About

Eric Cassiano is an Associate Extension Scientist at the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences within the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. His work primarily focuses on ornamental fish aquaculture, providing assistance to Florida’s ornamental fish industry and acting as a bridge between academia and industry. Cassiano's background includes a Master’s degree in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from the University of Florida, earned in 2009, and a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from Hawaii Pacific University, obtained in 2002. His career in aquaculture began in 2003 when he volunteered at Oregon State University’s Molluscan Broodstock Program. He then worked at the University of Florida’s Shellfish Research Program in Cedar Key, FL, where he gained experience in marine recirculating systems, microalgae, and copepods, and studied issues related to first feeding marine fish larvae. After completing his master's degree, he joined the University of Florida’s Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, where he honed his skills in ornamental fish aquaculture through involvement in various projects. His expertise encompasses both freshwater and marine ornamental fish production, and he is dedicated to supporting the industry through research and extension activities.

Research topics

• Ecology
• Biology
• Fishery
• Business
• Agricultural economics
• Geography
• Economics
• Natural resource economics
• Agricultural science
• Finance

Selected publications

• The National Regulatory Cost Burden on US aquaculture farms

  Journal of the World Aquaculture Society · 2025-03-17 · 9 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Many government regulations have improved environmental and social quality of life in the United States, but others have resulted in negative consequences that exceed their benefits to society. This study estimated the total annual cost of regulatory compliance and lost revenue for US aquaculture. The total annual regulatory cost was $196 million (in 2023 USD), which accounted for 9%–30% of total annual costs, one of the top five costs of aquaculture production. Regulatory costs result in disproportionately greater per‐unit costs of production on smaller‐scale farms. Total annual lost revenue was $807 million (36% of total sales value), which resulted from lost sales and thwarted expansion opportunities from regulatory actions that either closed access to existing markets, forced reduced scales of production, or prevented attempts to expand production to meet existing demand for the farm's products. Accounting for multiplier effects, lost economic contributions were $1.4 billion annually, with >8000 jobs lost nationally from farms alone, not including associated supply chain partners. Well‐designed regulations made use of best available science, participatory approaches to rule‐making, sunset clauses for removal of outdated regulations, and market‐based approaches. Pathways identified to improve regulatory efficiency included: (1) sunset clauses for each rule; (2) reward incentives (i.e., reduced testing frequency for farms with records of compliance) (3) standardized fish health testing requirements of sample size, farm‐wide rather than lot testing, testing the most susceptible species/life stages; (4) non‐lethal, multi‐pathogen testing methods; (5) farm compensation for reverse externalities of avian predation; (6) appropriate risk management by experts to manage aquatic invasive species and pathogens; (7) training in aquaculture science, current farm practices, and appropriate, consistent, regulatory actions; (8) engagement with independent experts and producers throughout rule‐making; (9) establishment of transparent appeals processes for farmers; (10) concurrent, not sequential review of permit requests by agencies; (11) long‐term aquaculture literacy programs; and (12) an efficient, streamlined permitting and regulatory framework for mariculture.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Effects of Regulations on the Florida Ornamental Aquaculture Industry Infographic

  EDIS · 2023-06-01

  articleOpen access

  This infographic accompanies "The Effects of Regulation on Ornamental Aquaculture Farms in Florida" (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FA248), an Ask IFAS factsheet that discusses the results of a study conducted to measure the impact of regulations on ornamental aquaculture farms in Florida using on-farm data from 2018. Florida’s diverse ornamental aquaculture industry has many unique challenges that set it apart from other aquaculture commodity groups. The numerous production techniques, diversity of species, and various market outlets make the ornamental aquaculture industry an intriguing study in how regulations impact the industry. By understanding regulatory impacts, we can streamline efforts to address them.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Ornamental Aquatic Plant Production in Florida

  EDIS · 2022-12-13

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Florida has a unique and diverse aquaculture industry consisting of ornamental fish, food fish, shellfish, alligators, aquatic plants, and more. Although some aquatic plants are produced for food or wetland restoration, most aquatic plant production in Florida is for the water garden and aquarium industries. There are over 1000 different species and varieties of ornamental aquatic plants produced in Florida. Since most ornamental aquatic plants are tropical in origin, Florida’s warm climate makes it ideal for growing them year-round. This publication covers ornamental aquatic plant production in Florida including permitting and licensing, production techniques, farm design, pests and diseases, and marketing.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Effects of Regulation on Ornamental Aquaculture Farms in Florida

  EDIS · 2022 · 2 citations

  • Business
  • Fishery
  • Natural resource economics

  Florida’s diverse ornamental aquaculture industry has many unique challenges that set it apart from other aquaculture commodity groups. The numerous production techniques, diversity of species, and various market outlets make the ornamental aquaculture industry an intriguing study in how regulations impact the industry. By understanding those regulatory impacts, we can streamline efforts to address them. A study was conducted to measure the regulatory impact on ornamental aquaculture farms in Florida using on-farm data from 2018. All farms were censused in the state and results covered 82% of the industry with a response rate of 41% of farms. This factsheet discusses the results of that study and the regulatory burden that the ornamental aquaculture industry in Florida endures.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Energy Efficiency for Florida Aquaculture Facilities: Variable Frequency Drives

  EDIS · 2022-10-18

  articleOpen access

  Energy consumption is often a primary contributor to the cost of operation in aquaculture. Even on a moderately sized farm, excessive energy consumption can be a limiting factor in the success of an aquaculture business. Reducing operational costs can increase total profitability. Identifying inefficient energy use and implementing energy-efficient technologies can help reduce the total cost of operation. This publication is one in a series that details techniques and methods for reducing energy consumption to decrease operational costs on aquaculture facilities. In many aquaculture practices, especially finfish culture, water must be moved from one location to another. Pumping water often accounts for a significant portion of a facility’s energy use and operational costs. This publication discusses how variable frequency drives can be used to reduce energy consumption of pumps.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Energy Efficiency for Florida Aquaculture Facilities: Energy Use Audit

  EDIS · 2022-04-08

  articleOpen access

  The energy consumption on aquaculture facilities can account for a large portion of on-farm operational costs. Energy associated with keeping aquatic plants and animals alive contributes to the total cost of operation. Even on a moderately sized farm, excessive energy consumption can be a limiting factor in the success of an aquaculture business. When recirculating aquaculture systems and indoor climate-controlled production methods are used, the cost of energy can be as large as the costs associated with labor and feed. Evaluating energy use on a facility allows for the opportunity to identify areas where energy may be used more efficiently. Increasing energy efficiency can help reduce overall operational costs and increase profitability. This publication is one in a series that details techniques and methods for reducing energy consumption on aquaculture farms. Prior to utilizing any energy saving opportunities, it is essential to understand how energy is used on a facility. This helps determine where changes in energy management and equipment can be most beneficial. This article discusses methods used to help estimate and understand current energy use. Subsequent publications will address specific areas where changes have proven to lower costs and improve efficiency on aquaculture facilities.

  PublisherDOI

• A regulatory cost assessment of ornamental aquaculture farms in Florida

  Journal of the World Aquaculture Society · 2022 · 15 citations

  • Business
  • Agricultural economics
  • Biology

  Abstract The ornamental aquaculture trade is a diverse sector of aquaculture and faces unique challenges that other commodity groups do not have to contend with. The various production techniques, species, and destination markets make ornamental aquaculture an interesting study in how regulations impact the industry. In Florida, aquaculture is primarily regulated under the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, unique from other states. Regulatory costs and the value of lost production on ornamental farms in Florida were estimated to be $5.2 and $23.2 million, respectively. Results from an industry‐wide census have shown that there is a high regulatory burden on ornamental farmers for some regulatory categories. These include issues of legal control of fish‐eating predators, the restriction of drugs and chemicals, which would be beneficial to production, and the prohibition for farmers to raise species that have been restricted for culture at the national and state level. Larger farms were also able to limit the impact from regulations better than smaller farms by spreading their regulatory costs and value of lost production across greater sales. Although the values of lost production were high for ornamental producers, direct regulatory costs were low compared with other aquaculture commodities demonstrating that the industry in Florida may prove a regulatory model for other sectors.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Overview of Commonly Cultured Marine Ornamental Fish

  EDIS · 2020 · 8 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Fishery
  • Geography
  • Biology

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The production of freshwater ornamental fish dominates the ornamental aquaculture industry, yet the small marine ornamentals sector has grown substantially in recent years. This 7-page fact sheet written by Elizabeth M. Groover, Matthew A. DiMaggio, and Eric J. Cassiano and published by the UF/IFAS Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Forest Resources and Conservation briefly reviews the more common groups of marine ornamental fishes cultured in the United States. As we learn more about marine ornamentals and as aquaculture protocols for marine ornamentals develop and improve, it is possible that more species may become economically feasible to produce and more cultured marine fish may begin to supplement wild-caught stocks in the marine aquarium trade.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa224
 
 
 
 
 
 

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Design and Operation of Egg Collectors for Pelagic Spawning Marine Fishes

  EDIS · 2019-03-01 · 6 citations

  articleOpen access

  As aquaculture production techniques streamline, interest in captive breeding for marine fish species increases. The food, ornamental, and bait industries all benefit from expanding the development of aquaculture techniques for desirable marine fish species. A significant limitation in developing aquaculture protocols for marine fish species is an adequate understanding of viable egg production and larval development. The first step in that process is to efficiently collect fertilized embryos, usually referred to as eggs, for examination and further development. This 6-page fact sheet written by Cortney Ohs, John Marcellus, Eric Cassiano, and Jason Broach and published by the UF/IFAS Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences of the School of Forest Resources and Conservation includes directions for construction and operation of two types of pelagic egg collectors: pre-filter and floating airlift. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa211

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Eastern Mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki, for Control of Mosquito Larvae

  EDIS · 2018-05-02 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Using native animal species, particularly fish, to reduce mosquito populations is popular in multiple states including Florida. This 5-page fact sheet written by Eric Jon Cassiano, Jeffrey Hill, Quenton Tuckett, and Craig Watson and published by the Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences within the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources explains how to use eastern mosquitofish to control mosquitoes. It also discusses other native fish species that may reduce mosquito populations. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa202

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Cortney L. Ohs

  University of Florida

  17 shared

• Craig A. Watson

  University of Florida

  9 shared

• Kevin P. Barden

  University of Florida

  8 shared

• Matthew A. DiMaggio

  University of Florida

  8 shared

• Matthew L. Wittenrich

  University of Florida

  6 shared

• Carole R. Engle

  4 shared

• Jonathan van Senten

  Virginia Tech

  4 shared

• Andrew L. Rhyne

  Roger Williams University

  4 shared