Milestones

Aquaculture in Maine

Aquaculture in the U.S.

Aquaculture in the World

The U.S. is the second largest importer of seafood in the world. Less than 40% of the seafood consumed here is caught, harvested, or raised in the U.S. This currently results in a seafood trade deficit of $2 billion.

To offset this trade deficit, we cannot depend on traditional fisheries, which are in a decline all over the world due to overfishing, ill-conceived government policies, and environmental problems. Instead, the U.S. should seize this major opportunity to develop an internationally competitive aquaculture industry. Currently, the value of aquaculture production in this country ranks only tenth in the world. Nevertheless, aquaculture is the fastest growing type of agriculture in the U.S.

Aquaculture unavoidably links economic development and environmental quality an aquaculture operation must maintain a clean environment if it is to survive.