The Status and Potential of Aquaculture in the 

 United States: An Overview and Bibliography 



Background 



Aquaculture is the fastest growing segment of 

 agriculture in the United States. Although 

 the farming of aquatic plants and animals was 

 practiced prior to 2000 BC in China, it was not 

 until the early 1870's that aquaculture began 

 taking roots in the United States. Trout farm- 

 ing is considered the oldest farming industry 

 in the United States and began as a way to 

 replenish wild stock in streams and lakes. In 

 the 1930's, President Franklin D. Rosevelt 

 estabUshed a "Farm Pond" program. This 

 program provided government assistance to 

 farmers in the construction and stocking of 

 ponds with fish to increase their income. 



Over the past twelve years, aquaculmre has 

 shown considerable growth. In 1980, aqua- 

 culture production was 203 million pounds 

 with a farm gate value of $192 million. By 

 1990, these numbers more than quadrupled 

 with production reaching 860 million pounds 

 with a farm gate value of over $760 million (a 

 four-fold increase since 1980). In 1991, U.S. 

 aquaculture had a farm gate value of $880 

 million. This accounts for an economic im- 

 pact of over $8 million annually and the crea- 

 tion of nearly 300,000 aquaculture-related 

 jobs. Yet, despite this significant growth, do- 

 mestic aquaculture only supplies 10-15 per- 

 cent of U.S. seafood needs. 



Much of the aquaculture expansion is driven 

 by an increased demand for fisheries pro- 

 ducts and reduced yields from traditional 

 fisheries landings. During the 1980's, U.S. 

 imports of fisheries products more than dou- 

 bled to $9.6 billion, resulting in a substantial 



trade deficit of $4.9 billion in 1989. After 

 Japan, the United States is the second largest 

 importer of seafood products. In 1990, more 

 than $9 billion worth of imported fish and 

 shellfish were imported, $800 million of 

 which was farm-raised. 



The U.S. Congress declared the following in 

 the National Aquaculture Act of 1980: 



"...aquaculture has the potential for 

 reducing the United States trade def- 

 icit in fisheries products, for augment- 

 ing existing commercial and recrea- 

 tional fisheries, and for producing 

 other renewable resources, thereby 

 assisting the United States in meeting 

 its future food needs and contributing 

 to the solution of world resource pro- 

 blems." 



Today, interest in aquaculture continues to 

 grow. U.S. fish farms cultivate approximately 

 30 different species of fish and shellfish. 

 There has also been an increase in aquatic 

 plant culttire in the United States which has 

 value in the food, drug, and cosmetic indus- 

 tries. American aquaculture will help satisfy 

 seafood demand, provide an alternative 

 agricultural opporttmity, provide jobs for dis- 

 placed commercial fishermen and the rural 

 community, and reduce the trade deficit. 



Seafood Consumption 



Over the years, consumers have shown an 

 increased demand for fish and shellfish in the 



