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Global Aquaculture
Fish is one of the most traded food commodities worldwide, with more than half of fish exports by value originating in developing countries. Recent reports highlight aquaculture's tremendous potential to contribute to global food security and nutrition.
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Royal bream raised in a floating net pen in Marseille, France. Photo by Gilles Lemarchand.
In 2018, fish harvested from aquaculture around the globe amounted to 114.5 million metric tons, with an estimated first-sale value of US$160.2 billion, consisting of 49.8 million tonnes of finfish (US$99.2 billion), 16.1 million tonnes of shellfish (US$19 billion), 6.9 million tonnes of crustaceans (US$36.2 billion), and 7.3 million tonnes of other aquatic animals including frogs (US$3.7 billion). Almost all fish produced from aquaculture are destined for human consumption, although by-products may be used for non-food purposes.
Measured at the national level, 35 countries produced more farmed than wild-caught fish in 2014. This group of countries has a combined population of 3.3 billion, or 45 percent of the world’s population. Countries in this group include five major producers, namely, China, India, Viet Nam, Bangladesh, and Egypt.
Global aquaculture production is dominated by Asia (92 percent); China alone accounts for 57.8 percent. According to the most recent Fisheries of the United States report, the U.S. ranks 17th in aquaculture production.
The list of farmed species imported to the United States is dominated by shrimp, Atlantic salmon, tilapia, and shellfish (scallops, mussels, clams, and oysters). Asian countries and Ecuador supply most of the shrimp to the U.S. market while Canada, Norway, and Chile supply most of the imported Atlantic salmon.
NOAA Administrator, Dr. Richard Spinrad, Dick Jones of Blue Ocean Mariculture, and NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator, Janet Coit, at Seafood Expo North America in March 2022. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.
A researcher travels to deploy underwater video cameras to assess the ecological role and potential habitat benefits of a shellfish farm in Washington State.
Wellfleet Massachusetts Oyster Farm. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Adriane Michaelis
NOAA Administrator, Dr. Richard Spinrad, Dick Jones of Blue Ocean Mariculture, and NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator, Janet Coit, at Seafood Expo North America in March 2022. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.
Grilled oysters with BBQ chipotle butter. Credit: Hog Island Oyster Co.
A researcher travels to deploy underwater video cameras to assess the ecological role and potential habitat benefits of a shellfish farm in Washington State.