million; 12 in Guam, $500,000 combined; one in California, 

 $600,000 and one in Puerto Rico. Pilot projects are undervay in 

 several mainland States. 



Hard Clams 



Fifteen companies are engaged at present in hard clam culture. 

 Seven to eight companies raise clams along with other species . 

 Production of marketable-sized littleneck clams totals about 2 

 million, annually. Investment figures are unknown. 



Largemouth bass 



Most bass are produced by Federal and State hatcheries. For 

 example. Federal hatcheries produced over 6 million fingerlings in 

 1982. Investment data for commercial production of largemouth bass 

 are unavailable, but are estimated to be about $10 million. 



Mussels 



Less than 10 firms currently produce mussels in U.S. waters. 

 Nearly all are located in New England. Production in 1982 was 

 about 773 metric tons (1.7 million pounds) meat weight, and appears 

 to be expanding. 



Oysters 



Although the production of oysters through aquaculture is 

 significant (some 9,878 metric tons or 21.7 million pounds valued 

 at $34 million in 1982) , little information is available on the 

 commercial investment by the industry. In a recent survey of the 

 Northeastern United States, some 257 shellfish businesses were 

 identified from Maine to Virginia. In the Gulf Coast area, some 

 1,424 individual lease tracts in Louisiana alone have been 

 identified covering some 93,389 ha (230,760 acres). The west coast 

 States also support a very significant oyster culture industry 

 based on the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) . To add to the 

 complexity of the situation, there are approximately a dozen 

 hatcheries which produce both clam and oyster seed; some are 

 operational for self-sufficiency, others produce seed as a market 

 product . 



Penaeid Shrimp 



There are successful shrimp farms in Latin America due to ease of 

 obtaining year-round supplies of larvae, coastal land 

 accessibility, and lack of stringent permitting and regulatory 

 requirements. Many of these farms are utilizing U.S. financing. 

 U.S. based companies, especially in Texas, appear to be on the 

 verge of commercial success. It is estimated that some $44 million 

 in U.S. funds has been spent on ponds and facilities both here and 

 abroad. 



