The US Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Research Service released the 2023 Census of Aquaculture, which is conducted every five years. For shellfish data, click the link and select Tables 7 and 19.
Total farmgate sales of aquaculture products in 2023 were $1.9 billion, an increase of 26% from 2018. In 2023, there were 3,453 aquaculture farms with sales in the United States, up 18% from 2018. Five states – Mississippi, Washington, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama – accounted for 55% of aquaculture sales and 49% of aquaculture farms in 2023.
Nationwide, mollusks (clams and oysters) made up the largest number of farms – 1,140 – and were second in terms of sales – $575.4 million – an increase of 30% from 2018. In Florida, 111 growers reported $32.044 million in sales of clams, ranking second in the nation; 92 growers in the state reported $10.474 million in sales of oysters.
The 2023 Census of Aquaculture provides detailed information breaking down each major sector by state, acres used in production, sources of water, production methods, and sales by first point of sale. To access the 2023 Census of Aquaculture results and other agriculture census data, visit www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus.
