About

Matthew DiMaggio is an Associate Professor at the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences at the University of Florida, within the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. He joined the university in 2014 as an assistant professor at the Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory in Ruskin. His research program focuses on the culture of ornamental fish species in Florida, working closely with the local industry to identify opportunities for optimization and innovation. Dr. DiMaggio has a broad foundation in aquaculture, having conducted research with both marine and freshwater species produced for food, bait, and ornamental purposes. His investigations have included live feed production, larval rearing, and induced spawning. Additionally, he studies physiological responses such as reproductive endocrinology, stress physiology, and osmoregulation, which are important for the successful propagation of fishes in captivity.

Research topics

• Biology
• Ecology
• Fishery
• Zoology
• Economics
• Agricultural economics
• Genetics
• Natural resource economics
• Business
• Endocrinology
• Biochemistry
• Evolutionary biology
• Geography
• Agricultural science
• Finance
• Animal science

Selected publications

• Disinfection Strategies for Euplotes spp. Control in Marine Copepod Cultures

  Fishes · 2026-02-02

  articleOpen access

  Marine copepods are an essential live feed for the culture of many marine ornamental fish and other finfish species, yet their production is frequently constrained by contamination from free-living ciliates. To address this challenge, the efficacy of three disinfectants (sodium hypochlorite, iodine, and hydrogen peroxide) was evaluated for ciliate removal in cultures of two copepod species, Parvocalanus crassirostris and Oithona colcarva. Appropriate ranges of disinfectant concentrations and exposure durations were identified through a preliminary trial assessing the toxicity to Euplotes spp. over a 5-min period. Subsequent experiments tested three doses of each disinfectant to quantify ciliate removal success and egg hatch rates for each copepod species. Ciliate presence/absence showed no variation (100% in controls, 0% after disinfection), precluding statistical analysis except for one variable iodine trial, which was analyzed using Fisher’s Exact Test. Hatch and recovery rates were analyzed using binomial GLMMs with treatment as a fixed effect and replicate as a random effect, with Tukey-adjusted pairwise comparisons and α = 0.05. Sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide consistently removed all ciliates across tested concentrations, whereas iodine only achieved complete removal at the highest dose. The effects on hatch rate differed between species, with hydrogen peroxide producing the highest hatch rates in P. crassirostris (approximately 44 to 46% at 50–100 g/L for one minute) and sodium hypochlorite supporting the highest hatch in O. colcarva (up to 92% at 250 mg/L for one minute). These findings demonstrate that disinfectant performance is species-specific and that species-specific disinfection protocols are warranted to improve the reliability of copepod production in marine aquaculture.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• First evaluation of commercially available diets fed to juvenile Hogfish

  North American Journal of Aquaculture · 2026-05-14

  articleSenior author

  ABSTRACT Objective The Hogfish Lachnolaimus maximus is a species that is new to aquaculture. They are naturally found on the western side of the Atlantic ocean, mostly in tropical waters. Fishing pressure has led to population declines across most of their range in North America. The development and refinement of aquaculture protocols for early juvenile grow-out of Hogfish would lead to a better understanding of the feasibility of commercial production and stock enhancement. Methods Two dietetics experiments were conducted to evaluate the commercially available dry diets (brands: Otohime and Purina AquaMax) and associated feeding rates for juvenile Hogfish to determine a feeding regime for early grow-out of this new aquaculture species. The mean Hogfish starting weights for two grow-out experiments were 0.28 ± 0.13 g (mean ± standard deviation) and 1.31 ± 0.88 g, respectively. The first experiment compared two commercially available diets that were fed at 6% body weight (BW)/d. A second experiment evaluated a single diet at feeding rates of 6% and 10% BW/d using the best performing diet from the first experiment. Results In the first experiment, significantly different values for final total length (4.41 ± 0.92 cm vs. 4.05 ± 0.77 cm [mean ± standard deviation]) were observed between the diets. Weights increased from 0.28 ± 0.13 g to 1.52 ± 1.06 g versus 1.13 ± 0.64 g but did not differ significantly between the diets. Survival between the fish that were fed with the two diets did not differ significantly at 68.5 ± 12.1% versus 56.0 ± 21.8%. In the second experiment, there were no significant differences in mean total length or weight and the fish grew from 1.31 ± 0.88 g to 5.70 ± 4.21 g. The survival rate of the fish that were fed 6% or 10% BW/d was identical (87.5%), indicating that a ration of 6% BW/d was sufficient. Conclusions Hogfish were able to be reared on commercially available diets from starting weights that were less than 0.5 g to final weights that were greater than 5 g, with survival rates that are promising for intensive production. This is the first published research evaluating feeding commercially available diets to early juvenile Hogfish.

  PublisherDOI

• The National Regulatory Cost Burden on US aquaculture farms

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

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  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

• Evaluation of calcein marking protocols for Hogfish

  North American Journal of Fisheries Management · 2025-07-08

  articleSenior author

  ABSTRACT Objective Hogfish Lachnolaimus maximus, popular as a sport and food fish, have historically experienced overfishing throughout portions of their range, prompting management agencies to seek interventions to support disrupted populations. Aquaculture and subsequent stock enhancement potentially support intervention efforts, but evaluations of stocking success first require effective assessment tools (e.g., mark–recapture experiments). Various marking methods are available, but their utility may be limited by cost, labor, and species-specific methodologies. Calcein is an efficient, nonlethal, fluorescent chemical marker that potentially addresses problems commonly associated with more traditional marking methods. Standard calcein marking practices use osmotic induction; however, protocols, marking efficacy, and retention may be specific to species and environment. Methods First, a trial was completed to determine the most efficient salinity pretreatment for the osmotic induction of calcein. A second trial determined the calcein concentration that resulted in the brightest mark. Two subsequent trials examined the effects of time and lighting scenarios on calcein mark retention. Results Osmotic induction experiments showed positive correlations between mark brightness, calcein concentration, and salinity pretreatment. Retention experiments suggested vulnerability of marks, with rapid degradation of mark brightness over 3 to 8 weeks. Conclusions These results, along with calcein’s current regulatory status, cast doubt on the viability of calcein as an external mark for stock assessment studies in Hogfish, although more research is needed to assess its viability in natural settings. The results from this research will help guide future aquaculture and stock enhancement efforts for Hogfish and add to the growing body of literature for this valuable marine species.

  PublisherDOI

• Refining larval feeding regimes for the x-ray tetra (Pristella maxillaris) to minimize reliance on live feeds

  Aquaculture · 2025-01-27 · 4 citations

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Evaluating larviculture protocols for the melanurus wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus)

  Aquaculture International · 2025-02-04 · 3 citations

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Investigating Alternative Larval Feeding Strategies for Cherry Barb (Puntius titteya) Using Feed Attractants and Liquid Artemia Replacement Diets

  Fishes · 2025-10-23 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  The cherry barb (Puntius titteya) is a staple of the ornamental aquaculture industry, with an estimated 60,000 individuals produced monthly in Florida, USA. On a commercial scale, small improvements in efficiency may yield considerable economic and operational benefits. This study investigated first-feeding protocols aimed at reducing the use of live Artemia spp. nauplii by evaluating microdiets (MDs) top-dressed with feed attractants and commercial liquid Artemia replacements (LAs). Larvae were fed MDs top-dressed with 0.25%, 0.50%, or 1.0% of L-alanine, betaine, or L-tryptophan for seven days. Diets with L-alanine and L-tryptophan significantly increased survival compared to the reference diet. A 21-day trial that tested three feed attractants combined into a single diet at previously determined inclusion levels (L-alanine, 0.5%; betaine, 0.25%; and L-tryptophan, 0.25%) showed no additive or synergistic survival benefits. No differences were observed for RNA/DNA ratios at 15 days post-hatch, suggesting no effect on larval quality. Additional experiments were conducted comparing the performance of two commercial LA diets (EZ Artemia Ultra [Zeigler Bros., Inc., Gardners, PA, USA] and LiquaLife® [Cargill Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA]) against live Artemia. Partial Artemia replacement with EZ Artemia Ultra maintained comparable survival to larvae fed only Artemia. Larval growth was significantly reduced in 100% LA groups, suggesting limitations in nutrition or digestibility. These findings demonstrate that targeted use of feed attractants can enhance early rearing outcomes in P. titteya aquaculture, facilitating the goal of reducing Artemia use and increasing production efficiency and hatchery output.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Characterizing Hogfish salinity tolerance for the development of low-salinity culture protocols

  North American Journal of Aquaculture · 2025-04-01 · 1 citations

  articleSenior author

  ABSTRACT Objective The Hogfish Lachnolaimus maximus is a popular sport and food fish and has historically experienced overfishing in parts of its range. Hogfish are a new candidate for aquaculture, and culture techniques are in the early stages of development. Understanding the osmoregulatory capacity of aquaculture species is important, as salinity can influence metabolic rates, which can impact somatic growth and production efficiency. Low-salinity culture could lower production costs by reducing the need for artificial salt water and may enhance somatic growth by reducing metabolic energy for osmoregulation. Methods Four experiments were conducted to examine the osmoregulatory capacity of cultured Hogfish across various salinity regimes. Experiment 1 assessed fish survival after an acute transfer to six salinity levels from 0 to 32 g/L. Experiment 2 evaluated the physiological response of Hogfish to reduced salinity in a 96-h challenge at 8 and 16 g/L. The physiological effects of gradual salinity change from 32 to 12 g/L were determined in experiment 3. Lastly, experiment 4 assessed growth over 65 d at a salinity of 16 g/L. Results After acute transfer to lower salinity treatments, Hogfish survived at salinities of at least 8 g/L for 96 h; however, plasma chloride, plasma osmolality, and muscle water content were significantly altered at 8 g/L, and mortalities were noted during long-term retention at 8 g/L. Gradual transfer from 34 to 12 g/L yielded no significant physiological alterations compared with acute transfer to the same salinity for the physiological parameters measured. Growth indices for Hogfish cultured in 16 and 32 g/L were similar, though variance in metrics suggests a need for further exploration. Conclusions Hogfish should be tolerant of rapid transfer to salinities as low as 12 g/L, and growth may be unaffected when the fish are cultured at 16 g/L. Further research on feed types, lowering of feed conversion ratio values, and ontogeny of salinity tolerance is warranted.

  PublisherDOI

• Evaluating the efficacy of live feed alternatives to reduce Artemia dependence in Trichopodus leerii larviculture

  Aquaculture International · 2025-12-19

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Refining Larval Culture Protocols of Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) to Reduce the Use of Live Feeds

  Fishes · 2025-09-13

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) are a staple commodity in the marine aquarium trade and an emerging model organism for research. Bottlenecks during larviculture affect the survival of juvenile fish and continued reliance on live feeds, such as rotifers (Brachionus spp.) and Artemia spp. nauplii, increasing the complexity and cost of raising this species. This study utilized known digestive physiology of clownfish larvae to experimentally reduce the use of live feeds. First, larvae were weaned from rotifers to Artemia at three time points (3, 5, and 7 days post-hatch [DPH]), demonstrating that larvae can be transitioned to Artemia as early as 5 DPH without negative impacts on survival, total length (TL), or whole-body cortisol. A second weaning trial tested the introduction of a commercial microdiet (MD) at 5, 8, and 11 DPH. Survival was greatest when the MD was introduced at 5 DPH (mean ± SD; 64.47 ± 0.10%), and no differences in TL nor whole-body cortisol were detected, suggesting that Artemia may not be required prior to MD weaning. Next, three commercially available MDs were tested for their effects on survival, growth, and coloration of clownfish larvae. Survival and growth did not differ among diets, but fish fed TDO Chroma Boost™ exhibited significantly red-shifted hues, higher saturation, and greater brightness scores in some body regions compared to fish fed Golden Pearl or GEMMA Micro 300. A partial budget analysis indicated a net profit increase of ~$1.60 per fish, highlighting the potential for cost savings and streamlined clownfish production.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Cortney L. Ohs

  University of Florida

  97 shared

• Jason S. Broach

  41 shared

• Scott W. Grabe

  University of Florida

  32 shared

• Taylor N. Lipscomb

  University of Florida

  27 shared

• Shane W. Ramee

  University of Florida

  20 shared

• Craig A. Watson

  University of Florida

  17 shared

• Joshua T. Patterson

  14 shared

• Timothy S. Breton

  University of Maine at Farmington

  12 shared