Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose selling fish (profit)

I am not sure where this question should be. Moderator please move it if need be.
Has anyone ever tried to raise fish in a cage and sell them to the public? I was think about catfish, since they seem to be the easiest to raise in cage. I am not talking about on a large scale maybe one of two cages. More as a hobby than to make alot of money. Could this be done to make just a little bit of profit? Or do you think it would be more trouble than it would be worth? What I would really like to raise is some fresh water prawns but I am not sure they will live in a cage. I have been told they will eat each other if they are confined. They would be good eating and if any where left over I am sure they would sell easily. Thanx in advance, John

Depending on what state you are in, you may need an aquaculture license to sell fish. To the best of my knowledge, you do in Ohio.

If you sell for consumption, you might run afoul of the FDA.

I have looked into it a little and in texas if you clean the fish it has to be usda inspected,but if you sell em live on the hoof your ok.Call me crazy but I have a 4 foot cube cage and I put 500 cc in it I got from Todd Overton.Theyve been in 5 weeks so far and all is looking pretty good.One of my best friends has been doing this and he sells 2-4lb pond stockers every fall.I started with 2-4" because he was out of 4-6" fingurlings.If all goes well I should harvest 2-4 lblers in oct.
Tom G

Prawns can be grown out in ponds successfully but I doubt cages are a good option for the reasons you stated. You'd need a pond specifically for the grow out of prawns. Here's a link to prawns:

http://aquanic.org/publicat/usda_rac/efs/srac.htm

Freshwater Prawns

# 483 - Freshwater Prawns: Biology and Life History PDF (78k)

# 484 - Freshwater Prawns: Pond Production and Grow-out PDF (114k)

I see no problem in what you advocate with the cats as long as you get the required license or permit if you need to.

Hey, thanx for the replies. I have checked into it alittle and Florida is the same a Texas as far as selling them alive. I have done some extensive reading on the prawns. And my pond is too deep to grow them comercialy. Besides I would have to get rid of all my fish to grow shrimp. I was just trying to think of something I could do on the side that would not mess up my lmb, bg pond. I am a new pond owner doing some day dreaming. Thanks John

LIcense is cheap. I say go for it. There are about 80 listed in GA and I think over half are just for hobby side business not full time.