farms, feed mills, processing plants, and other supporting 

 industries. Moreover, aquacultural development would be an 

 attractive supplementary enterprise for many farmers, enabling them 

 to maximize the income potential of land, labor, and other 

 resources . 



In the longer term, aquaculture could improve the net fish trade 

 deficit of the U.S. for edible fishery products (at least $2.2 

 billion in 1982) , both through decreased imports and larger 

 exports. During 1982, shrimp imports valued at $980 million 

 represented 31 percent of the total edible fish import bill. 

 Meanwhile, salmon exports generally accounted for 48 percent of the 

 value of edible fishery products exported in 1982. 



However, a supply shift through technological advances or 

 innovations does not create its own demand. A net economic welfare 

 gain to society because of programs under this plan, will result 

 only if consumers are able and willing to purchase aquaculture 

 products. To that end, some of the production technologies 

 resulting from the plan's research programs would make aquaculture 

 products more attractive to consumers by meeting size, quality, and 

 seasonal demands. Advances in post-harvest technology relating to 

 product quality control, help ensure customer satisfaction, while 

 others introduce cost-efficiencies in processing and distribution, 

 providing a more competitively priced product. 



The following are other factors that will influence the demand for 

 aquaculture products in the coming years, which in turn will affect 

 the economic impacts of this plan: 



o Increases in per capita consumption of fish and seafood in 

 the U.S. Per capita consumption has climbed upward since 

 1960 to a little over 12 pounds in 1982. However, even if 

 per capita consumption should remain the same, the 

 expanding population will increase overall demand. This 

 trend should make it more viable for private industry to 

 continue to expand and develop aquaculture in the U.S. 



o Economic growth, and hence, larger per capita disposable 

 income have been the primary forces causing a 25 percent 

 increase in per capita consumption of red meats, poultry, 

 and fish since 1960 (the share of fish and seafood consumed 

 relative to the total has been steady, at or near 6 

 percent.) Also, economic conditions affect consumption of 

 food away from home, where about two-thirds of fish and 

 seafood sales occur 



o The ability of the U.S. commercial fishing industry and/or 

 imports to meet future demand for fish and seafood 



o The price of aquaculture products relative to competing 

 protein sources — red meats, poultry, and noncultured fish 



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