Between 1980 and 1998, the value of U.S. aquaculture production rose over 400 percent. The 1998 Census of Aquaculture reported farm-level sales of $972 million. The catfish industry is the largest sector in U.S. aquaculture, accounting for almost half of all sales. Catfish production is concentrated in Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Catfish are grown in open freshwater ponds, with the total area encompassing between 175,000 and 180,000 acres.

Other major foodfish species grown in the United States are trout, salmon, tilapia, hybrid striped bass, sturgeon, walleye, and yellow perch. With the exception of salmon, these fish are normally grown in open freshwater production systems. Salmon are somewhat different than other species, as they are hatched in fresh water and then later transferred to saltwater net-pens for final growout.

Nonfood species are baitfish and ornamental fish. Baitfish are produced in freshwater ponds, with Arkansas being the largest producer. Ornamental fish production covers a large number of species and a variety of growing environments, including fresh, salt, cold, and warm water.

Aside from fish, U.S. aquaculture also produces freshwater crawfish, mainly in Louisiana, and shrimp in brackish ponds in South Carolina, Texas, and Hawaii. The industry also farm-raises mollusk species such as abalone, oysters, clams, and mussels. Mollusks are grown in almost every coastal area of the United States and are produced using various systems.

Other species that fall under the definition of aquaculture include the farmed production of alligators (mostly in Florida and Louisiana), turtles, aquatic plants, and algae. Aquatic plant production can either be edible varieties or plants for use in wetland restoration projects. The best known algae production in the United States is spirulina, which is used as an additive in health foods and also as a feed component for pets and ornamental fish.

Trade
The United States is one of the world's largest exporters of seafood products and the world's second largest seafood importer. Data on the domestic wild seafood harvest and imports and exports of seafood products are compiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries), an agency of the Department of Commerce.

While the United States is a major seafood exporter, its exports of aquaculture products are relatively small: some farm-raised trout and salmon chiefly to Canada and Mexico and oysters and clams to Canada. The catfish industry has been attempting to develop export markets in Europe but has met with only limited success. The ornamental fish industry exports its products to a number of countries, but the United States is a net importer of ornamental fish.

On the other hand, the United States is a major importer of farm-raised seafood products. The largest categories of imported aquaculture products are shrimp, salmon, and tilapia.

Market outlook
Details on major changes in U.S. aquaculture production and prices, and forecasts of production for the coming year are published twice a year in Aquaculture Outlook (previously published outlook reports are also available). The report also examines changes in imports and exports of aquacultural products and closely related wild harvest seafood products.

for more information, contact: David J. Harvey
web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov
page updated: June 24, 2004