U.S. Aquaculture Market Size, Share, By Environment (Marine Water, Fresh Water, and Brackish Water), Fish Type (Carps, Mollusks, Crustaceans, Mackerel, Sea Bream, and Others), End-User (Retail, Food Processing Industry, Restaurants and Food Service, Animal Feed Industry, Pharmaceutical and Nutraceuticals Industries, and Others) - Trends, Analysis, and Forecast till 2035

• Till 2035, the target market is anticipated to expand at USD 123.0 Billion.
• The U.S. aquaculture market size was valued at USD 77.0 Billion in 2025.
• The market is growing at a CAGR of 2.8%.

Aquaculture is the practice of farming seafood. It is similar to agriculture, but done with fish, crustaceans, and shellfish. Aquaculture businesses breed and harvest plants and animals in water fresh water or sea water and prepare them for human consumption. The U.S. aquaculture market is growing due to a number of factors, including environmental concerns, technological advancements, rising focus on reducing the environmental impact, minimizing the use of antibiotics, and adopting responsible farming practices and demand for seafood.

Key Highlights:

According to the 2023 Census of Aquaculture released by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, in 2023, there were 3,453 aquaculture farms with sales in the United States, up 18% from 2018. Five states, including Mississippi, Washington, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama accounted for 55% of aquaculture sales and 49% of aquaculture farms in 2023.

Key Drivers of Target Market:

Strategic Campaign Activity Propel Industry Growth

Rising awareness and strategic campaign activity can shape consumer preferences, foster public-private collaborations, drive innovation, and increase market demand for aquaculture products, all of which contribute significantly to the U.S. aquaculture market growth.

• For instance, in November 2024, Stronger America through Seafood (SATS), a coalition of stakeholders in the U.S. aquaculture industry, has launched a month-long campaign to educate federal lawmakers and their staff about aquaculture and raise support for offshore finfish farming.

Restraints:

Serious Social Issues are Threat to the Market Expansion

The aquaculture industry and supply chains often have limited government oversight and lack transparency, heightening the risk of human rights violations and unfair labor practices. In some regions of the world, social conflicts have erupted between land users and aquaculture farmers over water supplies.

• Counterbalance Statements: Addressing the serious social surrounding aquaculture requires a multifaceted approach, including technological innovation, better governance, education, and community involvement.

Opportunities:

Growing Mergers and Partnerships among Prominent Players to Strengthen Market Outlook

Marine aquaculture partnerships benefit from the sharing of costs, products, equipment, data, and technologies. International aquaculture collaboration creates a broad scientific community that exchanges ideas, new aquaculture methods and management approaches, and emerging trends. By sharing and implementing the latest sustainable aquaculture techniques, countries can meet their marine stewardship goals while expanding access to seafood.

• For instance, in July 2024, INVE Aquaculture, as a global leader in specialized nutrition and health products for the aquaculture industry, announced a strategic partnership with Reed Mariculture Inc., the world’s leading producer of marine microalgae concentrates. This collaboration marks a significant milestone to enhance company’s distribution network in the U.S. and Canada.

The U.S. aquaculture market is divided into three categories, including end-user, fish type, and environment.

Environment

The U.S. aquaculture market is divided into three categories based on the environment: fresh water, brackish water, and marine water. The U.S. aquaculture market share is higher in the freshwater segment. Its abundance and relative ease of management are the reasons for this.

Fish Type

The U.S. aquaculture market has been separated into several categories of fish, including sea bream, mackerel, crabs, carps, and mollusks. The target market is believed to be ruled by mollusks owing to their high demand and widespread utilization in many cuisines.

End User

By end-user, the market is further subdivided into four different sectors: retail, food processing, restaurants and food service, animal feed, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals. The country's booming industry of tourism and evolving tastes among consumers have been considered to be the primary factors for restaurants and food service dominating the market.

U.S. Aquaculture Market Report Scope:

Segmentation:

By Environment:

• Marine Water
• Fresh Water
• Brackish Water

By Fish Type:

• Carps
• Mollusks
• Crustaceans
• Mackerel
• Sea Bream
• Others

By End User:

• Retail
• Food Processing Industry
• Restaurants and Food Service
• Animal Feed Industry
• Pharmaceutical and Nutraceuticals Industries
• Others

The key players operating in the U.S. aquaculture market include Cooke Aquaculture Inc.,  Cargill, Incorporated, Innovasea Systems Inc., Mowi, and among others. A number of crucial tactics, including sustainability and environmental responsibility, technical innovation, species diversification, and others, will be essential for aquaculture enterprises to remain viable and competitive in the years to come.

List of Key Players in the Market:

• Blue Harvest
• Bristol Bay Native Corporation
• The Fishin’ Company
• American Abalone Farms
• AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
• Chesapeake Bay Foundation
• Cooke Aquaculture Inc.
• Cargill, Incorporated
• Innovasea Systems Inc.
• Mowi
• Alltech
• ADM
• Wilbur-Ellis Company LLC
• Adisseo

• In December 2024, The White House National Science and Technology Council has finalized the federal government’s new aquaculture plan, the first in 40 years. This Strategic Plan for Aquaculture Economic Development outlines federal actions to advance a robust, resilient, globally competitive, and environmentally sustainable domestic aquaculture sector,” the final document states.

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