Statewide, about 25 percent of the industry's inventory died after temperatures dropped in early January, the Florida Tropical Fish Farms Association said. Farms in Hillsborough and Polk counties make up about 80 percent of the state's $49-million industry.
"It was the worst weather event that the tropical fish industry's had in a while," said Tim Hennessy, president of EkkWill Waterlife Resources in Gibsonton. "But it took some time afterwards for people to really realize the impact of it."
Days after temperatures dropped, dead fish started floating to the surface and birds began to feast.
"Sometimes you don't know until you clean the pond and find there's nothing there," said Art Rawlins, the president of the Florida Tropical Fish Farms Association.
Freeze Lethal for Tropical Fish Stocks
US - Freezing winter weather dealt a devastating blow to some of southern Hillsborough County's tropical fish farms, with seven losing more than half their stock.