Sales of US aquaculture products in the country in 2023 totalled US$1.9 billion, an increase of 26% from 2018, according to the 2023 Census of Aquaculture released by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
In 2023, there were 3,453 aquaculture farms with sales in the United States, up 18% from 2018. Five states – Mississippi, Washington, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama – accounted for 55% of aquaculture sales and 49% of aquaculture farms in 2023.
Food fish and molluscs were the largest product categories for sales, with catfish and oysters the top species.
“The 2023 Census of Aquaculture, conducted every five years, expands on the data collected during the 2022 Census of Agriculture providing up to date detailed information about the production and marketing practices in the aquaculture industry,” said NASS Administrator Joseph L Parsons. “These valuable data tell the story of US 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.”
The 2023 Census of Aquaculture provides detailed information about production and methods, surface water acres and sources, sales, point of first sale outlets, and aquaculture distributed for restoration, conservation, enhancement, or recreational purposes. Data highlights include:
- The average sales per farm was $552,569
- Sales of food fish was $819.6 million, an increase of 14% from 2018
- Sales of molluscs totalled $575.5 million, an increase of 30% from 2018
- Crustacean sales in 2023 were $175.7 million, up 75% from 2018
- Catfish sales, valued at $480 million, accounted for 59% of all food fish sales in 2023
- Oyster sales, valued at $327 million, accounted for 57% of mollusc sales in 2023
- Mississippi led the nation in total aquaculture sales in 2023 with $277 million
An aquaculture farm is defined 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.
