Aquaculture

U.S aquaculture is a diverse industry that supplies about five percent of the U.S. seafood supply. As of 2010, about 86 percent of the seafood consumed by Americans is imported, nearly half of which is farm raised.

Most U.S. commercial aquaculture operations grow freshwater species such as catfish, trout, and tilapia. About 20 percent of U.S. aquaculture production is marine species and the majority of that is shellfish farming that takes place in coastal waters under state jurisdiction.

Catfish

Catfish are the most common aquaculture species in the USA. Catfish are fed a grain based diet that is largely soybean meal. Mississippi has the largest catfish production with over 100,000 acres of catfish ponds in the state. Other important catfish producing states include Arkansas, Alabama and Louisiana. The combined production acreage of these four states makes up more than 90 percent of American catfish aquaculture operations.

Tilapia

Tilapia are the second most important group of farm raised fish in the world. Tilapia has been introduced in over 100 countries. Tilapia farming and consumption are rapidly increasing in the US. Tilapia are a good source of protein and is now the fifth most popular seafood consumed in the United States.

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout are native to Pacific North America, ranging from Alaska to Mexico. The species has since been introduced in all continents except Antarctica. The rainbow trout is a hardy fish that is easy to spawn, fast growing, tolerant to a wide range of environments and respond well to artificial diets. Farmed rainbow trout production greatly expanded in the 1950s as pelleted feeds were developed.

About 500,000 metric tons of rainbow trout are raised each year in aquaculture facilities in the United States. Some 1,000 trout farms produce approximately $80 million of trout annually, mostly in Idaho, New York, Pennsylvania and California. Outside the USA, rainbows are farmed in Europe, Canada, Chile, Japan and Australia.

Shrimp

Shrimp are farm raised in parts of the USA. US Aquaculturists are working to compete with other countries for the farm raised shrimp market share. Currently, around 80% of shrimp consumed in the USA is imported, much of that being farm raised shrimp. Among the latest US shrimp aquaculture operations are setups where shrimp are the second stage of an aquaculture operation, gleaning leftover food from fish farms.

Shellfish

Shellfish aquaculture is a more than $200 million industry in the United States, representing 20 percent of all domestic aquaculture. In many New England states, shellfish farming is growing at double-digit rates. Shellfish aquaculture operations grow oysters, hard clams, geoduck clams, blue mussels, bay scallops and other shellfish.

Other American Aquaculture

Other American aquaculture operations produce brook, golden and brown trout, hybrid striped bass, freshwater prawns, bait fish, ornamental fish, aquatic plants and more products.

Oyster aquaculture operations once consisted of areas of private property or leased beds where watermen maintained oyster bars which allowed new oysters to colonize and grow. More recent aquaculture goes a step further to include seeded oysters that are grown in cages to protect the oysters from damage. The quality of farmed oysters is excellent and most oyster farms offer products year round.

Marine aquaculture is the cultivation of marine organisms, such as shellfish and finfish, for food and other products. Maine aquaculture is on the upswing worldwide.

Several species of saltwater fish have been identified as good candidates for marine aquaculture because they grow quickly and have high market value. These include cod, pollock, cobia, yellowtail flounder and others.

Open ocean pen farming, sometimes called open ocean mariculture is being utilized in many locations, producing tuna and other species of saltwater fish.

Several organizations offer aquaculture certifications and best aquaculture practices programs.

Global Aquaculture Alliance

The Global Aquaculture Alliance promotes Best Aquaculture Practices certification at shrimp hatcheries, farms, and processors throughout the world. Additional certification standards are under development for several species of fish. The following articles reflect GAA's most recent activities related to the BAP program.

Aquaculture Certification Council

Aquaculture Certification Council, Inc. is a nongovernmental body established to certify social, environmental and food safety standards at aquaculture facilities throughout the world. This nonprofit, nonmember public benefit corporation applies the Global Aquaculture Alliance Best Aquaculture Practices standards in a certification system that combines site inspections and effluent sampling with sanitary controls, therapeutic controls and traceability.

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Buyers can choose a basic logo and then add custom text to create a personalized product. The store also offers a wide range of pre-titled fish and seafood logos and artwork.


Freshwater Rainbow Trout by fish_fishing_seafood

In January, 2009, the Gulf Council took final action on its Aquaculture Fishery Management Plan, sending it to the Secretary of Commerce for review and implementation.

The plan provides a regional permitting process for regulating aquaculture in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. That process is intended to ensure any aquaculture operations undertaken in the Gulf are environmentally sound, sustainable, and provide maximum benefits to the nation.

"The Gulf Council has taken a major step toward creating a new industry in the Gulf of Mexico to provide a safe source of seafood for US consumers," said Joe Hendrix, Council Member.

The plan will allow fish farms to be installed only after careful application review and, once installed, the facilities will be under strict regulatory supervision by three Federal agencies.

"We want to ensure that our natural resources are protected," Hendrix said, adding that fish farms will also provide new jobs and opportunities for many fishermen who have been displaced from the wild fisheries.