The production of seafood in the United States is on the rise, according to new findings from the Census of Aquaculture. This data, gathered by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, reveals that the number of aquaculture farms has increased by 18% from 2018 to 2023, growing from 2932 farms to 3453.
Sales of aquaculture products have also seen substantial growth, reaching $1.908 billion in 2023. When adjusted for inflation, this figure is valued at more than $1.964 billion, marking a 3.8% increase since 2018. Notably, this is the first time in 25 years that both total sales and farm numbers have risen compared to the previous Census.
Fish, including finfish and shellfish, accounted for 73% of total sales, alongside molluscs like mussels and octopuses. Recent federal initiatives have boosted investments in the U.S. aquaculture industry, aiming to strengthen domestic seafood production.
Previously reliant on imports to meet consumption needs, which made up 75 to 90% of all seafood consumed in the U.S., this growth comes as the nation seeks to reduce its dependency on foreign sources.
