Trade

In the United States in 2006, we consumed 16.5 pounds of seafood per person. Our domestic supply of seafood only satisfies about 20% of this high demand so we import the remaining 80% of the seafood we eat. The U.S. imported a record $13.4 billion worth of seafood in 2006, $1.3 billion more than 2005. Almost 5.5 billion pounds of seafood were imported in 2006, 285.2 million pounds more than in 2005. The top species imported include shrimp, tuna, salmon, groundfish (such as haddock), freshwater fish (such as tilapia), crab, and squid.

In 2006, the U.S. exported 3 billion pounds of seafood, valued at $4.2 billion, an increase of 37.9 million pounds and $164 million from 2005. The major fresh and frozen exports were salmon, surimi, and lobsters; salmon was the major canned item exported.

U.S. Seafood Imports and Exports, in Value
U.S. Seafood Imports and Exports, in Volume

Top Countries We Import From:
U.S. Imports from Major Areas, 2006, by Volume
U.S. Imports from Major Exporters, 2006, by Volume

Top 10 Imports in 2006
Shrimp was the number one import in 2006 at a quantity of 1.3 billion pounds (135.5 million pounds more than 2005) and a value of $4.1 billion, making up 31% of value of total edible imports. Over 30% of the shrimp we import comes from Thailand.

By Value
1 - Shrimp (Fresh and frozen) $4.1 billion
2 - Salmon (Fresh and frozen - fillets and steaks) $977 million
3 - Crabs (Fresh and frozen - whole) $703.4 million
4 - Freshwater (Fresh and frozen - fillets and steaks) $626.7 million
5 - Tuna (Fresh and frozen - whole) $611.2 million
6 - American lobster (Fresh and frozen) $579.1 million
7 - Tuna (Canned) $525.6 million
8 - Groundfish (Fresh and frozen - fillets and steaks) $508.8 million
9 - Salmon (Fresh and frozen - whole) $493.7 million
10 - Crabmeat (Canned) $380.7 million

By Volume
1 - Shrimp (Fresh and frozen) 1.3 billion pounds
2 - Tuna (Fresh and frozen - whole) 429 million pounds
3 - Tuna (Canned) 420 million pounds
4 - Freshwater (Fresh and frozen - fillets and steaks) 336 million pounds
5 - Salmon (Fresh and frozen - fillets and steaks) 308 million pounds
6 - Groundfish (Fresh and frozen - fillets and steaks) 269 million pounds
7 - Salmon (Fresh and frozen - whole) 200 million pounds
8 - Crabs (Fresh and frozen) 186 million pounds
9 - Freshwater (Fresh and frozen - whole) 172 million pounds
10 - Squid (Fresh and frozen) 143 million pounds

Shrimp Imports by Major Exporter, 2006, by Volume
Imports of Canned Tuna by Major Exporter, 2006, by Volume

The NMFS Office of Science and Technology has maintained a foreign trade database for several years. The office has developed a series of programs that summarize U.S. foreign trade in fisheries products dating back to 1989.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Offices of Seafood and Regulatory Affairs offer a useful resource called the Regulatory Fish Encyclopedia. It's a searchable database of over 1500 species of finfish and shellfish important in the U.S. and their acceptable market, common, vernacular, and scientific names.

Aquaculture
Aquaculture, or fish farming, is the propagation and rearing of aquatic organisms in controlled or selected environments for any commercial, recreational or public purpose. At least 40% of the seafood we import is farmed. Currently in the United States, freshwater aquaculture production (such as catfish) far outpaces marine aquaculture efforts. Domestic marine production makes up only 1.5% of U.S. seafood supply and is dominated by shellfish. Growth in domestic aquaculture can help reduce our dependence on seafood imports, meet the growing demand for seafood, create jobs, and provide additional economic opportunities for U.S. coastal communities.

NOAA's aquaculture efforts are focused on creating domestic seafood supply to meet growing demand for seafood products, within the context of NOAA's marine stewardship responsibilities. For more information, go to the NOAA Aquaculture Program website.

U.S. aquaculture production in 2005