• Developing new and improved methods to 
inerease agricultural production and profitability. 
AUTHORITY 
The census of agriculture is required by law under 
the "Census of Agriculture Act of 1997," Public Law 
105-113 (Title 7, United States Code, Section 
2204g). The law authorizes the Secretary of 
Agriculture to conduct surveys deemed necessary to 
furnish annual or other data on the subjects covered 
by the census. The 2013 Census of Aquaculture was 
conducted under the provisions of this section. 
FARM DEFINITION 
Aquaculture is defined as the farming of aquatic 
organisms, including: baitfish, crustaceans, food fish, 
mollusks, ornamental fish, sport or game fish, and 
other aquaculture products. Farming involves some 
form of intervention in the rearing process, such as 
seeding, stocking, feeding, protection from 
predators, etc. Farming also implies individual or 
corporate ownership of the stock being cultivated, in 
a controlled environment at least part of the time. 
Fish, shellfish, and other aquatic products which are 
caught or harvested by the public from non- 
controlled waters or beds are considered wild caught 
and are NOT included as aquaculture farms. In 
addition, aquatic plants, except algae and sea 
vegetables, are not considered as aquaculture for the 
2013 Census of Aquaculture. For the 2013 Census of 
Aquaculture, an aquaculture farm is defined as any 
place from which $1,000 or more of aquaculture 
products were produced and sold or distributed for 
conservation, enhancement, or recreation during the 
census year. 
TABLES AND APPENDICES 
Tables. Table 1 shows the number of farms and the 
market value of aquaculture products sold for the 
U.S. and each State. Tables 2, 3, 6 and 7 provide 
summaries of aquaculture products sold by species 
and size category at the U.S. level. Tables 4, 5, and 8 
provide summaries of aquaculture products sold by 
species at the U.S. level. Table 9 provides a 
summary by value of aquaculture products sold at 
the U.S. level. Tables 10 - 21 and Table 24 present 
selected data items for operations with sales of 
aquaculture products at the U.S. and State level. 
VI INTRODUCTION 
Tables 22 and 23 provide information at the U.S. and 
State level by species for operations that distributed 
aquaculture products for conservation, restoration, 
enhancement, or recreational purposes. Table 24 
provides data for acres used for hybrid catfish 
production at the U.S. and State level. Throughout 
the publication average weight and average price 
data are published. These values are based on the 
number of fish sold, pounds sold, and total sales at 
the U.S. and State level. Average weight and average 
price data may vary considerably among farms due 
to different size, use, or marketing channels. 
Appendix A. Provides information about the 
statistical methodology, including data collection 
and data processing activities, used in conducting 
and evaluating the census. 
Appendix B. Includes definitions of terms used in 
this publication, including items in the publication 
tables that carry the note “see text.” It also provides 
facsimiles of the report form and instruction sheet 
used to collect data. 
RESPONDENT CONFIDENTIALITY 
In keeping with the provisions of Title 7 of the 
United States Code, no data are published that would 
disclose information about the operations of an 
individual farm unless there is specific written 
permission. All tabulated data are subjected to an 
extensive disclosure review prior to publication. Any 
tabulated item that identifies data reported by a 
respondent or allows a respondent's data to be 
accurately estimated or derived, was suppressed and 
coded with a 'D'. However, the number of farms 
reporting an item is not considered confidential 
information and is provided even though other 
information is withheld. 
SPECIAL STUDIES AND CUSTOM 
TABULATIONS 
Special studies such as the 2013 Census of 
Aquaculture and the 2013 Farm and Ranch Irrigation 
Survey are part of the census program and provide 
supplemental information to the 2012 Census of 
Agriculture in the respective subject area. Results are 
published on the internet. 
2012 Census of Agriculture 
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service 
