify and acquire appropriate insurance policies.
USDA's Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP): Provides financial assistance to producers of uninsurable crops to protect against natural disasters that result in lower yields or crop losses or prevent crop planting. Eligible aquacultural species are: any species of aquatic organisms grown as food for human consumption, fish raised as feed for fish that are consumed by humans, and ornamental fish propagated and reared in an aquatic medium. Application and program details are available on the USDA's Farm Service Agency website or by contacting your county Farm Service Agency office.

Loans

There are no state or federal loan programs structured specifically to assist aquaculturists. However, programs are available to assist agribusinesses and small businesses through loans or loan guarantees with existing financial institutions.

You may also wish to contact chambers of commerce, regional planning councils and small business development centers (the last are usually associated with community colleges) to find out if there are programs available in your region rather than statewide. Because programs and funding levels change frequently, we are listing sources of information and not program descriptions. For more information about federal loans, see the Farm Loans Overview Fact Sheet [ Adobe PDF Document ].

Farm Credit Associations of Florida
3323 Thomasville Rd
Tallahassee, FL 32308-7953
(850) 656-2920

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
407 S Calhoun St
Tallahassee, FL 32399-6587
1-800-435-7352

National Marine Fisheries Service
Finance Services Branch
Tim Ward or Shawn Barry
263 13th Ave S
St. Petersburg FL 33701
(727) 824-5377

Select Florida
201 Alhambra Cir Ste 610
Coral Gables FL 33134
(305) 808-3660

Small Business Administration North Florida District
7825 Baymeadows Way Ste 100-B
Jacksonville FL 32256-7504
(904) 443-1900

Small Business Administration South Florida District
100 S Biscayne Blvd FL 7
Miami FL 33131-2030
(305) 536-5521
(305) 536-5058 Fax

USDA — Farm Service Agency (FSA)
Florida State FSA Office
PO Box 141030
Gainesville FL 32614-1030
(352) 379-4500

USDA — Rural Development
Rural Business and Cooperative Services
Joe Mueller
PO Box 147010
Gainesville FL 32614-7010
(352) 338-3482 ext. 3441

Tax Exemptions

For a summary of potential sales tax exemptions, see Sales Tax Exemptions for Aquaculture Businesses (English) [ 399 kB ] Sales Tax Exemptions for Aquaculture Businesses (Spanish). [ 472 kB ]

Agricultural "Greenbelt Property Tax Classification

By having their property classified as agricultural for property tax purposes, farmers receive reductions in their property tax bills. To learn more about agricultural property tax classification, contact your property appraiser.

Aquaculture Commodity Fact Sheets, Education and Training Links

We've compiled a list of educational fact sheets and trainings that may help with your operation. The publications offer regulatory guidance specific to the aquatic products you produce, and links to the pertinent forms. Review these resources as you consider your own operational practices, but remember to refer to Florida’s Aquaculture Best Management Practices [ 960.9 kB ] for allowed practices, technology and equipment.

General Information About Aquaculture Production

Aquaculture Production and Technical Assistance [ Adobe PDF Document ]
Ask UF IFAS
Biosecurity at Florida Aquaculture Facilities (English) [ 742.5 kB ]
Biosecurity at Florida Aquaculture Facilities (Spanish) [ 1.6 MB ]
Federal Agency Aquaculture Fact Sheets
Fish Base provides information on various fish species, including biology and scholarly journal articles.
Import/Export Requirements for Aquaculture Products [ 631.7 kB ]
Shellfish Aquaculture Lease Management (Technical Bulletin #05) [ 5.3 MB ]
Southern Regional Aquaculture Center Fact Sheets
Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory
UF/IFAS Aquaculture

Aquatic Plants and Algae

Aquatic Reptiles and Amphibians

Food Fish

Food Fish
Catfish Budget [ Microsoft Excel Document ]
Commercial Aquaponics: Rules and Regulations (English) [ 502.7 kB ]
Commercial Aquaponics: Rules and Regulations (Spanish) [ 795.8 kB ]
Florida Largemouth Bass Aquaculture Fact Sheet [ 838.5 kB ]
Restricted Species Aquaculture: Rules and Regulations (English) [ 454.7 kB ]
Restricted Species Aquaculture: Rules and Regulations (Spanish) [ 628.9 kB ]
SAIL Catalyst

Freshwater Ornamentals and Marine Ornamentals

Marine Shellfish

Workforce Development Opportunities

Aquaculture Data Resources

These resources will help you understand the production and economic trends in aquaculture from the state, national and global perspective.

Aquaculture at a Glance [ 486.3 kB ]
Aquaculture Industry Summary Brochure [ 2.6 MB ]
Florida Aquaculture Industry Overview (2025) [ 476 kB ] (FDACS)
Maps and Modeling Toolkit (National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science)
OECD Data Explorer — Aquaculture Production (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)
State Marine Aquaculture Policies
The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture Report (2024) (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)
USDA Census of Agriculture
USDA Census of Aquaculture
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service Portal