United States

As the largest economy in the world, the USA can be said to punch below its weight in terms of aquaculture.

Finfish aquaculture is dominated by catfish, trout, and salmon. Freshwater catfish farming, centred in the southeastern US, is the largest segment of US aquaculture, but there are also species such as tilapia being farmed. Hawaii has a small but thriving aquaculture sector.

The US is seeing investment in large-scale recirculating aquaculture systems, with Atlantic Sapphire already producing salmon in Florida, for example, and AquaBounty Technologies aiming to grow its genetically-modified salmon at commercial scale.

Oysters, clams, and mussels dominate shellfish aquaculture, especially in states like Washington, California, and Virginia. Kelp and other seaweeds are also gaining interest for their environmental benefits and use in food, cosmetics, and biofuels.

Marine aquaculture in the US is regulated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA), an arm of the federal government.

US aquaculture contributes more than $1.5bn (£1.19bn) annually to the economy. It provides jobs in coastal and rural communities, supporting livelihoods and small businesses.

The US imports more than 80% of its seafood, however. The lobbying group Stronger America Through Seafood argues that growing domestic aquaculture should be a strategic priority to reduce dependence on imports and enhance food security. Bipartisan legislation is currently going through Congress with the aim of enhancing planning for aquaculture growth and supporting regulation and research that encourages the industry.