Workshop Dips into Pros and Cons of Aquaculture

How difficult can it be to grow fish in a pond or tank of water and then sell them for profit? Easy money, right? Well, think again.

Aquaculture is one of the most technically demanding and financially risky forms of agricultural production that exists. Investing in commercial aquaculture in Florida can be financially rewarding, but it can also be financially disastrous.

To learn more about the opportunities and potential pitfalls associated with investing in Florida aquaculture, the Pinellas County Extension Office, the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ Florida Sea Grant will offer an Introduction to Aquaculture Workshop on Wednesday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Weedon Island Preserve in St. Petersburg.

Aquaculture extension specialists from around the state and a representative of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will present current information on the status of aquaculture in Florida, pros and cons of specific business ventures, an overview of state regulations, and a discussion of resources available to support these businesses.

Pre-registration is required and can be accessed at http://aquacultureworkshop.eventbrite.com . A $10 registration fee includes lunch and materials. For more information, email lcarnahan@ufl.edu or call (727) 453-6522.

Weedon Island Preserve protects more than 3,700 acres of natural ecosystems and is located at 1800 Weedon Drive NE in St. Petersburg. The preserve is operated under the Pinellas County Parks and Conservation Resources Department and is open to the public seven days a week, including holidays, from 7 a.m. to 15 minutes before sunset. Its many outdoor activities include walking trails, a fishing pier and a canoe/kayak launch.

To learn more about Weedon Island Preserve and its upcoming programs and events, call (727) 453-6500. To register for programs and events visit www.weedonislandpreserve.org. Videos featuring Weedon Island Preserve can be viewed at www.youtube.com/pcctv1.

Pinellas County Extension offers classes, programs and activities at the Cultural and Natural History Center. The center features the permanent exhibit, Connecting People and Place, an art-inspired, hands-on educational exhibit which reveals the area’s history, ecology and people. The center is open Thursday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is closed all Pinellas County holidays.

Pinellas County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in an event or class, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. At least seven days prior to the event or class, please contact the Office of Human Rights, 400 S. Fort Harrison Ave., Suite 500, Clearwater, FL 33756, (727) 464-4062 (Voice/TDD).

For more information about Pinellas County services and programs, visit www.pinellascounty.org, now with LiveChat, or create a shortcut to www.pinellascounty.org/mobile on any smartphone. Pinellas County government is on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.