Molluscan shellfish aquaculture provides high quality and high value seafood for human consumption, and mollusks provide environmentally beneficial ecosystem services. In the past five decades, global fisheries and aquaculture have grown steadily, and seafood consumption per capita has increased. Molluscan shellfish has traditionally been a major component of world aquaculture. Today, mollusks are cultured in 76 countries. In the United States, molluscan aquaculture is a $329 million industry involving 756 farms in 18 states.
An 8-page fact sheet written by UF/IFAS faculty provides a review of molluscan shellfish aquaculture and production worldwide and in the United States. Molluscan shellfish habitats, culture stages and methodologies are also described. Download the fact sheet (pdf file) here.
Visit the UF/IFAS EDIS (Electronic Data Information System) website to view all current fact sheets on a variety of topics.
