Fisheries and Aquaculture Factsheets
Abalone: Abalone have been a highly valued product for centuries, wherever cool ocean waters and kelp beds are found. Fisheries throughout the world were historically based on collecting individual abalone by hand in shallow waters, or free diving further off shore. With the advent of scuba equipment in the middle of the last century, harvest pressure on wild abalone populations increased significantly and many fisheries collapsed or were closed in attempts to conserve these mollusks. In the U.S., a tightly-regulated sport fishery for abalone continues in northern California, and farming currently occurs in both California and Hawaii.
Alligator: During the past 6 decades, production of farmed American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) for their hides and meat expanded significantly, even as the industry shifted to fewer and larger operations. Louisiana continues to dominate the industry, but there are some farms in Florida, Georgia and Texas. While the number of U.S. farms selling alligator hides has declined, the total number of hides sold each year varies due to global economic conditions and environmental impacts on nesting success (especially flooding from hurricanes and tropical storms). In 2024 267,065 farmed alligators were harvested in Louisiana, with a farm gate value of $56 million, both down considerably from previous years.
American Eel: Although not popular as a food fish in most of the United States, eels are considered a delicacy in many European and Asian countries. Traditionally, these fish have been harvested from the wild already at marketable size, but young eels are now widely captured and cultured to market size. Globally, most eel production is attributed to aquaculture of wild-caught young. Whether in Europe, Asia or North America, eel farming must rely on wild-caught juveniles because it is difficult or impossible to produce viable offspring in commercial quantities using captive spawning methods.
Aquaculture Profile: Archeological findings in China suggest that people have been cultivating aquatic crops for at least 8,000 years, but aquaculture only became a global phenomenon during the past century. As demand for fish and other seafood continues to increase, farm-raised seafood has become an important component of the world’s food supply. In fact, over half of the edible fisheries products consumed worldwide are farmed.
Aquaponics: Aquaponics refers to the integrated production of aquatic animals and plants, using the same water resources and nutrient inputs. In modern times, aquaponics are practiced within recirculating systems. Although it was probably already being practiced for centuries at the time, the first written record of aquaponic methods was published by Fan Lai in China in 500 BC. In the following centuries, the practice was adopted in other parts of eastern and southern Asia, but aquaponics may have arisen independently in a number of regions, since there are historical records of this form of integrated plant and fish culture from Japan, Peru, Egypt, Greece and Mexico.
Baitfish: For decades, the principle farm-raised baitfish species in the U.S. have been the golden shiner, the fathead minnow and the goldfish. A number of shared attributes account for their popularity among fish farmers: acceptance of manufactured feeds, ease of reproduction in captivity, adaptability to pond conditions and tolerance of handling and transport. Their long history of use in most parts of the country and lack of documented adverse impacts makes them species of minor concern for most regulatory agencies, although some states restrict the use of goldfish as bait. As a result of these characteristics these three species continue to dominate the industry.
Bluegill and Sunfish: The family Centrarchidae includes the sunfishes and also a number of other species such as the crappies and black basses. Sunfishes often do not reach very large sizes, but when they do they provide good table fare and sportfishing opportunities. At smaller sizes, they are still important forage fish for predators like bass.
Bullfrog: Many frog species are edible, but in the U.S. the American bullfrog Rana catesbeiana has long been considered the most suitable for production. In the 1970s and 1980s considerable research was conducted to develop commercial methods for bullfrog production. Subsequently, management and husbandry practices were adapted to allow continuous bullfrog production in tropical climates, but several major problems with American bullfrog culture have never been solved completely. These factors have severely limited commercial production of this species, even in tropical regions with suitable temperatures for year-round growth.
Catfish: The U.S. catfish farming industry began in earnest in the late 1950’s. Since that time many ups and downs have defined its history. On more than one occasion industry observers have predicted its demise due to competition from imported products and exorbitant cost increases for feed, energy and labor. Nonetheless, the sector has persisted thanks to new technologies and production strategies. All available data indicate that U.S. catfish farmers are now producing more fish on less land while also reducing environmental impacts. Nevertheless, the industry continues to face challenges.
Clams: Several species of clams are commonly cultured and consumed in the U.S., depending to some extent on what region of the country the farming operations and markets are located. The Hard clam, or quahog, is perhaps the most recognizable of these species. The Northern quahog, (Mercenaria mercenaria) is found along the Atlantic coast from Florida as far north as southern Canada. Northern quahogs have been introduced and established in the Gulf of Mexico and various locations along the Pacific coast of North America, as well as in Great Britain and France. Hard clams are found mainly in open waters with flat bottoms of sand or mud, burrowed just below the surface. The closely related Southern quahog (M. campechiensis) ranges from Florida to the southeastern portions of Mexico, in habitats similar to those of M. mercenaria.
Crappie: Two closely related species are commonly referred to as Crappie throughout the U.S. The White Crappie, Pomoxis annularis, was originally found in the Great Lakes and Mississippi basins, as far north as Hudson Bay, and in Gulf Coast drainages from Alabama to Texas. It has been widely introduced and is now established in almost all U.S. states and much of southern Canada. The Black Crappie, Pomoxis nigromaculatus, originally occurred throughout the eastern half of the continental U.S., and it has also been widely introduced throughout most of the lower 48 states.
Crawfish/Crayfish: By far, the largest crustacean aquaculture industry in the U.S. involves the culture of Louisiana’s red swamp crawfish and white river crawfish. Smaller harvests of farmed crawfish for human consumption occur in other states, such as Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, California and the Carolinas, but Louisiana is by far the largest producer of crawfish in the U.S.
Fee and Lease Pond Fishing Profile: Charging a fee to the public to fish privately owned waters has been practiced for over a century in the U.S. and the roots of the practice trace back to pre-colonial Europe. Even before many public waters were considered poorly managed and over-fished by the 1970’s and 1980’s, fee-fishing operations offered a convenient alternative for a variety of consumers. In the years following WWII, the concept of “pay lakes,” “fish-out ponds” or “fee-fishing ponds” gained popularity throughout the country. Unfortunately, many of these businesses were not viable in the long term, and their numbers declined over the following decades. Current variations on this business strategy include everything from pay-by-the-pound operations to long term leases, similar to hunting leases, on private lakes.
Freshwater Prawns: Freshwater shrimp, or prawns, occur throughout the world and many of the largest species belong to the genus Macrobrachium. Although four native species of Macrobrachium are found in rivers and streams in the U.S., aquaculture production of freshwater prawns in this country, and most others, is based on Macrobrachium rosenbergii, a tropical species that is native to the Indo-Pacific region.
Goldfish: The goldfish is actually a variant (or many variants, to be more precise) of the carp Carassius auratus. Although this species is native to central Asia, China and Japan in the wild, the goldfish has been introduced throughout the planet. While it is generally not considered an ecological threat to most aquatic habitats based on several hundred years of experience with accidentally or intentionally released fish, some negative impacts from introduced populations have been reported. While most well-cared-for goldfish only live a few years, the longest reported lifespan was over 40 years. Although there is considerable commercial production in sub-tropical regions of the U.S., goldfish actually prefer cool- and cold-water conditions and they have several adaptations that enhance their survival when ponds are frozen over.
Hybrid Striped Bass: The term hybrid striped bass refers here to crosses between striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and the closely related white bass (M. chrysops). The striped bass is native to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, although the Gulf populations have largely been extirpated, while the white bass was originally found throughout the Mississippi River watershed. Both fish have been widely introduced beyond their natural ranges. Striped bass were first introduced from New Jersey to California in 1879.
Koi Carp: Koi, or Nishikigoi as they were first called some 200 years ago when their cultivation began in Japan, are ornamental varieties of the Amur carp, Cyprinus rubrofuscus. For many decades they were considered to be color mutations derived from common carp but modern genetic analyses have shown this identification to be in error. The natural distribution of the true parental species includes temperate, cool-water regions of Asia and Europe. Ornamental koi carp are happy in warm water, but they can also tolerate cold winters, and this adaptability has led to their popularity among collectors and water garden enthusiasts throughout many parts of the world, including the U.S.
Largemouth Bass: The Largemouth Bass, Micropterus salmoides, is one of the most widely stocked species in inland ponds and lakes in North America. The original natural range of the largemouth was from northern Mexico to the Great Lakes, along the Gulf and south Atlantic seaboard, and cutting inland through eastern West Viginia and western Pennsylvania to the St. Lawrence River.
Marine Shrimp in Indoor Tanks: Interest in tank-based shrimp production systems has been increasing in recent years in North America. Factors driving this trend include proximity to markets and the ability to offer fresh product to consumers. This strategy also encourages competitiveness by reducing cold chain costs and markups imposed by intermediaries, both of which drive up the cost of product for consumers in most parts of the U.S.
Offshore Aquaculture Production: Interest in culturing fish in offshore cages began in Japan roughly 6 decades ago. From its inception, offshore cage culture has focused on high-value marine species that are in demand in the marketplace but are unsuited for aquaculture production in land-based ponds or tank systems. However, as recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) technology has advanced, it offers a potential alternative for production of many these marine species.
Oysters: The United States produces two major species of oysters, Crassostrea virginica (the Atlantic oyster or Eastern oyster) and the non-native Crassostrea gigas (Pacific oyster). The Eastern oyster, found primarily in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf Coast) region and the Chesapeake Bay region, historically accounts for roughly 75 percent of total U.S. harvests. Oyster production occurs throughout the world, and a variety of species and production methods are in use. According to FAO figures, in 1952 global oyster aquaculture production surpassed wild harvests for the first time – with 306,930 and 302,526 metric tons reported, respectively.
Recirculating Aquaculture Systems: Water re-use technology for fish culture began in the aquarium hobby, followed by early attempts to adapt municipal waste-water treatment methods. Over the past 50 years, a number of researchers and commercial entrepreneurs in North America, Europe and Asia have been involved in the development of technologies to allow profitable culture of aquatic species in closed, contained systems with continuous water re-use. Much of the interest in this type of production stems from the fact that many areas do not have suitable land, water resources, or climatic conditions for fish production in open ponds, cages or raceways. Additionally, these facilities can be strategically located near major markets or input suppliers.
Red Drum or Redfish: The red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, is a marine species that spawns in near shore areas, spends several years in coastal habitats, and then schools in offshore waters, often living to 30 – 50 years of age. The species occurs naturally from Veracruz, Mexico to as far north as Massachusetts. In spite of this, the species is particularly vulnerable to sudden drops in temperature, and cold-related die-offs of juveniles in inshore habitats are common occurrences in wild populations. Similar cold-related losses are typical in outdoor culture ponds and tanks.
Salmon: Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is by far the most cultured of all the salmon species. Its natural populations are distributed across the basin of the North Atlantic Ocean from the Arctic Circle to Portugal in the eastern Atlantic, from Iceland and southern Greenland, and from the Ungava region of northern Quebec south to the Connecticut River. The species has also been widely introduced throughout the Southern Hemisphere for aquaculture production. Atlantic salmon were once virtually eliminated from most of their native range in the northeastern U.S. and Canada, but restocking efforts over the past century have re-established them in many watersheds.
Sturgeon: Sturgeon are considered to be ancient fishes, and the family they belong in (the Acipenseridae) dates back to some 200 million years ago. Much of their skeletal structure is made up of cartilage rather than bone, and their bodies are covered with large, bony, modified scales known as scutes. There are 27 living species of sturgeon today, all of which are found in the northern hemisphere, with eight species occurring naturally in North America.
Tilapia: Tilapia is the third most important group of farmed fish on the planet after carps and catfishes. Geographically speaking it is the most widely grown of any farmed fish, with aquaculture production in at least 85 countries. Although there are a number of producers in the U.S., most consumption is based on imports coming from Asia and Latin America. Global supplies of farmed tilapia surged in the 1990’s and early 2000’s, largely due to widespread introduction of improved varieties, establishment of new feed mills in developing countries, effective management of reproduction through sex reversal, and expansion of consumer markets in virtually every part of the world. Production volumes are continually increasing globally, although much of the current growth is destined for domestic consumption in developing nations.
Trout: Although most trout aquaculture in the U.S. involves the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), there are two additional species of commercial importance. Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) have a natural distribution that includes northeastern North America from the Atlantic seaboard south to Cape Cod, the Appalachian Mountains southward to Georgia, westward to the upper Mississippi and Great Lakes drainages in Minnesota and northward to the Hudson Bay. Their range has been greatly expanded over the past two centuries through artificial propagation and introductions.
Turtles: The U.S. turtle hatchling industry took off when producers began maintaining breeding stock in fenced pond enclosures, and this practice has remained virtually unchanged since the 1950’s. Sanitizing and incubation techniques for eggs and hatchlings, however, have advanced significantly during the same period. In the late 1960’s, annual U.S. production of baby red-ear slider (Pseudemys scripta elegans) turtles reached 15 million hatchlings produced on 75 farms, most of which were located in Louisiana. This peak coincided with heavy domestic demand for these animals as inexpensive pets throughout the U.S.
Walleye: For decades the scientific name of the walleye was Stizostedion vitreum, but in recent years the name has been changed to Sander vitreus. The walleye was originally found throughout most of Canada and the northern half of the U.S. Naturally occurring populations in the U.S. were found from Georgia northward to New Hampshire and westward to North Dakota. The species has been widely introduced outside of its natural range and can now be found in 34 states – virtually anywhere in the U.S. where climate conditions and water temperatures are acceptable.
Yellow Perch: Yellow perch are found throughout most of Canada and from Atlantic coast watersheds into the Midwest. Their natural range in the U.S. extends from Maine to northern South Carolina and westward to Missouri and Montana. This species has also been introduced and established in a number of other states with suitable habitats. Yellow perch thrive in cool water lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams and rivers.