NAICS 112511

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) provides a common structure for classifying business establishments in federal economic statistics. NAICS was developed under the auspices of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), first adopted in 1997 with participation from Statistics Canada and Mexico’s statistical agency, and is updated on a five-year cycle; the current vintage is 2022. ¹
U.S. industry code 112511 covers establishments primarily engaged in farm raising finfish and/or operating fish hatcheries. It is part of subsector 1125 (Animal Aquaculture) and is distinct from wild-capture fishing such as 114111 Finfish Fishing. Examples include catfish, trout, goldfish, tropical aquarium fish, and minnows; hatcheries producing eggs, fry, or fingerlings are included. Exclusions cover processing (311710), shellfish farming (112512), and other aquaculture (112519). ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 112511 overview
• G2X — NAICS 1125 Animal Aquaculture
• G2X — NAICS 114111 Finfish Fishing

What this NAICS covers

• Farm raising of finfish under controlled aquaculture conditions. ²
• Fish hatchery operations (hatching fish of any kind). ²
• Production involving intervention such as captivity, stocking, feeding, and predator protection. ²
• Operations raising species such as catfish, trout, goldfish, tropical fish, and minnows. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

• NAICS 112512 — Shellfish Farming: Aquaculture of shellfish (e.g., oysters, clams, mussels); distinct from finfish farming covered by 112511. ³
• NAICS 112519 — Other Aquaculture: Aquaculture of aquatic animals not classified as finfish or shellfish (e.g., crustaceans, amphibians), separate from 112511. ⁴
• NAICS 114111 — Finfish Fishing: Wild-capture finfish operations; excludes farm-raised finfish and hatcheries in 112511. ⁵
• NAICS 114112 — Shellfish Fishing: Wild-capture shellfish operations; distinct from aquaculture in 112512. ¹¹
• NAICS 311710 — Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging: Processing/packaging seafood; establishments primarily processing rather than raising fish are classified here, not in 112511. ⁶
• NAICS 424460 — Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers: Wholesale distribution of fish/seafood; separate from production in 112511. ⁷
• NAICS 445220 — Fish and Seafood Markets: Retail sale of fish/seafood; not farming or hatchery activity. ⁸
• PSC F021 — Fish Hatchery Services: Services for propagation, rearing, and stocking of fish, commonly used for federal/state hatchery operations aligned with 112511. ⁹
• PSC F099 — Other Natural Resources & Conservation Services: Broader natural resource services that can include fisheries habitat and population support activities adjacent to aquaculture. ¹⁰

Frequently asked questions

• What types of establishments are classified under NAICS 112511?

  • Establishments primarily engaged in raising finfish under controlled aquaculture conditions and/or operating fish hatcheries. Controlled conditions include interventions such as captivity, feeding, and predator protection. Examples include catfish, trout, goldfish, tropical aquarium fish, and minnows. ²

• How is 112511 different from 114111 Finfish Fishing?

  • 112511 covers farm-raised finfish and hatcheries; 114111 covers wild-capture finfish. If your primary activity is harvesting fish from natural waters, classification is not 112511. ⁵

• Are shellfish aquaculture operations (e.g., oysters, clams) classified in 112511?

  • No. Shellfish farming is classified in 112512. Establishments primarily engaged in cultivating shellfish are not in 112511. ³

• Where are shrimp and other crustacean farms classified?

  • Crustacean aquaculture (e.g., shrimp, crayfish) is classified under 112519 (Other Aquaculture), not 112511. ⁴

• How are seafood processing activities classified if we also raise fish?

  • Establishments primarily engaged in preparing and packaging seafood (e.g., filleting, freezing, smoking, canning) are classified in 311710, not 112511. Classification follows the establishment’s primary activity. ⁶

Useful resources

• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 2022 industry detail for Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries: Official definition, examples, and cross-references for NAICS 112511. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=112511&year=2022&details=112511
• 2022 NAICS United States Manual (PDF): Full structure and definitions for Sector 11 (Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting), including Animal Aquaculture. https://www.census.gov/naics/reference_files_tools/2022_NAICS_Manual.pdf
• NAICS Concordances (2017 ↔ 2022): Check whether any structural changes affect classification for aquaculture and related industries. https://www.census.gov/naics/?58967
• SBA Size Standards — Table of Small Business Size Standards: Determine small business status for NAICS 112511 (use the table and/or tool without relying on secondary sources). https://www.sba.gov/document/support--table-size-standards
• SBA Size Standards Tool: Interactive lookup by NAICS code for the current size threshold. https://www.sba.gov/size-standards
• SAM.gov — Contract Opportunities: Search open solicitations and filter by NAICS 112511 and relevant PSCs such as F021 (Fish Hatchery Services). https://sam.gov/search
• USAspending.gov — Advanced Award Search: Explore historical federal obligations by NAICS 112511 and agency to size the market and identify buyers. https://www.usaspending.gov/search
• PSC Tool — F021 (Fish Hatchery Services): Official PSC reference for hatchery and stocking services that frequently pair with NAICS 112511 in service buys. https://psctool.us/search?codes=F021
• NOAA Fisheries — U.S. Aquaculture: Policy, permitting context, grants/initiatives, and technical resources. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/aquaculture
• USDA NASS — Census of Aquaculture: Statistics on aquaculture production, sales, and operations to inform capture planning and market sizing. https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Census_of_Aquaculture/index.php
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — National Fish Hatchery System: Program overview, facility directory, and restoration/stocking initiatives relevant to hatchery services. https://www.fws.gov/program/national-fish-hatchery-system
• EPA — Aquaculture Effluent Guidelines: NPDES requirements and technology-based standards for concentrated aquatic animal production facilities. https://www.epa.gov/eg/aquaculture-effluent-guidelines
• FDA — Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and Controls Guidance (Seafood HACCP): Processing-related controls for establishments that also prepare seafood products alongside aquaculture operations. https://www.fda.gov/food/seafood-guidance-documents-regulatory-information/fish-and-fishery-products-hazards-and-controls-guidance
• Census Bureau — North American Product Classification System (NAPCS) data tools: Understand product lines and receipts categories reported by aquaculture establishments. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/guidance/understanding-naics-and-napcs.html
• Grants.gov — Federal funding search: Identify grants supporting hatchery operations, research, or infrastructure aligned to aquaculture projects. https://www.grants.gov/search
• OSHA — Agriculture Safety and Health resources: General safety references applicable to aquaculture worksites and hatchery environments. https://www.osha.gov/agriculture
• NOAA — Regional Aquaculture Contacts: Connect with regional coordinators for permitting and technical assistance for finfish aquaculture. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/contact-directory/office-aquaculture-contacts
• Census Business Builder — Small Business Edition: Local market intelligence for establishments classified in NAICS 112511. https://www.census.gov/data/data-tools/cbb.html

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau. 2022 NAICS United States Manual (PDF). https://www.census.gov/naics/reference_files_tools/2022_NAICS_Manual.pdf
2. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 2022 Industry Detail: Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=112511&year=2022&details=112511
3. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 2022 Industry Detail: Shellfish Farming. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=112512&year=2022&details=112512
4. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 2022 Industry Detail: Other Aquaculture. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=112519&year=2022&details=112519
5. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 2022 Industry Detail: Finfish Fishing. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=114111&year=2022&details=114111
6. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 2022 Industry Detail: Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=311710&year=2022&details=311710
7. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 2022 Industry Detail: Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=424460&year=2022&details=424460
8. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 2022 Industry Detail: Fish and Seafood Markets. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=445220&year=2022&details=445220
9. PSC Tool. F021 Fish Hatchery Services. https://psctool.us/search?codes=F021
10. PSC Tool. F099 Other Natural Resources & Conservation Services. https://psctool.us/search?codes=F099
11. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 2022 Industry Detail: Shellfish Fishing. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=114112&year=2022&details=114112