Manufacturing Industry

Waves of opportunity for world and U.S. fish and seafood trade

AgExporter, Jan, 2003

Commercial capture fisheries still dominate world production. However, aquaculture accounts for a growing share of world fisheries production, because many countries are faced with growing demand and over-fishing of oceans.

The most commonly raised fishery products worldwide are carp, oysters, clams, mussels, salmon, shrimp and tilapia. The United States primarily raises catfish, trout, crawfish, salmon, oysters and tilapia.

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U.S. imports of fishery products are close to $10 billion a year. The U.S. trade balance for fish and seafood products is just over $3 in imports to every $1 in exports. Increased demand for shrimp has led to tremendous growth in imports. Domestic producers will face increased competition from products such as farmed salmon from Chile, shrimp from South Asia, tilapia from Ecuador and new species still under commercial aquaculture development. Ask any producer in any country, and they'll likely reply that the competition for getting a product onto your plate is intense and coming from all directions.

We import products from all over the world; Canada and Thailand are our two largest suppliers.

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While commercial capture fishing continues to provide the bulk of U.S. fish and seafood production, aquaculture production has risen rapidly as scientific advances and investments in technology continue to fuel growth.

To remain competitive, the United States needs a growing and diversified aquaculture sector. U.S. aquaculture production has been increasing steadily for more than a decade.

Prospects for commercial landing growth, on the other hand, are limited. U.S. commercial landings have good and bad years, but in many other countries, you d see a sharp overall decline in landings as past over-fishing has left fisheries managers no option but to limit harvests to rebuild stocks.

Compared with many other countries, U.S. fisheries management has been excellent, offering us greater export opportunities.

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Total Value of U.S. Seafood Industry

Commercial    $3.1 Billion
Aquaculture   $1.0 Billion
Processing    $8.3 Billion

Total        $12.4 Billion

U.S. fish and seafood production extends to all four corners of the map, although Alaska is by far the largest producer and processor.

California also has major processing operations, and Mississippi has a large catfish aquaculture industry.

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U.S. fish and seafood exports and market share have been climbing since 1998. U.S. exports reached $3.1 billion in 2001, and U.S. market share that year was boosted by increased shipments of pollock roe to Japan and South Korea and pollock filets to Germany. in 2002, U.S. exports are estimated to have remained at $3.1 billion.

U.S. sales opportunities abroad are limited by tariffs and fierce competition. In Japan, our largest market, we face stiff competition from farm-raised salmon. Previously, we held a 75-percent share of the salmon market; now we have just 40 percent.

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