Mariculture
Mariculture, ocean-based aquaculture, has been a relatively small, but
growing, economic activity in the United States for decades,
particularly for shellfish and mollusks. As wild fisheries have
declined globally, corporations have shown interest in filling the void
by ranching and farming a wider variety of saltwater species in the
United States to supplement the commercial fishing industry.
The NOEP mariculture database offers information about
national value and production by species raised on mariculture sites
along the US coasts. Data are compiled from the National Marine
Fisheries Service, Department of Commerce, and the US Department
of Agriculture.
To give this information context, a
chronology of national legislative history that has affected this
industry is included. Individual state mariculture data will be provided
as it becomes available. More information on aquaculture and
mariculture is available at
http://aquaculture.noaa.gov/.
updated 19-Dec-2007
