Students from the Academy of Aquaculture toured Evans Fish Farm in Pierson, Florida during the fall semester 2023. This one hundred acre aquatic farm is family-owned and operated and was established in 1998 by visionary, Gene Evans. It is one of the only American producers of premium farm-raised sturgeon caviar called Anastasia Gold. The species of sturgeon they produce their caviar from are Sevruga, Ossetra, and Siberian. Fish are housed in above ground tanks which are as large as 60 feet in diameter and 4 feet deep. The Evans family took us through the covered, outdoor area where the above ground tanks are located, then through their enclosed hatchery and finally inside of the harvesting building. Throughout the tour students learned about federal and state rules and regulations associated with sturgeon aquaculture, the reproduction and care of a variety of aquatic species, as well as the production and packing of their finest Anastasia Gold caviar that is shipped world-wide. At the end of our tour, we had the opportunity to taste gold standard caviar that is regularly purchased by word-renowned chefs and celebrities. The educational tour and hospitality given to us by the Evans family was a reflection of why they have successfully been in business for more than 30 years. We spent the day with the finest aquatic farmers in Florida!
