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Freezes Deal Heavy Blow To Hillsborough's Fish Farms

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 10, 2009

TAMPA - The back-to-back blasts of cold last week hit Hillsborough County's tropical fish farmers hard, costing them more than $1.7 million in dead aquarium fish and snails, according to preliminary reports.

Hillsborough is home to an estimated 80 percent of the nation's tropical fish industry. Miami is the second leading Florida supplier of aquarium fish.

The losses could be larger as more fish farmers report to the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and more of their finned crops succumb to the cold.

Temperatures fell to the high 20s on Thursday and Friday mornings in eastern and southern Hillsborough County, home to most of the farms. At some farms, the freeze wiped out more than half of the brood of tropical fish.

Connor Farms Tropical Fish in Plant City reported an 85 percent loss worth $1.25 million. It was the largest single farm loss reported to the agriculture department from Hillsborough.

Ed Parker Tropical Fish in Apollo Beach reported a 60 percent loss valued at $450,000.

Statewide, the freezes that covered nearly all the peninsula hit aquarium fish farmers for an early estimate of $2.5 million.

There is still no tally for what the freezes, coupled with two freezing mornings in January, did to the state's farmers as reports are still arriving, said Liz Compton, spokeswoman for the agriculture department.

Sod farms across South Florida were hit by freezes in January that killed the top growth of grass, making it impossible to sell the sod until it recovers. Last week's freezes may delay that recovery.

The fallout from both braces of freezes could stretch into the spring. Farmers report that fruit crops, except for citrus, are showing effects on flowering and fruit production that could reduce yields.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731 or njohnson@tampatrib.com.

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