NAICS 112511: Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in (1) farm raising finfish (e.g., catfish, trout, goldfish, tropical fish, minnows) and/or (2) hatching fish of any kind. Cross-References.Show more
NAICS 112511 – Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries encompasses the controlled breeding, rearing, and harvesting of finfish species in freshwater or marine environments for commercial, restoration, or research purposes. This includes the operation of aquaculture facilities such as ponds, raceways, net pens, and recirculating aquaculture systems, as well as hatchery functions involving egg incubation, larval rearing, and juvenile conditioning.
Industry Spending Overview
Federal obligations, top contractors and agencies, and related industry codes for NAICS 112511.
AI Industry Description
NAICS 112511 – Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries encompasses the controlled breeding, rearing, and harvesting of finfish species in freshwater or marine environments for commercial, restoration, or research purposes. This includes the operation of aquaculture facilities such as ponds, raceways, ne...
NAICS 112511 – Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries encompasses the controlled breeding, rearing, and harvesting of finfish species in freshwater or marine environments for commercial, restoration, or research purposes. This includes the operation of aquaculture facilities such as ponds, raceways, net pens, and recirculating aquaculture systems, as well as hatchery functions involving egg incubation, larval rearing, and juvenile conditioning. In the federal contracting landscape, this NAICS supports mission-critical activities related to fisheries management, endangered species recovery, habitat restoration, and food security initiatives. Government-funded projects often align with NOAA Fisheries, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and USDA programs focused on sustainable aquaculture development and native species propagation. No contractor data is available to identify top performers in this NAICS code. However, contractors typically include specialized aquaculture firms, environmental science service providers, and small businesses with expertise in fish health management, water quality control, and hatchery engineering. Large primes may partner with niche operators to fulfill complex restoration contracts requiring biological certification and regulatory compliance. No agency data is available to identify primary buyers. However, demand is generally driven by federal agencies engaged in aquatic resource conservation, including NOAA Fisheries for stock enhancement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for endangered species programs, and the Army Corps of Engineers for ecosystem rehabilitation projects. USDA’s Agricultural Research Service may also fund research into disease-resistant strains and feed optimization. The competitive landscape is characterized by low contractor density and high technical barriers to entry, including permitting, biosecurity protocols, and environmental compliance. Opportunities exist for contractors with proven experience in federal aquaculture standards, hatchery automation, and ecological monitoring. Growing emphasis on climate-resilient aquaculture and native species restoration is increasing procurement interest in this niche sector.
Small Business Size Standard
The SBA threshold that decides who can bid NAICS 112511 work as a small business.
The SBA cap for this NAICS (13 CFR 121.201). A business at or under it can self-certify as small for work in this code, which is what makes it eligible for a small-business set-aside. The cap is set per NAICS, so the same company can be small in one code and not in another.
13 CFR 121.201, effective January 1, 2026. The SBA revises the table roughly once a year.
Top Contractors
Companies with the highest total award value under NAICS 112511, ranked by dollars won.
| Company | Total Awards | Contracts |
|---|---|---|
| STATE OF OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE | $1.2M | 1 |
| FISH & WILDLIFE, WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF | $720K | 2 |
| IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH GAME | $426K | 2 |
| CONFEDERATED TRIBES AND BANDS OF THE YAKAMA NATION | $191K | 1 |
| MAGIC VALLEY HELI-ARC & MFG., INC. | $96K | 2 |
| DESERT SPRINGS TROUT FARM, LLC | $84K | 1 |
| REDD ZONE, LLC | $67K | 1 |
| HYDRO COMPOSITES LLC | $63K | 1 |
| JAMES LONELL CROWTHER | $63K | 2 |
| MOORE-CLARK U.S.A., INC. | $27K | 1 |
Top Agencies
Federal agencies directing the most contract spending toward NAICS 112511.
Competition
How many companies historically bid on federal awards in NAICS 112511, from bidder counts reported on USAspending.
Half or more of reported awards drew exactly one bidder, usually a sign of incumbent-held work rather than an open field. · 821 reported awards
Median Bidders
1
Per reported award, all-time
Single-Bid Awards
63%
Share of reported awards with one bidder
10+ Bidder Awards
1%
Share of reported awards with 10+ bidders
Reported Awards
821
83% of 988 total awards
Share of reported awards in each bidder-count bracket per federal fiscal year.
How this code compares up the NAICS hierarchy. Parent cohorts pool every code under their prefix, so they are the steadier baseline when a 6-digit sample is thin.
| Industry Family | Competition | Median Bidders | Single-Bid | Bidder Mix | Reported Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
112511This Code Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries | Usually Single-Bid | 1 | 63% | 82183% of 988 | |
11251NAICS Industry | Usually Single-Bid | 1 | 65% | 1,10684% of 1,322 | |
1125Industry Group Aquaculture | Usually Single-Bid | 1 | 65% | 1,10684% of 1,322 | |
112Subsector | Fewer Bidders | 2 | 50% | 14,18986% of 16,507 | |
11Sector Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | Usually Single-Bid | 1 | 55% | 225,74883% of 270,521 |
Bidder counts reported on past federal awards in this NAICS (USAspending). An open opportunity has no bidders yet, so this is the historical norm for similar work, not a fact about this solicitation. Not all awards report bidder counts, and fewer bidders often means incumbent-held work rather than an easier win. Federal reporting of bidder counts fell from ~96% of awards (FY2016) to ~30% (FY2018 onward); the chart shows shares of reported awards, and washed-out stretches mark years with fewer than 30 of them.
Related NAICS Codes
Industries similar to Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries, by shared sector, subsector, and industry group.
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