Are there any government grants for breeding?

[bigdaddyzoom]

Alot of my local fish stores have been going under for various reasons pertaining to the economy. I have talked with the shops that still remain and they complain that they are getting killed on the cost of air frieght from importing. I want to know if there are any grants or programs that will help me set up to breed for these shops in order to stimulate the local economy by keeping them from having to ship from out of state/country. Anyone with information about this would be my hero.

[eocsorymmot]

**BUMPING THREAD***

I am curious on this as well... good question!

[urbanherbalist]

I would ask the Dept. of Agriculture on this one. Or even an Agri. professor at a state college.

[Narwhal72]

Old Thread brought back from the dead.

Many state dept of agriculture have aquaculture divisions that provide information on husbandry practices, navigating regulations, and even developmental grants. But the emphasis is on food fish production and not ornamental aquaculture.

Air freight has always been the highest cost factor in importing fish and has little to do with lfs going under (very few import their fish directly from overseas). The cost of culturing large numbers of ornamental fish in climates outside of the deep south is so much higher than the freight that it does not make sense financially.

Andy