The Hatchery at ACFK


ACFK is a marine finfish hatchery located in the Florida Keys. The property includes a 7 acre saltwater lake shown in the aerial photographs above. The left picure faces east and the right faces west. The central shot shows the facility from a distance, with the Atlantic in the foreground and the Gulf of Mexico behind. In 1999, when the hatchery was first built, the goal was to develop hatchery techniques for species new to US aquaculture. Initial focus was on mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis). The mutton snapper broodstock at ACFK now spawn every month of the year, just after the full moon, without photoperiod or temperature manipulation. The pictures below show the development of a mutton snapper fingerling.


Although ACFK has demonstrated the commercial feasibility of mutton snapper production, our efforts are now focused on cobia (Rachycentron canadum). This is because marine fish farming in the Americas is still in its infancy; fish farms cost a lot to set up and run and farmers presently see more economic sense in stocking their cages with cobia, which grow to 6-7 kg in a year, as opposed to mutton snapper, which reach around 0.5 kg-1.0 kg in the same time. Mutton snapper is not a slow grower, cobia is just very fast. One of ACFK's cobia broodstock is pictured on the left.


ACFK continues to break new ground by contributing to the very limited supply of hatchery reared marine fish fingerlings in the United States. Despite its commercial status, ACFK continues research and development, maintaining its goal to refine the technology required for the consistent production of high quality fingerlings. We continue to adapt, improve, and invent new ways of going about our business in order to determine the best methodologies for first feeding, weaning and grading, in addition to broodstock management, shipping and stocking strategies.