U.S. aquaculture expands with new operations and increased sales

The production of seafood in the United States is expanding, according to recently published data from the Census of Aquaculture. The Census, collected by USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service on the farmed production of food fish, crustaceans, mollusks, ornamental fish, sportfish, baitfish, and other miscellaneous aquaculture, indicates that the value of sales and number of aquaculture farms have risen since 2018. Based on Census of Aquaculture data published by USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, the number of aquaculture farms has fluctuated since 1998, but grew from 2,932 farms in 2018 to 3,453 farms in 2023—an 18-percent increase. U.S. aquaculture product sales have shown consistent growth since 2005 and reached $1.908 billion in 2023. Adjusting for inflation, sales in 2023 were valued at more than $1.964 billion, an increase of 3.8 percent from 2018. The 2023 Census data revealed that, for the first time in 25 years, both total sales and farm numbers increased relative to the previous Census. In 2023, 73 percent of the total product sales consisted of fish such as finfish and shellfish, and mollusks such as mussels, octopuses, snails, and slugs. Recent Federal initiatives have stimulated investments in the U.S. aquaculture industry and are expected to further support domestic seafood production. In the past, the United States has relied heavily on imports to meet consumption demands. The latest data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimated that imports accounted for 75 to 90 percent of all seafood consumed domestically. This chart appears on the USDA, Economic Research Service Aquaculture topic page. Also see the Amber Waves article, U.S. Seafood Imports Expand as Domestic Aquaculture Industry Repositions Itself.