FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Here are short answers to what readers ask about AquacultureFarm.org itself: the team, the sources, the money, and the limits. Farming questions get full answers in the guides.
Can’t find yours? Write to contact@aquaculturefarm.org.
The site and its team
Who runs AquacultureFarm.org?
CHT Aquaculture Farming runs it. A team of five splits the research, writing, fact checking, and editing, and the About page lists each person’s role.
Do you run a fish farm?
No. Nobody on the team raises fish or shellfish. Every figure comes from USDA, NOAA, the EPA, the FDA, a Regional Aquaculture Center, or university extension, and each guide says which one.
Why do guides carry an Editorial Team byline?
Because no guide reaches readers without at least two people working on it. One researches and writes it, and another opens every source to check the figures. Putting a single name on it would misstate how it was made.
Who is the site for?
Fish and shellfish farmers in the United States, from people weighing a first pond to established catfish, trout, and oyster farms. Students, teachers, and reporters use the site for sourced figures too.
Where is CHT Aquaculture Farming located?
Bangladesh. The guides serve US readers, though, so the agencies and rules they reference are nearly all American.
Where the facts come from
What sources do you use?
Mostly USDA, NOAA Fisheries, the EPA, the FDA, the five Regional Aquaculture Centers, and land-grant extension services. Our editorial policy ranks them and explains what each is used for.
Why does every figure name a species?
Because species need very different water. University of Tennessee Extension puts rainbow trout water at 50 to 70°F. The Southern Regional Aquaculture Center says tilapia grow best at 82 to 86°F. One number can’t serve both.
Why do you use both mg/L and ppm?
Because farmers and their sources use both for dissolved oxygen and other readings. In fresh water they mean the same thing, so 5 mg/L and 5 ppm are equal.
How current are your statistics?
Farm counts and sales come from the 2023 Census of Aquaculture, which USDA released in December 2024. A newer census triggers an update, with a note on what changed.
Why do some guides give two figures?
Because the sources disagree, usually since each one worked in its own water and climate. Both figures appear, each with its source, rather than an average that nobody published.
Do you make mistakes?
Sometimes, and we fix them in the open. Send editor@aquaculturefarm.org the page link, the figure, your species, and your source. Every fix comes with a note on what changed and the source behind it.
Fish problems and our limits
Can you identify what’s killing my fish?
No. Low oxygen, parasites, and bacterial disease can look alike. Check dissolved oxygen first, since New Mexico State University Extension names low oxygen as the leading cause of fish kills. Then contact a fish health lab or your extension aquaculture specialist.
Why don’t you publish drug doses?
The FDA approves aquaculture drugs, and the label or a veterinarian sets the rate and the withdrawal time. Rates differ by product, species, and water, so a number copied from a guide could harm fish or the people who eat them.
Is a species legal to raise in my state?
We can’t answer that for your state. Rules on species such as tilapia and grass carp differ widely. Your state wildlife, natural resources, or agriculture agency has the current list.
Do you help with permits?
We explain how licenses and discharge permits work and which agency handles each. The agency itself decides what your farm needs, so contact it before you build or stock.
Can you design my pond or system?
No. Design depends on your soil, water supply, and site. Your local USDA NRCS office offers technical help with farm ponds, and an extension specialist can point you to aquaculture engineers.
Can I sell the fish or shellfish I raise?
Often, but rules apply. Many states require an aquaculture license or registration before you sell. Shellfish sales also depend on how the state classifies the waters you harvest from.
Money, gear, and independence
How is the site funded?
By affiliate links on some Gear pages. A purchase through one can earn us a commission without raising your price. The affiliate disclosure covers the details.
Is the gear you mention tested?
No. Gear guides combine manufacturer specifications, extension research on the demands of each job, and patterns in verified buyer reviews. Every point names its source.
Can a company pay to be featured?
No. Coverage and list spots aren’t for sale, and companies never preview a guide.
Why don’t you link to drugs, pond chemicals, or live fish?
Drugs and pond chemicals are governed by labels, veterinary orders, and state rules. Live fish and shellfish can need health certificates and permits to move. We explain these things but don’t sell them.
Why are there no prices?
Retail prices change faster than we could keep a guide current. The retailer’s page always shows today’s price.
Finding your way around
How are the guides grouped?
Into 12 topics: aquaculture basics, farming systems, species, water quality, feeds and nutrition, fish health, hatchery and breeding, harvest and processing, starting a farm, sustainability, industry and data, and gear.
I’m new to fish farming. Where should I start?
Begin with the starting a farm guides, which put market, water, species, and permits in order. Then read up on dissolved oxygen, the reading that matters most on any fish farm.
May I share or republish a guide?
Link to any guide as often as you like. Brief quotes are fine if you credit us and link to the guide. For a full reprint, get written permission first from contact@aquaculturefarm.org.
Do you send a newsletter?
Not at the moment. If that changes, the site will say so, and every issue will have a one-click unsubscribe link.
Reaching us and getting help
Where can I get help in person?
Your county Extension office is the first call. It can connect you with your state’s aquaculture specialist, and the five USDA Regional Aquaculture Centers publish free fact sheets for farmers.
Can I suggest a topic?
Yes. Send your question to editor@aquaculturefarm.org with your species and system. A good number of our guides began as reader questions.
Can I write a guest post?
No. We don’t take guest articles, sponsored content, or paid links. Our own team writes every guide.
What’s the best way to contact you?
Send corrections and source notes to editor@aquaculturefarm.org, and everything else to contact@aquaculturefarm.org. Replies usually arrive within three business days. If fish are dying, call your extension specialist first. Email can wait.
Last reviewed: 10/09/2026
