“Since launching Pine Island Redfish late in 2023, we have concentrated on our biological prep work at our demonstration scale facility. And now, our efforts are paying off,” said Megan Sorby, CEO and Co-Founder of Pine Island Redfish. “March 2025 marks our first harvest, and now we begin to fulfill the strong retail and restaurant demand for this incredible fish across the US.”
Redfish, native to the US Atlantic, was popularized in the 80’s by Chef Paul Prudhomme and other celebrity chefs. But the high demand resulted in severe overharvesting of the wild stock and near decimation of the species. In 2007, the federal government stepped in to prohibit commercial fishing and only allow sport fishing.
“Pine Island Redfish is bringing this highly prized fish back to the menu with RAS production and no compromise of our wild stock,” said Sorby, who co-founded Pine Island Redfish with her husband, Tom Sorby. “We can offer year-round, consistent quality redfish. We are proudly the only ‘Fresh from Florida’ source, and we are grateful to be supported by Florida Division of Aquaculture in bringing this native fish home.”
Pine Island Redfish’s sustainability mission goes beyond its fish. The farm’s regenerative RAS technology repurposes fish waste nutrients to cultivate carbon sequestering mangroves and nutrient dense halophytes, such as sea purslane and barilla.
According to Sorby, this year’s harvest has fueled the growth of over 5,000 mangroves, all of which are committed to coastal restoration efforts along the Gulf coast of Florida. “It is pretty special to bring our redfish to market knowing that for consumers, it is a seafood they can truly feel great about. It strengthened and nourished the future of our coastal ecosystems before making its way to market.”
“Our mission statement calls for us to be responsible citizens in our communities,” said Guy Pizzuti, Publix Business Development Director of Seafood. “The Pine Island Redfish project allows us to continue our support of local, Florida aquaculture. We are excited to offer this exclusive, limited harvest of sustainable, Florida-farmed redfish to our customers in the Sarasota area.”
“To have an esteemed retailer such as Publix carry our sustainable, Florida-farmed redfish is a testament to the success of our regenerative RAS technology,” said Sorby. “US consumers value food that’s sustainable and sourced close to home. And with our anticipated success of this exclusive first harvest, we will begin gearing up for a more extensive second harvest later this year and the next steps in achieving that year-round supply.”
