Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

What is the process for selling fish in the US? Do you find a processing plant and sell to them or some sort of broker? And do you transport them alive?

Seems like there might be some pretty hefty regulations in that but I don't know anything about it. Can anyone shed some light on it?

Contact your state about an aquaculture license or permit and I'm sure they can tell you some of what is involved in the regulatory side of things. I'm sure it will still be your own problem to find a market for (some one to buy) your product.

I think there are plenty of Texan aquaponic or redclaw operations that didn't really happen because the people involved didn't go through the legal hastle of getting the proper permits and following the "rules" of running a commercial aquaculture facility. Texas might also be a bit stricter than Florida about non native species that could escape and become an ecological problem.

Selling any "processed" fish or fish products will involve substantive investment in coolroom and processing facilities.... and refrigerated transport...

And strict food safety regulations....

Along the coast most commercial fisherman sell to "Buyers at the docks" You get dock prices which is well below wholesale but you only have to ice them long enough to sell. They pack them in ice at the docks. While loading them on to trucks. Many of the docks have Ice houses that make ice and if you sell to them they often supply the ice to their regulars for free. You don't get as much money but you only have to catch them and load the conveyors at the docks and your done. Usually a cash sale. I do not Know about farmed fish, But JDphish probably does being he owns a catfish farm in Mississippi.

Yeah I don't want to process the fish at all. That's why I'm wondering who would buy them. Whoever bought them would have to process them. Unless I just sold them on the docks. Or maybe restaurants would buy them from me? I reckon they buy processed fish too though..

I know companies like Tyson just buy the chickens off of farmers, and we have a big cattle slaughter house here and that's what they do to. Maybe there is a fish processing company that does the same thing?

There are large catfish processors but none that I know for Tilapia. However, a lot of small ethnic grocers do carry live fish and display in live tanks, for their customers. In fact it is preferred because the customers can see how healthy the fish are and of course, there is no question about freshness. This is probably your best bet for no processing but you'll have to look for a market and arrange regular deliveries.