This information may be too little too late for you now, but perhaps since I secured it originally in Feb. 2012 it may still help you out a bit.
If you need a feasibility study to present to your investors, I suggest these sources:
1) Obtain a report from your region's (state's) Department of Agriculture which has researched the seafood marketing niche through one of it's university's fisheries departments. The one that I obtained through Virginia Tech/Virginia State College surveyed 5 Virginia Grocery Stores October 19, 2011.
The 5 Virginia Grocery Stores consisted of (1) Value-priced big box grocery store, (2) Market-standard grocery stores, (1) High-end specialty grocer, and (1) Mid-sized, membership-based natural grocer. The seafood niches were also divided into previously frozen, thawed; frozen products, fresh products, and ready-to-eat products. This survey gives the commercial aquaculture grower a comparison of what products are bringing in the most profit-per-pound There is also a similar survey regarding restaurant preferences.
2) Another source is the 2012 The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture produced by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This outlines the decline of wild fish stocks worldwide and how inland fish farming will need to fill the void.
3) Check out Doug Burdette's website
http://www.growfish.com too. Besides being a DIY Aquaponics company, if you send an email requesting more information he will send you sample spreadsheets covering operating expenses vs. income on both the fish product and the vegetable product in 3 month, 6 month and 1 year timelines. If for no other reason, the spreadsheets will be valuable for long-term feasibility predictions and it only costs you an email
And no, I am not employed by Global Aquatics, USA...just no need in reinventing the wheel here
Good luck, Stuart!
-Pam
Backyard Aquaponics
