Blog

By Tony Vaught
Butte County aquaculture producer and consultant

I specialize in warm-water fish such as channel catfish, largemouth bass, striped bass, sturgeon and several other sunfish that are used for stocking of recreational ponds. I also consult and help people grow all those fish as well as produce fish myself. A lot of my clients produce food for restaurants and family gatherings. The caviar business is strong during the holiday season. A lot of fish are sold from Asian markets. That clientele is very strong.

Aquaculture producers across California are consistently supplying high-quality seafood and recreational fish. This is especially true during the busy holiday season, as many growers provide products for special occasions and family gatherings.

California’s aquaculture crops and production areas are diverse. Freshwater fish such as tilapia, largemouth bass, channel catfish, sturgeon, trout and steelhead are harvested year-round from Modoc County to Imperial County. Additionally, saltwater shellfish and seaweeds are harvested from farms spanning Humboldt County to San Diego County. Our saltwater aquaculture products include oysters, clams, mussels, abalone and various seaweeds like kelp. California also produces most of the caviar in the U.S. from sturgeon farms. Demand for these products remains strong due to reduced wild catches and increasing global seafood consumption.

Many freshwater farms also play a vital role in conventional agriculture by providing water for other crops or grazing lands, demonstrating aquaculture’s partnership with traditional farming. Similarly, saltwater farms not only produce food but also contribute to enhancement projects that boost recreational fishing and, in the case of oysters, actively clean the water.

The most requested fish this time of year are recreational fish like largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and other fish that help maintain water quality and help the pond stay clean. In some cases, there are fish that are filter feeders such as the Sacramento blackfish. It’s a new fish that we’re growing, and it not only reproduces and provides forage for largemouth bass and other fish, it will also filter the water out.

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