From The News Service of Florida:
With alligator and tilapia sales on the rise, the state’s aquaculture industry reported $68.6 million in sales last year, a modest increase from the last time a survey of the industry was conducted in 2005. The survey of 686 aquaculture operations was released Tuesday by the Florida Agricultural Statistics Service and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Sales of ornamental fish and marine life for aquariums and water gardens accounted for $35.5 million, while aquaculture products for human consumption — including clams, oysters, shrimp, prawns, alligators, and turtles — accounted for $24.1 million in sales. The sales of ornamental fish had the biggest decrease between surveys, falling from $33.2 million in 2005 to $27.3 million. Sales involving alligators from 10 registered locations grew from $4 million in 2005 to $8 million last year. Tilapia operations — there were 47 in 2012, up from 18 in 2005 — accounted for $1.2 million in sales, up from $477,000 in 2005.