USDA releases census of aquaculture data

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service has released the 2013 Census of Aquaculture. This report is the result of the third national census conducted by NASS to measure the U.S. aquaculture industry.

The last Census of Aquaculture was conducted in 2005.

The 2013 Census of Aquaculture expands on the data collected about aquaculture during the 2012 Agriculture Census and provides a more comprehensive picture of the aquaculture sector at the national and state levels, said NASS Administrator Joseph T. Reilly.

“There is always a need for current industry-specific data and the results from the census of aquaculture will be used by federal, state and local governments, agribusinesses, trade associations and producers to make decisions impacting this specialized area of agriculture,” Reilly said.

Detailed information

The census provides detailed information relating to production volume and methods, surface water acres and sources, sales, point of first sale outlets, and aquaculture distributed for restoration, conservation, enhancement, or recreational purposes.

Data highlights

Total sales of aquaculture products in 2013 was $1.37 billion, an increase of 26 percent from 2005; sales of food fish was $732 million, an increase of 9 percent from 2005; crustacean sales in 2013 was $85 million, up 59 percent from 2005; and the sales of mollusks was $329 million, an increase of 62 percent from 2005.

For the 2013 Census of Aquaculture, an aquaculture farm is defined as any place from which $1,000 or more of aquaculture products were produced and sold or distributed for conservation, enhancement or recreation during the census year.

Aquaculture is defined as the farming of aquatic organisms, including: baitfish, crustaceans, food fish, mollusks, ornamental fish, sport or game fish and other aquaculture products.

To access the 2013 Census of Aquaculture results and other agriculture census data, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov or the Quick Stats database at http://quickstats.nass.usda.gov.