Aquaculture Economics in the United States Aquaculture is the fastest growing "agricultural" sector in the United States. In 1990 there were over 100 cultivated species; eight species accounted for approximately 70% of the total culture, with more than 3,400 aquaculture operations in the United States. This trend is driven by increased demand for fishery products and reduced yields from traditional fisheries landings (National Research Council, 1982). Given the increased demand, there is significant potential for job creation in an expanded aquaculture sector. Estimated total aquaculture production in the United States (including freshwater) more than doubled from 139,887 tons with a total value of more than $260 million in 1983 to an estimated 313,518 tons with a total value of more than $724 million dollars in 1992. (NMFS Statistics Division) The aquaculture industry supports an infrastructure of hatcheries, feed mills, processing plants, equipment manufacturers, and specialty product and service providers, as well as enhances natural fisheries with juvenile fish, seeds and mollusc spits. Annual per capita consumption in the United States of fish and shellfish has increased since the first estimates were made in 1909. At that time the per capita estimate was 11 pounds, in the 1950s and 1960s it was well under 5 pounds, and in 1993 it was 15 lbs. (U.S. Department of Commerce, 1993). Most notable was the sharp growth in consumption from 1970 (about 4 pounds) to 1990 (about 5 pounds). The domestic seafood industry has identified a goal of increasing domestic seafood consumption to 20 pounds/capita by 2000, although this seems unlikely. It is estimated that 10% - 14% of fishery products currently consumed in the United States come from aquaculture. Changing consumer preferences combined with reductions in wild fishing appear to be the dominant factor in the growth of aquaculture. (FDA, 1990) Most of the demand for U.S. seafood products is met by imports. The value of imported fishery products more than doubled during the 1980s, reaching $9.6 billion in 1989. This resulted in a significant trade deficit: $4.9 billion for all fishery products and $3.1 billion for edible fish and shellfish in 1989. Imported fishery products contribute more to the U.S. trade imbalance than any other food or agricultural product. After petroleum products, imported seafood contributes more to the U.S. trade deficit than any other natural resource product..