About the FTFFA

The Florida Tropical Fish Farms Association is a trade Association of professional ornamental tropical fish and aquatic plant breeders, the mission of which is to represent its members in governmental matters, provide a cooperative for purchasing necessary materials to produce member products, and support research and development for the production of ornamental species.

The Association does not breed fish or grow plants, if you are looking for a supplier please use our Member Directory to find and contact the farms directly.

President's Message

JULY 2007

Over 70 people turned out for FTFFA’s Annual Membership meeting, dinner, and casino party that was held on June 16th at The Golf Club at Cypress Creek in Sun City Center.  Prior to the meeting, Craig Watson and his staff hosted a tour of Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, where members and guests could see first-hand the various research projects currently under way that will prove of great value to the tropical fish farm industry.

At FTFFA’s Annual Membership meeting, following the lab tour, the membership elected five Directors.  They are incumbents:  David Drawdy of Oak Ridge Fish Hatchery; Mike Hennessy of Ekk-Will Waterlife Resources; Cindy Liles of Liles Tropical Fish, Inc.; and Mike Szumigala of Mike’s Cichlids.  I’d like to welcome a newcomer to the Board, John Skidmore of Golden Pond Tropicals.  I would also like to thank Jay Hecker for his many years of service and contributions to the FTFFA and the tropical fish farming industry.  The Directors then met and elected the same slate of officers for the coming year, who are as follows:  Vice President, David Drawdy; Secretary, Cindy Liles; Treasurer, Mike Hennessy, and myself as your President for a fifth term.

During the awards portion of the evening dinner, Elwyn Segrest presented Paul Norton with the FTFFA Hall of Fame Award.  I cannot think of any other individual more deserving of this award and recognition.  Paul has served as an FTFFA Director for over 15 years and has represented FTFFA on the PIJAC Board for many years.  Paul has also been very active and has served as either a member or chairman of several FTFFA committees.

Following the awards presentation, several door prize drawings were held and I wish to thank Zeigler Feed for their generous contributions.  This was followed by a couple hours of casino games where ten members won cash prizes.

It’s not too early to start making your plans to participate in the 2008 Global Pet Expo – Aquatic Lounge, which will be held on February 14-16 at the San Diego Convention Center.  Those farms who participated in the 2007 Aquatic Lounge in Orlando will be eligible to receive financial assistance for participating in the 2008 show.  Since this will be the last Global Pet Expo on the west coast for at least the next three years, it is important that our industry have a strong presence at the 2008 event, so that we may show the west coast attendees that the best tropical fish really do come from Florida!

Once again, the number of MaRS units will be limited and will be assigned on a first-come, first-reserved basis.  Watch your mailbox for the reservation form the first week of October.

I would like to remind all eligible farmers to register for the NAP insurance program by September 1st through your county FSA office.  For the nominal $100 fee, this can certainly pay big dividends should our industry be hit by a natural disaster.

I appreciate the confidence the Board of Directors has placed in me to serve once again as your President.  If you have a problem, please feel free to call on me.

Sincerely,

Art Rawlins