Aquaculture Industry Overview

Excerpt from Aquaculture Report

The US aquaculture industry includes about 6,400 farms with combined annual revenue of more than $1 billion. No major companies dominate the industry, which is fragmented.

Competitive Landscape

Demand is driven primarily by domestic trends in fish consumption and competition from imports. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations and protecting fish stock from death and disease. Large companies have advantages in vertically integrating operations from breeding to processing and packaging. Small farms, typically those that are family-owned, can compete effectively by specializing in unusual and high-end products or offering onsite fee-fishing.

Products, Operations & Technology

Major products include catfish; mollusks, such as clams and oysters; and trout. Other products include freshwater shrimp, salmon, ornamental tropical fish, and baitfish. Some farms specialize in fee-fishing, allowing fishing enthusiasts to catch and pay for pond-caught fish.