US aquaculture census reveals growth in farms, surge in shellfish sales

Total sales of aquaculture products in 2023 were $1.9 billion, an increase of 26% from 2018, according to data released by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Shellfish farm on Orr's Island, Harpswell, Maine, United States.

Shellfish farm on Orr's Island, Harpswell, Maine, United States.

Photo: Adobe Stock.

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The United States aquaculture industry achieved $1.9 billion in total sales for 2023, marking a 26% increase since the last census in 2018, according to the 2023 Census of Aquaculture recently released by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

The census, conducted every five years, reported 3,453 aquaculture farms operating in 2023, an 18% increase from 2018.

Five states – Mississippi, Washington, Louisiana, Florida, and Alabama – dominated the industry, accounting for 55% of total sales and 49% of farms.

Rising popularity of farmed shellfish

According to the figures, food fish accounted for $819.6 million in aquaculture sales during 2023, up 14% from 2018, with catfish contributing $480.0 million, or 59% of food fish sales.

Farmed mollusks generated $575.5 million, a 30% increase compared with 2018, with oysters representing 57% of the total, valued at $327.0 million. Meanwhile, sales of farmed crustaceans surged by 75% to reach $175.7 million in sales in 2023.

The census also shows that the average value of sales per farm reached $552,569 in 2023, while Mississippi emerged as the leading aquaculture state, registering a total $277 million in aquaculture sales.

Data "tell the story of U.S. aquaculture"

The 2023 Census of Aquaculture expands upon data collected during the 2022 Census of Agriculture, offering detailed insights into production methods and marketing practices of the aquaculture sector in the United States.

“These valuable data tell the story of U.S. aquaculture. The information in this report helps trade associations, governments, agribusinesses, and others learn about aquaculture and make informed decisions that have a direct impact on the future of the industry," said NASS Administrator Joseph L. Parsons in a press release.

The USDA defines an aquaculture farm as "any place from which $1,000 or more of aquaculture products were produced and sold or distributed for restoration, conservation, enhancement, or recreation during the census year."

The full census data can be accessed via the NASS website.

<div class="paragraphs"><p>Shellfish farm on Orr's Island, Harpswell, Maine, United States.</p></div>
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