The tropical fish segment, as in earlier surveys, continued to dominate Floridas aquaculture industry. There were 203 active growers, accounting for $57.2 million in sales, or 56 percent of the 1997 total.

Aquatic plants, with 59 growers and $13.2 million in gross sales, placed second in value. Sales of other aquatics such as crawfish, fresh water shrimp and eels jumped to $12.1 million, up from $4.15 million in 1995.

Clam production zoomed to $12.7 million, up 135 percent from $5.41 in 1995.

Alligator growers recorded gross income of $4.5 million in sales of both hides and meat. The 26 active growers sold 19,560 hides for an average price of $122 per hide.

Producers also sold 112,822 pounds of meat, about 5.8 pounds per gator, at an average price of $7.02 per pound.

Sales in tilapia fish reached $1.06 million, and sales from sport/game fish totaled $1.04 million. All other aquatic sales totaled $5.58 million from 13 growers.

• Aquaculture Producers, Areas and Value
• Leading Aquaculture Products and Value
• Florida Aquaculture

Leading Aquaculture Products and Value

Source: Florida Agricultural Statistics Service