Aquaculture farmers feel foreign competition
Sales of Florida aquaculture producers were down in 2003 from 2001 and state officials suspect the decline is due to the rise in imports, according to the Associated Press.
Florida aquaculture producers had sales of $95.5 million last year compared with $99.5 million in 2001 and $102 million in 1997. State officials said there are 140 fewer aquaculture producers today than two years ago.
Sales decreased for aquatic plants, alligators, shrimp, clams and oysters.
U.S. open-water shrimp fishermen have filed an unfair trade action against six shrimp producing nations, claiming that their extensive aquaculture farming operations allow them to import shrimp at extremely low prices.