The Future of US Seafood Supply

The United States today imports most the seafood it consumes. Half of these imports are from aquaculture. Domestic wild capture production is limited and US aquaculture production has declined in recent years. Policy, socioeconomic, and regulatory obstacles stand in the way of expanded US aquaculture production. In this paper, we examine the implications of two future paths for seafood supply: an increasing reliance on imports, and a shift toward increased domestic aquaculture production. We examine global trends, likely future developments in US seafood demand and supply, and implications of the path of US aquaculture development for US seafood supply and prices, employment, ecological footprint, and seafood supply security and safety. We conclude with recommendations for a path forward that serves the interests of the nation and the global community in the search for economically sound and sustainable ways to feed a growing population.