Texas aquaculture producers continue to maintain steady production despite another season of extreme heat, drought and rising operating costs.
The state is home to approximately 130 to 135 aquaculture producers with about 6,200 acres in production. Together, those operations generate more than $120 million in annual farm-gate sales. Texas remains the nation’s leading producer of red drum and hybrid striped bass and ranks among the top five states for catfish and crawfish production.
The industry has seen few major changes during the past year. No significant new farms, species, laws or regulations have been introduced, and overall production has remained near normal. Some producers have added ponds to their facilities, but the expansions have not been large enough to noticeably affect statewide production.
While the industry remains stable, the weather has made maintaining that production increasingly expensive. Many Texas aquaculture operations are located in Southeast and Northeast Texas, where extended periods of high temperatures and limited rainfall have increased evaporation from production ponds.
Some lined ponds can lose as much as 3 inches of water per day during extreme heat. Producers must continually replace that water, raising utility and water-management expenses.
High water temperatures can also reduce dissolved oxygen levels, placing fish and shrimp at greater risk. Producers must closely monitor pond conditions and may need to operate aeration equipment more frequently to maintain healthy oxygen levels.
Evaporation creates another concern by concentrating nutrients in the remaining water. Those conditions can encourage harmful algal blooms, including cyanobacteria. Several producers have reported increased problems with harmful algae, and some ponds have experienced losses.
Even when an algal bloom is detected early, treating the affected water can be costly. If fish are lost, the financial impact can be severe. A single 8-acre pond stocked with hybrid striped bass may contain approximately $600,000 worth of fish, making the loss of one pond a potentially devastating setback.
Texas aquaculture production has remained strong enough to avoid a major decline in overall volume. However, the additional cost of replacing water, operating aeration systems, managing algae and protecting fish continues to reduce producers’ already narrow profit margins.
For consumers, those rising production expenses may eventually result in higher prices for Texas-raised fish and seafood.
