NAICS 112519 Quarterly Industry Report
Other Animal Aquaculture
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 112519Sector: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report (NAICS 112519) provides valuation-focused intelligence for professionals assessing specialty aquaculture businesses. Additional data is drawn from Bureau of Labor Statistics[5], U.S. Census Bureau[6].. Data is sourced from USDA NASS aquaculture surveys[7], USDA ERS aquaculture market analysis[8], and SBA size standards[9] to support business appraisals, acquisition due diligence, lending decisions, and investment analysis for specialty aquaculture enterprises.
Industry Definition & Overview
Other Aquaculture (NAICS 112519) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in farm raising aquatic animals other than finfish and shellfish, as well as farm raising aquatic plants. This classification covers alligator farming, turtle production, frog farming, algae cultivation, seaweed production, and other specialty aquatic species not captured under finfish or shellfish aquaculture codes. The USDA Census of Agriculture[3] tracks these diverse operations, though individual segment data is limited due to the relatively small number of producers in each category.
Alligator farming represents the most commercially developed segment, concentrated in Louisiana, Florida, and Texas, producing hides for luxury leather goods and meat for specialty food markets. Algae and seaweed cultivation has emerged as a growth segment driven by demand for food ingredients, nutritional supplements, biofuels research, and animal feed additives. Turtle farming produces both soft-shell turtles for Asian food markets and ornamental species for the pet trade. The USDA Economic Research Service[4] notes that specialty aquaculture operations typically serve niche markets with limited price transparency and fragmented distribution channels.
Business valuations for other aquaculture operations require species-specific expertise, as production systems, regulatory requirements, and market dynamics vary substantially across the diverse products included in this classification. Appraisers must evaluate production facility infrastructure, breeding stock value, species-specific permits, buyer relationships, and market development status. Many operations in this segment have limited comparable transaction data, making income and cost approaches particularly important in establishing enterprise value.
What's Included in This Industry
- Sector-specific valuation multiples and financial benchmarks for specialty aquaculture operations
- Revenue and profitability analysis across alligator, turtle, frog, algae, and seaweed production segments
- SBA size standard classification and lending threshold data for NAICS 112519
- Comparable transaction data from recent specialty aquaculture facility sales and business transfers
- Species-specific production system analysis covering facility design, feed requirements, and growth cycles
- Workforce and labor cost benchmarking for specialty aquaculture farm operators and processing staff
- Industry risk assessment including niche market volatility, regulatory complexity, and species-specific disease
- Regulatory compliance overview covering state wildlife permits, USDA inspection, and environmental standards
- Capital expenditure profiles for production facilities, climate control systems, and processing infrastructure
- Market development analysis covering luxury goods, food ingredients, nutritional supplements, and pet trade channels
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 11 |
| Subsector | Animal Production and Aquaculture | 112 |
| Industry Group | Aquaculture | 1125 |
| NAICS Industry | Aquaculture | 11251 |
| National Industry | Other Aquaculture | 112519 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 112511 | Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries | Finfish farming operations that share aquaculture industry regulatory structures, water management infrastructure, and production technology suppliers |
| 112512 | Shellfish Farming | Shellfish farming operations sharing coastal and inland aquaculture permitting processes, environmental compliance standards, and market channels |
| 311710 | Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | Seafood product preparation and packaging plants that process farm-raised aquatic products including alligator meat and specialty seafood items |
| 316110 | Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing | Leather and hide tanning and finishing establishments that purchase farm-raised alligator hides for processing into luxury leather goods |
| 325411 | Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing | Medicinal and botanical manufacturing establishments purchasing algae extracts and aquatic plant compounds for nutritional supplement production |
| 424460 | Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers | Fish and seafood merchant wholesalers distributing specialty aquaculture products including alligator meat and farm-raised turtle to niche markets |
SBA Lending Summary
32
Total SBA Loans
$5.3M
Total Loan Volume
$166K
Average Loan Size
9 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.88%
Average Interest Rate
136
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[2]
Key Insight: The SBA[10] classifies Other Aquaculture (NAICS 112519) with a size standard of $3.75 million in average annual receipts. Most specialty aquaculture operations are small enterprises within this threshold, qualifying for SBA-backed lending[11], government contracting preferences, and federal aquaculture development programs supporting niche production enterprises. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[12] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[13] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newtek Bank, National Association | 16 | $3.6M | $227K |
| 2 | Flagship Enterprise Center, Inc. (dba Bankable) | 8 | $1.3M | $160K |
| 3 | The Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank | 8 | $400K | $50K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for specialty aquaculture?
Other Aquaculture is classified under NAICS code 112519, covering establishments raising aquatic animals other than finfish and shellfish, including alligators, turtles, frogs, algae, and seaweed.
What is the SBA size standard for other aquaculture?
The SBA[10] sets the size standard for NAICS 112519 at $3.75 million in average annual receipts, qualifying eligible specialty aquaculture operations for small business lending programs and contracting preferences.
What species are included in NAICS 112519?
This classification covers alligator farming, turtle production, frog farming, algae cultivation, seaweed production, and other aquatic species not classified under finfish (112511) or shellfish (112512) per the U.S. Census Bureau[14] NAICS definitions.
What factors drive specialty aquaculture valuations?
Key valuation drivers include production facility infrastructure, breeding stock genetics and inventory, species-specific state and federal permits, established buyer relationships, market channel development, and brand positioning in niche product categories.
How large is the U.S. alligator farming industry?
Alligator farming is concentrated in Louisiana, Florida, and Texas, producing hides for luxury leather goods and meat for specialty food markets. State wildlife agencies per U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service[15] coordination regulate farm permits, harvest quotas, and hide tagging requirements.
What is the growth outlook for algae cultivation?
Algae and seaweed farming has attracted growing investment driven by demand for food ingredients, nutritional supplements (spirulina, chlorella), animal feed additives, and biofuel research per USDA ERS[4] aquaculture market tracking.
What regulatory requirements apply to specialty aquaculture?
Regulations vary by species and state, typically including state wildlife farming permits, USDA APHIS[16] animal health requirements, environmental discharge permits, and species-specific harvesting and marketing rules administered through state natural resource agencies.
What challenges exist in valuing specialty aquaculture businesses?
Limited comparable transaction data, niche market pricing opacity, species-specific regulatory complexity, and concentrated buyer relationships make income-based and cost-based valuation approaches particularly important for specialty aquaculture enterprise appraisals.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [3]USDA Census of Agriculture nass.usda.gov
- [4]USDA Economic Research Service ers.usda.gov
- [5]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [6]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [7]USDA NASS aquaculture surveys nass.usda.gov
- [8]USDA ERS aquaculture market analysis ers.usda.gov
- [9]SBA size standards sba.gov
- [10]SBA sba.gov
- [11]SBA-backed lending sba.gov
- [12]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [13]504 loans sba.gov
- [14]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [15]U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fws.gov
- [16]USDA APHIS aphis.usda.gov
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