Offshore Aquaculture 

in the United States: 

Economic Considerations, 

Implications & Opportunities 

July 2008 

 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration 

Silver Spring, Maryland 
NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS F/SPO-103 

You may download an electronic version of this report from: 

http://aquaculture.noaa.gov

This document should be cited as follows: 

Rubino, Michael (editor). 2008. Offshore Aquaculture in the United States: Economic 

Considerations, Implications & Opportunities. U.S. Department of Commerce; Silver 

Spring, MD; USA. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS F/SPO-103. 263 pages. 

For more information: 

NOAA Aquaculture Program 

1315 East-West Hwy. 

SSMC #3 – Room 13117 

Silver Spring MD 20910 

(301) 713-9079 

E-mail: NOAA.Aquaculture@noaa.gov

Website: http://aquaculture.noaa.gov
Offshore Aquaculture in the 

United States: 

Economic Considerations, 

Implications & Opportunities 

Prepared by the NOAA Aquaculture Program 

From technical contributions by James L. Anderson, John Forster, Di Jin, James E. 

Kirkley, Gunnar Knapp, Colin E. Nash, Michael Rubino, Gina L. Shamshak, 

Diego Valderrama 

NOAA Aquaculture Program 

1315 East-West Hwy. 

SSMC #3 – Room 13117 

Silver Spring MD 20910 

July 2008 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Carlos M. Gutierrez, Secretary 

NATIONAL OCEANIC & ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION 

Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr. USN (Ret.), Administrator 

NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE 

James Balsiger, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries 
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

 

Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................... 1 

 Michael Rubino 

Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: 

 An Analytical Approach ....................................................... 15 

 Gunnar Knapp 

Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture ............................. 51 

 John Forster 

 

Chapter 4: Future Aquaculture Feeds and Feed Costs: 

 The Role of Fish Meal and Fish Oil .......................................... 73 

 Gina Shamshak & James Anderson 

Chapter 5: Lessons from the Development of the U.S. Broiler and 

 Catfish Industries: Implications for Offshore 

 Aquaculture in the United States ............................................... 97 

 Gina Shamshak & James Anderson 

Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations ... 117 

 Di Jin 

Chapter 7: The Potential Economic Ramifications of Offshore Aquaculture ........... 141 

 James Kirkley 

Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture ................. 161 

Gunnar Knapp 

Chapter 9: Interactions Between Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture ................... 189 

 Diego Valderrama & James Anderson 

Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States.......................... 207 

 John Forster & Colin Nash 

Chapter 11: Future Markets for Aquaculture Products .................................... 231 

 James Anderson & Gina Shamshak 

Chapter 12: Broader Issues in the Offshore Fish Farming Debate ....................... 245 

 John Forster 

Background on the Authors ...................................................................... 261 
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1 

CHAPTER 1 

Introduction 

Michael Rubino 

Twenty years ago, offshore aquaculture – fish and shellfish farming in U.S. federal 

waters – was an emerging technology with tremendous potential. The United States and other 

countries were at the forefront of an engineering and technology revolution, much like the old 

race to the moon. Bit by bit, scientists, engineers, and researchers began to figure out the “how” 

for this type of aquaculture. They developed dependable cage systems, remote feeders, 

monitoring systems, and broodstock for species that would thrive in the open ocean environment. 

Every success fueled more interest. The potential for this type of seafood production was 

obvious – so were the challenges. Could this type of aquaculture be brought online safely as a 

way to complement wild harvest? Would it be economically viable? What about license to 

operate? 

Today, aquaculture in federal waters is among the most talked-about technologies 

associated with the future of seafood production in the United States. This recent wave of interest 

in the offshore has strong roots in Chapter 24 of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy’s 

September 2004 report to Congress, An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century. In its report, the 

Commission recommended that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 

develop a comprehensive, environmentally sound permitting and regulatory program for marine 

aquaculture.1

 

In December 2004, the Administration responded to Commission recommendations with 

the President’s Ocean Action Plan. That plan specifically called for national legislation to allow 

aquaculture in U.S. federal waters. The Administration’s legislative proposal to establish a 

regulatory framework was submitted to Congress in 2005 and again in 2007. The latter proposal 

also calls for an expanded research program for all of U.S. marine aquaculture. 

 

The introduction of national legislation for marine aquaculture garnered attention in the 

media and spawned a useful and ongoing national debate about the role of domestic aquaculture 

in America’s seafood supply. That debate centers around a host of marine management, 

economic, environmental, conservation, health, social, and regulatory issues. It also includes the 

eventual design of aquaculture regulations for federal waters and associated federal programs. As 

the agency at the center of the debate, and the one that would likely be tasked with developing 

and implementing any new federal regulations, NOAA commissioned a study group composed 

of fisheries resource economists and business experts to address key economic issues associated 

with offshore marine aquaculture. That effort resulted in this report, Offshore Aquaculture in the 

United States: Economic Considerations, Implications & Opportunities. 

 

1

 Others making similar recommendations included an ad-hoc panel of the American Fisheries Society (Stickney et 

al. 2006), and the report of the Marine Aquaculture Task Force convened by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the 

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (Marine Aquaculture Task Force 2007). 
Chapter 1: Introduction 

2 

Coordinated by the NOAA Aquaculture Program, the study group, which includes some of 

the leading natural resource and fisheries economists in the United States, was asked to examine: 

• Trends and factors shaping aquaculture today; 

• Forces that will drive it in the future; 

• Inputs and outputs necessary to sustain its growth; 

• Economic consequences of offshore aquaculture development in the United States; and 

• Benefits and costs of such a domestic industry to the nation. 

Specifically, the study considers: 

• The effect on U.S. offshore aquaculture of global and national trends in seafood supply 

and demand and other factors that affect market prices, such as cost of feed and 

technology, social factors, government regulations, and access to sites. 

• Useful models from other food segments of the U.S. economy, such as the catfish and 

poultry industries. 

• Interactions between aquaculture and wild harvest fisheries. 

• Economic analyses from the broadest to the narrowest scale. 

The study also considers the broad, long-term implications of an established domestic 

offshore aquaculture industry in the United States and the role such an industry might play in 

helping to meet global demand for seafood, alternative energy, and other sustainable uses of the 

ocean. It is important to note that much of the analysis in this study, although limited to offshore 

aquaculture, applies to all U.S. aquaculture. 

Study Caveats 

Several caveats should be noted up front: 

1. Each chapter represents the efforts and views of its author(s) and not necessarily the 

views of other authors or of NOAA. 

2. This study – as well as proposed offshore aquaculture legislation and NOAA’s 

Aquaculture Program – should be understood within the context of a broader federal initiative to 

address all aspects of marine aquaculture. In addition to offshore aquaculture, this broad federal 

initiative includes coastal shellfish farming, on-shore production methods, and hatcheries to 

produce stock for private fish and shellfish farms and for marine enhancement purposes. 

 3. Environmental concerns about all forms of aquaculture are the subject of much debate 

and widely differing views. And although it was not the purpose of this study to debate these 

issues, the links between environment and economics are discussed by several of the authors. 

 4. The study has specific geographical boundaries. Its focus concerns the potential of 

marine aquaculture in open ocean or offshore locations. It is necessary also to define the term 

“offshore,” because the jurisdiction of U.S. marine waters is unique. U.S. federal waters, also 

known as the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), are the marine waters beyond the jurisdiction of 
Chapter 1: Introduction 

3 

coastal states, out to a distance of 200 miles. In most cases, the regulatory control of the states 

extends to 3 miles offshore, but two states, Florida and Texas, claim jurisdiction out to 9 miles. 

For marine aquaculture technology, separation between federal and state waters is not important. 

The complication arises with how such waters are regulated. Under current U.S. law, 

aquaculture ventures may obtain a permit to operate in most state waters. The five offshore 

commercial operations and research projects in the United States – in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, 

California, and New Hampshire – are in state waters, in locations exposed to open ocean or 

offshore conditions. But the lack of clear regulatory requirements for aquaculture in federal 

waters has all but prohibited aquaculture in the U.S. EEZ (Cicin-Sain et. al. 2005). The National 

Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007, currently pending before Congress, would clarify federal 

regulatory requirements, thus allowing businesses and individuals to obtain a permit to operate in 

federal waters. 

5. The study is concerned exclusively with the contained cultivation of fish, shellfish, and 

marine plants for food or other commercial products. In other words, the study presumes control 

and ownership of the product under cultivation by the farmer who must, therefore, have a 

property right to the waters in which he farms. 

6. The study specifically excludes consideration of marine aquaculture for enhancement 

of wild fisheries, such as the stocking of shellfish or finfish (e.g. oysters, salmon, and redfish). 

Although stock enhancement and commercial aquaculture are two uses of aquaculture hatchery 

techniques and products, the economic structure of stock enhancement directed by public 

agencies is quite different from private, commercial marine farming. 

Background 

This is not the first time the United States has been urged to embrace marine aquaculture. 

In 1969, the Stratton Commission on Marine Science, Engineering and Resources published the 

seminal ocean policy report, Our Nation and the Sea.2

 That report had a profound influence over 

the next three decades on many marine activities, including aquaculture. It gave birth to NOAA 

as the nation’s “Ocean’s Agency,” and was responsible for an immediate explosion of interest in 

sustainable uses of the sea and the protection of its ecosystems. It spawned ideas such as 

“farming the sea,” and inspired the idea of a “Blue Revolution,” comparing it to the “Green 

Revolution” in agriculture. 

Perhaps the Stratton Commission recommendations were too ambitious. Marine 

aquaculture did not take off in the United States as it did elsewhere in the world. For many 

reasons, America’s aquaculture industry, though vibrant and diverse, currently meets only 7.2% 

of our demand for seafood. Most of this is catfish. Marine aquaculture, largely in the form of 

oysters, clams, mussels, and salmon, supplies only about 1.5% of American seafood demand 

(NMFS 2007a). By contrast, in the past 30 years, aquaculture production in the rest of the world 

has expanded dramatically and now supplies almost half of world seafood demand (FAO 2006; 

Delgado et al. 2003). The upward trend is likely to continue. The United Nations Food and 

Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated that an additional 40 million metric tons (mmt) of 

aquatic food will be required by 2030 over and above the 2005 worldwide consumption of 105.5 

 

2

 http://www.lib.noaa.gov/edocs/stratton/ 
Chapter 1: Introduction 

4 

mmt (FAO 2006). FAO projects that most of this increase will be supplied by aquaculture. Few 

fisheries managers expect future increases in landings from commercial fisheries either in the 

United States or worldwide. So even if wild stocks are managed at sustainable levels, they will 

be unable to meet the increasing worldwide demand for seafood (Delgado et al. 2003; FAO 2006; 

The World Bank 2007). 

Where have these developments left the United States? Globalization has profoundly 

affected U.S. seafood trade. We now import 80% of our seafood – 2.4 mmt or 5.4 billion pounds 

per year valued at $13.4 billion in 2006 (NMFS 2007a). These imports, about half from 

aquaculture, were paid for with weaker U.S. dollars against a background of ever-increasing 

global seafood demand. We also export about half of our wild catch to markets in Asia and 

elsewhere. This global trade has affected which species Americans eat. Modest growth in per 

capita U.S. seafood consumption is occurring almost exclusively among aquaculture-based 

species. Seafood consumption figures for 2006 show that, since 1992, salmon is up 128%, 

shrimp is up 76%, and catfish is up 6%. The consumption of tilapia, now in demand throughout 

the country, was not even measured in 1992. In contrast, U.S. consumption of many traditional 

U.S. fish has fallen since 1992—cod is down 53%, clams are down 15%, tuna is down 17%, and 

flatfish dropped off the top-10 list of most consumed species. Only scallop consumption is up, 

just over 13%, since 1992. 

Aquaculture not only increases the current seafood supply, but also reduces supply 

uncertainty and provides consumers a consistent, affordable product available year-round. In 

addition to consumers, some segments of the U.S. economy have participated in and benefited 

from the worldwide growth in aquaculture. U.S. companies, investors, and farmers have 

participated in the global aquaculture industry by exporting technology, equipment, seedstock, 

services, investment, feed, and grain. A significant, but undocumented, portion of U.S. seafood 

imports are linked to these exports. 

In addition to supply and production trends, health and nutritional concerns are likely to 

affect seafood consumption in the United States. Doctors and nutritionists are urging Americans 

to eat more seafood to improve their health (Mozaffarian and Rimm, 2006; Institute of Medicine, 

2006). But if Americans increase their seafood consumption from one to two meals per week, 

where will this seafood come from? Right now, we have a choice – we can continue to import 

increasing amounts of seafood, most of it from aquaculture, or grow some of it here. 

Offshore aquaculture is one of the new frontiers for marine aquaculture production that 

could supply this growing demand. The others include raising marine species in closed systems 

(tanks), in ponds with low salinity water, and with new or improved methods of culturing 

seafood in coastal areas. All of these methods have their opportunities and challenges. 

Aquaculture is being pushed to offshore and land-based locations in the United States and 

elsewhere due to competition for uses of coastal waters, high coastal land values, and poor water 

quality in many coastal areas due to runoff from human activities on land (Cicin-Sain et. al. 

2005). 

As for the offshore, the U.S. EEZ is huge. It covers 3.5 million square miles or 9 million 

km2—20% more than U.S. lands—and spans Arctic to tropical marine habitats. Though not all 
Chapter 1: Introduction 

5 

of the space in the EEZ can be used for aquaculture, conservative estimates show that less than 

500 km2 (less than 0.01% of the U.S. EEZ) would be enough to produce up to 600,000 metric 

tons or more of additional farmed seafood per year (Nash 2004). From the Atlantic and 

Caribbean to Alaska, the West Coast, Hawaii and the U.S. Trust Territories, this area spans a 

wide range of ocean conditions and habitats, making it feasible to farm an equally wide range of 

different aquatic species. 

Culture of finfish, shellfish, and seaweeds in offshore waters is now technically feasible 

as shown by the dozens of commercial operations around the world using offshore aquaculture 

technologies. The United States is a leader in this type of aquaculture and in many related 

technologies. Currently, most of the emphasis worldwide is on the offshore farming of finfish 

because of market demand. However, shellfish, especially filter feeding bivalves such as 

mussels and scallops, can also be farmed offshore, as can seaweeds. Polyculture of finfish, 

shellfish, and algae in open ocean situations is also being pioneered in Canada, Spain, and 

elsewhere. 

As in all new businesses, those who practice offshore aquaculture will learn by 

experience and will adapt through technical advances to the selective pressures of commerce and 

regulations. However, offshore aquaculture can only be established in the United States if 

operators are allowed to try it. Based on discussions at the 2007 National Marine Aquaculture 

Summit organized by NOAA, and discussions in other forums, investors and would-be investors 

in U.S. offshore aquaculture believe the biggest barriers to progress are the current lack of clear 

regulations to allow them access to needed marine waters and the certainty of operation,3

 

Without clear rules: 

• Entrepreneurs, fishermen, and others will not be allowed to try offshore aquaculture in 

the U.S. except in a few open ocean locations in state waters; 

• U.S. investors and others will continue to set up offshore operations in other countries 

and may invest in other forms of aquaculture, such as land-based systems; and 

• Americans may lose opportunities created by local production of seafood under U.S. 

laws. 

U.S. investors are not waiting for the federal government to sort out its regulatory requirements. 

They are investing in offshore aquaculture in other areas, including the Caribbean and Latin 

America. Other countries such as Japan, Korea, Ireland, Norway, China, and Spain are working 

on offshore aquaculture technology and legal regimes (Lee and O’Bryen 2004; Ryan 2004).4

 In 

2007, the European Union established an Offshore Aquaculture Technology Platform project 

with partners from 16 European Union countries and Norway.5

 

 

3

 See summary of National Marine Aquaculture Summit held in June 2007 in Washington, D.C. at 

http://aquaculture.noaa.gov. 4

 Also see conference program for Offshore Mariculture2006 held in Malta, Oct 11-13, 2006 at 

www.offshoremariculture.com/programme.cfm. 5

 See www.marine.ie/home/aboutus/newsroom/pressreleases/Offshore+Aquaculture+Workshop.htm and 

www.EATPnet.eu
Chapter 1: Introduction 

6 

Opportunities and Challenges Considered in the Study 

In examining the economic feasibility of U.S. offshore aquaculture, several authors 

highlight opportunities and challenges facing this new industry, including competitive 

advantages and disadvantages, economic viability and effects, competition between aquaculture 

and wild catch, and links between environmental and economic issues.

Competitive Advantages and Disadvantages

The United States presents offshore aquaculture producers with a number of advantages: 

• A huge area in which to farm (the U.S. EEZ). 

• Well-developed coastal infrastructure. 

• A strong home market. 

• Excellent fresh and frozen food distribution systems. 

• High-value niche markets for fresh, whole, live, eco-label, or certified products. 

• An educated workforce and people with excellent animal husbandry skills. 

• U.S.-produced feed ingredients. 

• Strong property laws. 

• Leading offshore aquaculture equipment designers and manufacturers. 

• Strong research and extension capabilities. 

To put these advantages to good use, however, U.S. offshore aquaculture producers must 

overcome several disadvantages or constraints, including the following: 

• High coastal land values for tourism and housing competing for space for shore-side 

hatchery, landing, and processing facilities. 

• Complex regulations in state waters and lack of clear regulations for federal waters. 

• Competition from other uses of coastal and offshore waters, such as unobstructed 

views, recreational boating and fishing, commercial fishing, and shipping. 

• Competition from low-cost imported seafood. 

• High labor costs for processing of seafood products. 

• Rising costs of inputs such as energy and feed. 

• Concerns by fishermen about competition from aquaculture. 

• Concerns about environmental effects of aquaculture. 

• Technological and transport (distance from shore) challenges. 

In examining competitive advantages and constraints, several of the authors looked at 

how the experience of the poultry and catfish industries may apply to offshore aquaculture. The 

U.S. broiler industry, the world’s largest producer and exporter of poultry meat, is competitive 

because it is technically advanced and highly efficient, and has ready access to home-grown feed 

and raw materials. The growth of the freshwater catfish industry in the United States, and the 

catfish industry’s recent difficulties due to rising feed costs and competition from imported 

catfish substitutes, also provide a model and lessons learned for a domestic offshore aquaculture 

industry. 
Chapter 1: Introduction 

7 

Economic Viability and Economic Effects

Several authors show that offshore aquaculture can be economically viable and examine 

the potential economic effects of offshore aquaculture. For example: 

• Spreadsheet or business models for offshore aquaculture projects based on technology 

now in use in New Hampshire, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico show that culture of finfish 

and mussels can be profitable under certain cost and revenue conditions.6 

• An input output model predicts that full- and part-time jobs created across all sectors 

per thousand metric tons of production per year will number 102 for mussels, 261 for 

salmon, 475 for cod, and 683 for scallops (meats), increasing employment numbers 

reflecting higher selling prices for these products.7 

The authors also note that a variety of Americans may benefit from offshore aquaculture, 

including the following: 

• Consumers will benefit by having access to affordable, locally and regionally 

produced, safe, and healthy seafood. The seafood supply, marketing, and food 

service industries, including supermarkets and restaurants, will have access to 

additional U.S. supplies of seafood, thereby reducing supply risks. 

• Aquaculture and wild capture fisheries are part of a spectrum of seafood production 

techniques with many synergies. Boat owners (including fishermen) will be owner 

operators or hired by offshore operations. Seafood processing waste is used in 

making fish feed. The whole seafood supply chain, from boats to docks to processing 

plants to cold storage, benefits from having predictable and increased throughput 

from aquaculture. Marine aquaculture may help keep working waterfronts alive. 

• Finite supplies of fish meal and oil for fish feed may limit the expansion of 

aquaculture and has raised questions about aquaculture’s environmental sustainability 

unless alternatives can be found (FAO 2006). But not only does the United States 

have its own fish meal and oil menhaden and sardine fisheries, its researchers are 

among the world leaders in development of alternatives, such as feeds from 

soybeans, algae, yeasts, and other products. Aquaculture is a growing market for the 

nation’s farmers, some of whose crops can be used in aquaculture feeds. The United 

Soybean Board’s Soy in Aquaculture Program is an example.8

 There are also fishery 

wastes from the abundant fisheries of Alaska that could be made into fish meal and 

oil if there were incentive to do so. 

• American companies have pioneered and are leaders in the design of offshore 

containment systems, hatcheries, and alternative feeds. Global markets for their 

products and services beckon. A strong home market will reinforce their position. 

• Research at U.S. hatcheries directed at commercial marine aquaculture (fingerling 

and spat production for grow-out on land or in nearshore or offshore facilities) will 

 

6

 In addition to the firm level analyses in this report, see Hoagland, et al. 2004; Jin et al. 2005; Kam, et al. 2003; 

Lipton and Kim, 2007; and Forster 1996. 

7

 For another look at the potential economic impacts of offshore aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico see Posadas, 

2004. 

8

 http://www.soyaqua.org 
Chapter 1: Introduction 

8 

benefit not only commercial aquaculture, but the beneficiaries of stock enhancement 

practices. U.S. hatcheries grow finfish and shellfish to enhance recreational and 

commercial fishing stocks and to restore endangered species and habitat. 

Competition between Aquaculture and Wild Catch

Several of the authors in this report consider the questions raised by competition and 

synergies with aquaculture.9

 The effect of increased U.S. aquaculture on U.S. wild caught 

fisheries will depend in part on whether new markets are created for increased U.S. aquaculture 

production, how fast and at what volumes new production comes to the market, whether new 

U.S. aquaculture production is a substitute for existing wild catch or imports, and whether U.S. 

fishermen participate in aquaculture production. 

At the NOAA National Marine Aquaculture Summit in June 2007, and in other venues 

from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Northwest, some commercial fishermen and others have 

expressed concern that aquaculture will hurt wild harvest in the United States. It is clear that 

aquaculture products, whether imported or domestic, compete with wild caught fisheries. They 

also compete with chicken, beef, and pork. Studies have also shown that global aquaculture 

production, notably of salmon and shrimp, contributed to reduced market prices for U.S. wild 

caught and farmed U.S. shrimp and for U.S. salmon caught from both wild and hatchery raised 

and released stocks (Knapp et al. 2007). 

What is also clear – and often missing from the discussion of competition – is that 

competition will exist with or without domestic aquaculture. The marketplace is global and 

demand for seafood products is growing. The United States cannot meet consumer seafood 

demand through wild caught fishing activities alone. Seafood imports and other forms of 

protein, such as beef and chicken, already provide significant competition. Seafood business 

executives speaking at the National Marine Aquaculture Summit said that if seafood is not 

available from U.S. sources, their customers are demanding that they get it somewhere else 

(NMFS 2007b). The challenge therefore is to integrate aquaculture into domestic seafood 

production so that U.S. boat owners, fishermen, processors, and marketing companies can 

benefit directly. 

Environmental Issues

As noted among the caveats, environmental concerns with regard to aquaculture are the 

subject of much debate and widely differing views, and the links between environment and 

economics are discussed by several of the authors. These authors and others note that 

competitive pressures, innovation, and efficient regulations are pushing aquaculture toward best 

management or sustainable practices. The awareness of environmental constraints and issues is 

timely, and even essential for the aquaculture industry for several reasons: 

• Climate change and the quality of ocean resources may directly affect the growing 

environment and resources available to aquaculture. 

• The aquaculture industry may have no choice but to move to more efficient practices as 

feed, clean water, and energy are likely to become scarce or more expensive (see Food 

and Agriculture Organization, 2006, and The World Bank, 2007). 

 

9

 Also see Kristofersson and Anderson, 2005; Anderson, 2002; and Barnaby and Adams, 2002. 
Chapter 1: Introduction 

9 

• Application of designs and management practices termed sustainable, smart design, 

green, or eco-effective are a way to address some environmental issues (McDonough and 

Braungart, 1998 and 2002). 

• Companies following these designs are likely to have access to high-value niche markets 

and shelf space at supermarkets and restaurants that require eco-certification of seafood 

products. 

What Will Offshore Aquaculture Look Like in the United States? 

In this study, the authors present a framework for analyzing the economics of offshore 

aquaculture, preliminary results from economic models, and lessons learned from related sectors. 

Several of the authors show that offshore aquaculture can be economically viable under certain 

cost and revenue conditions. Viable operations will in turn create jobs from coastal communities 

to the country’s farming heartland. The initial commercial finfish and mussels operations in 

open ocean locations in state waters have been successful enough to attract imitators and for 

additional investment to continue and expand their businesses. But their long-term success is by 

no means guaranteed. Current or future offshore aquaculture faces numerous economic and 

social challenges, as outlined in this report. 

In my view, if offshore aquaculture proceeds in U.S. federal waters, various scales and 

regional approaches are likely to emerge. Right now, offshore aquaculture is still in its infancy. 

On top of that, U.S. aquaculture is diverse, and the regulatory structure for offshore aquaculture 

is still uncertain, so the technologies, species grown, cost structures, markets, and corporate 

structures of future offshore operations are still unknown. However, the pioneering offshore 

aquaculture ventures and research projects in U.S. state waters provide some indications of 

where the industry might be headed during the next decade.10 For example: 

• Cates International and Kona Blue Water Farms in Hawaii, and Snapperfarm in Puerto 

Rico, are pioneers of commercial open ocean finfish farming. They are selling product 

into high-value niche markets, they have demonstrated sufficiently positive results to 

attract additional investment from U.S. investors, and they are seeking to expand current 

operations. If the expansions are successful, these operations will be medium-sized 

commercial finfish operations, each producing about 500 to 1,000 metric tons of marine 

fish per year. 

• A fisherman–owned and operated mussel farm off the coast of New Hampshire, Isle of 

Shoals Mussels, is using techniques pioneered by the University of New Hampshire’s 

Atlantic Marine Aquaculture Center. The systems use floating submersible longlines 

anchored to the bottom (Fish Farming International, 2007). A similar private venture, 

Santa Barbara Mariculture, is located off the coast of California. Both operations 

harvested product and sold into commercial markets in 2007. The New Hampshire and 

Massachusetts Sea Grant programs also report interest from fishermen from Maine to 

Massachusetts who are considering this type of mussel farming.11 

 

10 For a review of U.S. projects see Barnaby 2006. 11 Roland Barnaby and Richard Langan, 2008, personal communications. 
Chapter 1: Introduction 

10 

• Great Bay Aquaculture in New Hampshire, one of the principal commercial suppliers of 

fingerlings to the marine aquaculture industry and research institutions, is producing 

species that are or could be used in offshore aquaculture, such as cobia and cod. 

Offshore aquaculture is likely to undergo changes if it is permitted to move forward in 

the U.S. For example, if a regulatory framework is put in place, we might expect 10 years of 

experimentation and different approaches similar to the operations already in place in state 

waters. Total production is likely to be modest, with sales focused on niche markets (such as 

live, fresh, and certified markets). If one or more approaches are successful, rapid expansion 

could occur in the second decade. This has been the pattern in other aquaculture sectors around 

the world. 

Niche market production will not supply the large quantities needed by supermarkets, 

restaurant chains, and the food service industry that depend on commodity products. While 

larger volumes have been supplied by many small operations in some parts of Asia, larger 

volume production in the United States is more likely to be supplied by vertically integrated 

operations similar to salmon, sea bass, and sea bream operations in Europe, Canada, and Chile. 

 The type of ownership and structure of small and large offshore operations in the United 

States also remains to be seen. All five of the small U.S. commercial offshore finfish and mussel 

operations were started by U.S. citizens active in commercial fishing and seafood businesses. 

Future participants in offshore aquaculture may include U.S. and foreign corporations and 

fishermen’s cooperatives, as have been formed in Italy and Japan (Barnaby and Adams 2002) or 

similar combinations. 

 As noted in the 2007 NOAA 10-Year Plan for Marine Aquaculture, the United States 

stands at a critical juncture in the development and implementation of marine aquaculture in our 

nation. Future demands for healthy, safe, and local seafood will require many forms of 

aquaculture. Offshore aquaculture can be an important component of future domestic marine 

aquaculture if a regulatory framework is put in place and if offshore production proves to be 

financially sustainable. This report raises and discusses key questions about the economic 

viability and effects of offshore aquaculture. NOAA and others will continue to examine these 

issues and, as questions are raised, analyzed, and discussed, the answers will determine what 

U.S. marine aquaculture looks like 10 and 20 years from now. 

References 

Anderson, J.L. 2002. Aquaculture and the Future: Why Fisheries Economists Should Care. 

Marine Resource Economics 17:133-151. 

Barnaby, R. and S. Adams. 2002. Aquaculture: Opportunity or Threat to Traditional Capture 

Fishermen? Fish Farmer 24(2):71-78. 

Barnaby, R. 2006. Growing Seafood in the Open Ocean. New Hampshire Sea Grant Technical 

Report. Durham, NH. 
Chapter 1: Introduction 

11 

Cicin-Sain, B., et. al. 2005. An Operational Framework for Offshore Marine Aquaculture in U.S. 

Federal Waters. Technical Report. Center for Marine Policy, University of Delaware. 

Delgado, C.L., N.Wada, M.W. Rosegrant, S.Meijer, and M.Ahmed. 2003. Fish to 2020: Supply 

and Demand in Changing Markets. International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, 

D.C. Available at http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/books/fish2020book.htm 

Fish Farming International. 2007. Offshore Mussel Farm is USA First. Fish Farming 

International, November 2007, p.7. 

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2006. State of World Aquaculture. 

FAO Fisheries Technical Paper 500. 

Forster, J. 1996. Cost and Market Realities in Open Water Aquaculture. In Polk, M. (ed.) Open 

Ocean Aquaculture: Proceedings of an international conference. Portland, ME. New 

Hampshire/Maine Sea Grant College Program. Report # UNHMP-CP-SG-96-9: 137-149. 

Hoagland, P., H.L. Kite-Powell, and D. Jin. 2004. Business Planning handbook for the Ocean 

Aquaculture of Blue Mussels. Marine Policy Center. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, 

Woods Hole, MA. 

Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. 2006. Seafood Choices: Balancing Benefits 

and Risks. National Academies Press, Washington, D.C. 

Jin, D., H. Kite-Powell, and P. Hoagland. 2005. Risk Assessment in Open-Ocean Aquaculture: A 

Firm-Level Investment-Production Model. Aquaculture Economics and Management 9:369-387. 

Kam, L.E., P. Leung, and A.C. Ostrowski. 2003. Economics of Offshore Aquaculture of Pacific 

Threadfin (Polydactulus sexfilis) in Hawaii. Aquaculture 223(2):63-87. 

Knapp, G., C.A. Roheim, and J.L. Anderson. 2007. The Great Salmon Run: Competition 

Between Wild and Farmed Salmon. TRAFFIC North America. World Wildlife Fund, 

Washington, D.C. 

Kristofersson, D. and J.L. Anderson. 2005. Is There a Relationship Between Fisheries and 

Farming? Interdependence of Fisheries, Animal Production, and Aquaculture. Marine Policy

30: 721-725. 

Lee, C. and P.J. O’Bryen. 2007. Open Ocean Aquaculture: Moving Forward. Oceanic Institute, 

Waimanalo, Hawaii. 

Lipton, D.W. and D.H. Kim. 2007. Assessing the Economic Viability of Offshore Aquaculture 

in Korea: An Evaluation based on Rock Bream, Oplegnathus fasciatus, Production. Journal of 

the World Aquaculture Society 38(4):506-515. 
Chapter 1: Introduction 

12 

Marine Aquaculture Task Force. 2007. Sustainable Marine Aquaculture: Fulfilling the Promise; 

Managing the Risks. Takoma Park, MD. Available at 

http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/Protecting_ocean_life/Sustai

nable_Marine_Aquaculture_final_1_07.pdf 

McDonough, W. and M. Braungart. 1998. The NEXT Industrial Revolution. The Atlantic 

Monthly 282(4):82-92. 

McDonough, W. and M. Braungart. 2002. Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make 

Things. North Point Press, New York. 

Mozaffarian, D. and E.B. Rimm. 2006. Fish Intake, Contaminants, and Human Health. Journal 

of the American Medical Association 296(15):1885-1899. 

Nash, C.E. 2004. Achieving Policy Objectives to Increase the Value of the Seafood Industry in 

the United States: The Technical Feasibility and Associated Constraints. Food Policy 29:621-

641. 

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 2007a. Fisheries of the United States 2006. U.S. 

Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmostpheric Administration, NMFS, Office of 

Science and Technology, Fisheries Statistics Division. Also see 

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/fishwatch/trade_and_aquaculture.htm 

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 2007b. Summary of the National Marine 

Aquaculture Summit. Available at 

http://aquaculture2007.noaa.gov/pdf/summitsum_web_1_08.pdf 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2007. NOAA 10 Year Plan for Marine 

Aquaculture. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration. Available at http://aquaculture.noaa.gov 

Posadas, B.C. 2004. Potential Economic Impact of Commercial Offshore Aquaculture in the 

Gulf of Mexico. Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant publication MASGP 04-036. 

Rubino, M.C. 2007. Remarks: Keynote for Symposium on Environmental Impacts of Coastal 

Ocean Aquaculture, American Fisheries Society Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 5, 

2007. Available at http://aquaculture.noaa.gov/pdf/afs_07_rubino.pdf 

Rubino, M.C. 2007. At the Crossroads: A Perspective on the Future of US Aquaculture. Fish 

Farming News 6:14-16. 

Ryan, J. 2004. Farming the Deep Blue. Irish Sea Fisheries Board and Irish Marine Institute. 

Stickney et al. 2006. Toward Sustainable Open Ocean Aquaculture in the United States. 

Fisheries 31:583-610. 
Chapter 1: Introduction 

13 

The World Bank. 2007. Changing the Face of the Waters: The Promise and Challenge of 

Sustainable Aquaculture. The World Bank, Washington, D.C. 
14 

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15 

CHAPTER 2 

Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: 

An Analytical Approach 

Gunnar Knapp 

This chapter presents an analytical approach for thinking about the economic potential for 

offshore aquaculture in the U.S. We review basic economics of aquaculture and discuss major 

factors which might affect the costs, prices, profitability, and competitiveness of such an 

industry. 

Introduction 

Our purpose is not to analyze the economic viability of any of the numerous, potential 

types of domestic offshore fish farming. The costs, prices, and economic viability of offshore 

fish farms may vary widely depending on species, location, technology, scale, and regulations. 

Rather, this chapter suggests a way of thinking about the economic viability of U.S. offshore fish 

farming in a logical and systematic manner. The discussion focuses mainly on offshore finfish 

farming rather than offshore shellfish farming, although many of the considerations in assessing 

economic potential are similar for both types of offshore aquaculture. 

Box 2.1. Definitions for Selected Terminology Used in this Chapter.

Offshore aquaculture. Aquaculture in exposed ocean waters. As used in this chapter, offshore 

aquaculture does not necessarily mean aquaculture in federal waters. 

Inshore aquaculture. Marine aquaculture in inshore waters (all marine aquaculture other than 

offshore aquaculture). 

Type of offshore aquaculture. Farming of a particular species using a particular kind of 

technology. 

Fish farm. An aquaculture operation (including both finfish and shellfish). 

Economic viability. Whether or not a particular type of fish farming is likely to be profitable. 

Economic potential. The scale at which a particular type of fish farming is likely to be 

economically viable, as measured (for example) in aggregate annual production. 

We begin by discussing three major challenges in assessing the economic potential for 

U.S. offshore aquaculture. These are: 1) the limited experience to date with offshore 

aquaculture and the likelihood of continued change in key factors affecting economic potential, 

including technology, feed costs, and markets; 2) the diversity of potential types of offshore 

aquaculture; and, 3) the importance of the regulatory regime in affecting economic potential. 

We next present a theoretical framework for thinking about the potential economic 

viability and economic potential of U.S. offshore aquaculture, using elementary supply and 

demand analysis. The main purpose of this discussion is to show that the economic viability of 

U.S. offshore fish farms depends on both supply and demand conditions both for U.S. offshore 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

16 

fish farms and for all other competing sources of supply. What matters is not whether 

competitors can produce fish at a lower cost, but whether they can produce enough fish at a 

lower cost to keep prices below levels at which U.S. offshore farming is profitable. The 

economic viability of U.S. offshore fish farming may change over time, in response to changes in 

the costs of conducting business, changes in competitors’ costs, or changes in demand. 

Next discussed are the basic economics of aquaculture: the major factors affecting fish 

farming costs and prices. We discuss four broad types of costs: facilities cost, feed cost, 

juveniles cost, and other operating costs, as well as the major factors that affect these costs. 

We next consider the potential competitiveness of U.S. offshore fish farms: reasons for 

which their costs and prices might be higher or lower than those of competitors supplying the 

same markets. We first discuss the competitiveness of offshore farming relative to inshore 

faming, and then the competitiveness of United States offshore farming relative to offshore 

farming in other countries. 

We then briefly discuss how economic modeling may be used to examine the economic 

viability of a fish farm. For purposes of illustration, we present a simple economic model of a 

hypothetical offshore fish farm raising a hypothetical fish species. 

We conclude by considering the limits of economic studies for assessing potential longterm economic viability of industries with rapidly evolving markets and technology. It is 

suggested that the ultimate test of the economic viability of U.S. offshore aquaculture is the 

market. Without an enabling regulatory framework, such a test cannot happen and U.S. offshore 

aquaculture will not develop. 

Finally, general observations are made about the economic potential for U.S. offshore 

aquaculture. 

Challenges in Assessing the Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture

There are several fundamental challenges in assessing the economic potential for U.S. 

offshore aquaculture. 

A first challenge is that the world offshore aquaculture industry is still in its infancy. In 

both the United States and other countries, there has been very limited experience with offshore 

aquaculture. As we discuss below, the economic potential for offshore aquaculture is likely to 

grow over time, for reasons including growing world demand for fish; growing demand for land, 

fresh water, and inshore waters for uses other than agriculture and aquaculture; and 

improvements in offshore aquaculture technologies. But we do not know how rapidly these 

changes may occur or what their cumulative effects might be. The farther we look into the 

future, the less certain we can be about the key factors which affect the economic potential for 

U.S. offshore aquaculture: what aquaculture technologies may evolve, what the resulting cost 

structures may be for onshore and offshore aquaculture, what prices of fish and other competing 

proteins will be, and how costs and prices for U.S. offshore fish farms may vary from those of 

competing nations. 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

17 

A second challenge is that potential U. S. offshore aquaculture is very diverse. The 

United States has a very large exclusive economic zone with waters ranging from arctic to 

tropical. There are many different species which could be farmed in the U.S. EEZ, using many 

different types of technologies. Thus, there is not a single answer about the economic potential 

for U.S. offshore aquaculture. Rather, there are many answers for different regions, species, and 

technologies. 

A third challenge is that the economic potential for U.S. offshore aquaculture depends 

critically on how it is regulated. How offshore aquaculture is regulated will directly affect where 

it may be developed, the species which may be farmed, the scale of projects which may be 

developed, the technologies which may be used, and costs such as environmental monitoring and 

taxes. How offshore aquaculture is regulated will also directly affect how long it takes for 

projects to be permitted and developed and the costs and risks associated with regulatory 

uncertainty and legal challenges. Thus, part of the answer to the question “what kind of offshore 

aquaculture could we have?” depends upon the answer to the question, “what kind of offshore 

aquaculture do we want?” 

For all of these reasons, this chapter offers no definitive conclusions about the economic 

potential for specific types of U.S. offshore aquaculture. Rather, it frames a way of looking at 

the issues and suggests some tentative and general conclusions. 

Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: Insights from Supply and Demand 

Analysis 

Supply and demand analysis provides a useful starting point for thinking about factors 

affecting the economic potential for U.S. offshore aquaculture. Here, we use supply and demand 

analysis to examine how potential competition from U.S. inshore farms1

, foreign farms, and wild 

fisheries might affect the economic potential for U.S. offshore farms. 

 

For the purposes of this discussion, all of the supply and demand curves are given for fish 

of the same species.2

 For different real-world species, the supply and demand curves would 

have different shapes—with different implications for economic potential. 

As we discuss in greater detail later in this chapter, each existing or potential farming 

operation for a particular species has a cost of production per pound. This cost may be expressed 

as the sum of costs per pound for facilities, feed, juveniles, and other operating costs.3

 These 

costs may vary between farms depending on their location, type of technology, scale of the 

operation, and the costs of various factor inputs (labor, energy, etc.). A farm is economically 

 

1

 We use the term “inshore farms” to refer to marine aquaculture operations that are not “offshore”—in other words, 

farms in protected waters with limited exposure. For purposes of this discussion, we exaggerate the distinction 

between “inshore” and “offshore farming.” In reality, there is a continuum between “inshore” and “offshore” 

farming, as farming occurs in waters of progressively greater depth, exposure, and distance from shore. 

2

 Alternatively, they could be viewed as being for multiple species which are close market substitutes. 3

 By “facilities cost per pound” we refer to the cost per pound of multi-year investments in pens, vessels, and other 

facilities, expressed on an equivalent annual cost per-pound basis, and including a rate of return equal to the riskadjusted opportunity cost of capital. 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

18 

viable if and only if the price it receives per pound is greater than or equal to the total cost of 

production per pound (including the risk adjusted cost of capital). 

As illustrated in Figure 2.1, we may plot the costs of all existing and potential fish farms 

for a particular species on a graph, with costs per pound on the vertical axis, and annual 

production on the horizontal axis arranged in ascending order of cost per pound. Plotted in this 

way, the total costs per pound form a supply curve for the species: the horizontal axis shows the 

volume of fish production that is economically viable at any given price per pound. 

Figure 2.1. Hypothetical short-run fish supply and demand curves. 

$0.00

$0.50

$1.00

$1.50

$2.00

$2.50

1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 9,000 10,000 11,000 12,000 13,000

Volume of production

Cost and price per pound of annual production

Facilities cost

Other operating costs

Feed cost

Juveniles cost

Low cost farms Medium cost farms Marginally

economic farms

Unprofitable highcost farms

(not in business)

Demand curve for 

fish

PROFITS Supply curve for fish

We may also plot a demand curve in the same figure, showing the volume of fish that is 

demanded at any given price. In the example shown in Figure 2.1, the demand curve and the 

supply curve determine the equilibrium price ($1.50/lb) and aggregate production (10,000 metric 

tons). 

Note that in this example, low-cost farms and medium-cost farms are earning profits. 

The marginally economic farms are earning zero profits and are just able to stay in business. 

Unprofitable high-cost farms are not in business. 

This simple figure illustrates a basic but important point in considering the economic 

potential for offshore aquaculture. It is possible for a fish farm to be economically viable even if 

other farms have lower costs, as long as the total supply from lower-cost farms remains limited. 

What matters for the economic viability of offshore aquaculture is not whether some competitors 

can produce fish at a lower cost, but whether they can produce enough fish at a lower cost to 

hold down the price below levels at which U.S. offshore aquaculture production is profitable. 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

19 

We may use this supply and demand framework to discuss factors affecting the ability of 

U.S. offshore aquaculture to compete with three potentially lower-cost competitors: 1) domestic 

inshore aquaculture; 2) foreign aquaculture; and 3) wild fisheries. 

Competitiveness of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture with U.S. Inshore Aquaculture 

Considering first U.S. inshore aquaculture, for purposes of illustration we make two 

simple assumptions about the shape of the U.S. marine aquaculture supply curve: 

• As aquaculture production moves offshore, from sites with relatively low exposure to 

sites of moderate and high exposure, costs of production increase. 

• There are a limited number of potential farming sites with low exposure; there are 

more sites with moderate exposure; and there are a great number of sites with high 

exposure. 

Given these assumptions, we might expect the supply curve for U.S. marine aquaculture 

to look something like that shown in Figure 2.2. Costs of production are relatively low for a 

limited number of inshore sites with low exposure to waves and wind. As farming expands to 

the limited number of sites with moderate exposure, costs of production increase. As farming 

expands to offshore areas with high exposure, costs increase further and the supply curve flattens 

out because of the very large offshore area potentially available for farming.4

 

Figure 2.2. Hypothetical U.S. marine aquaculture supply curve. 

Quantity

Price

Low-cost production at 

inshore sites with low 

exposure

Medium-cost 

production at 

sites with 

moderate

exposure

High-cost production at 

offshore sites with high 

exposure

Figure 2.3 illustrates a domestic situation in which offshore aquaculture would not be 

economically viable because of competition from inshore aquaculture. The demand curve for 

fish intersects the supply curve at an equilibrium quantity, Q, which can be met by lower-cost 

 

4

 It is not necessary to assume that the supply curve has the shape shown in the figure. The only essential 

assumptions for this discussion are that the supply curve is upward sloping, and that offshore farms have higher 

costs and become economically viable only at higher prices. It could be argued that the supply curve should not 

“flatten out” even as production reaches offshore sites with high exposure, because the costs of other inputs, such as 

feed and juveniles, would continue to increase as production increases. 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

20 

inshore farms. The equilibrium price, P, is too low for offshore farms to be profitable. Thus, 

offshore farming will not be economically viable if lower-cost inshore farms can fully meet 

demand at prices below the cost of offshore farming. 

Figure 2.3. Demand and supply conditions in which offshore farming is not economically 

viable because lower-cost inshore sites can meet demand. 

Quantity

Price

Supply

Demand

P

Q

Figure 2.4 illustrates four ways in which demand or supply conditions could change from 

those in Figure 2.3 so that offshore aquaculture would become competitive with inshore 

aquaculture: 

• Higher-cost offshore farms can compete with lower-cost inshore farms if demand 

exceeds the volume that can be produced from lower-cost, inshore sites (Figure 

2.4A). 

• Offshore farms can compete with inshore farms if costs for offshore farming decline 

sufficiently to become competitive with inshore farming (Figure 2.4B). 

• Offshore farms can compete with inshore farms if the availability of inshore sites 

declines so that inshore farms are no longer able to meet demand (Figure 2.4C). 

• Offshore farms can compete with inshore farms if the cost of inshore farms increases 

so that offshore farms are competitive with inshore farming (Figure 2.4D). 

Note that two of the situations illustrated by Figure 2.4 have nothing to do with the 

relative costs of inshore and offshore fish farming. Even if inshore farming incurs lower costs, 

offshore farming can successfully compete with inshore farming if demand increases sufficiently 

or if the number of inshore sites declines sufficiently. 

Some kinds of fish farming may impose externalities—additional costs to society not 

paid by farmers—such as wastes, navigational obstacles, or visual impacts. As discussed in 

other chapters of this report, some of these externalities may decline as aquaculture moves 

offshore. For example, an offshore farm may have less of a visual impact and may have less of 

an impact on water quality than an inshore farm. 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

21 

Figure 2.4. How offshore aquaculture could become competitive with inshore aquaculture. 

A. Demand increases. As demand increases, lower-cost 

inshore sites are fully utilized and farming expands to 

higher-cost offshore sites. The rise in price to P* makes 

offshore farming economically viable. 

B. Technological change reduces offshore costs. 

Offshore farming becomes relatively less costly. Price 

declines and offshore production expands. 

Quantity

Price

Supply

D

P

Q Q*

P*

D*

Increase in 

demand

Quantity

Price S

Demand

P*

P

Q Q*

S*

Reduction 

in costs for 

offshore 

farms

C. Supply of inshore sites declines. As demand for 

other uses of coastal areas increases, the supply of inshore 

sites becomes lower and farming moves to higher-cost 

offshore sites. The rise in price to P* makes offshore 

farming economically viable. 

D. Regulations increase inshore costs. Regulators impose 

new costs on inshore farming to address externalities, 

making offshore farming relatively more competitive. The 

rise in price to P* makes offshore farming economically 

viable. 

Quantity

Price

S

Demand

P*

P

Q* Q

S*

Reduction in 

availability of 

inshore sites

Quantity

Price

S Demand

P*

P

Q* Q

S*

Increase in 

costs for 

inshore 

sites

In theory, as illustrated in Figure 2.5, if externalities decline sufficiently as farms move 

offshore, then even if the private costs of offshore farming are higher than those of inshore 

farming, the total costs to society could be less. If this were the case, then increasing the costs of 

inshore farming to “internalize the externalities”—for example, through taxes—could make 

offshore farming economically viable. (This scenario was illustrated by Figure 2.4D) 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

22 

Figure 2.5. Hypothetical fish farming private costs and externalities. 

 If externalities decline as farming moves offshore, 

total costs to society could be lower for offshore farms. 

Distance offshore

Cost

Offshore private 

costs are higher 

but externalities 

are lower

Inshore private 

costs are lower 

but externalities 

are higher

EXTERNALITIES

PRIVATE COSTS

TOTAL COSTS 

TO SOCIETY

Competitiveness of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture with Foreign Offshore Aquaculture 

Considering next the competition from foreign aquaculture, we assume for purposes of 

discussion that for some kinds of foreign aquaculture—inshore, offshore, or both—costs are 

lower than those in the United States. Lower costs could result from a variety of factors, such as 

reduced labor costs, government subsidies, or less stringent environmental regulation or 

enforcement. 

One potential situation is illustrated in Figure 2.6, in which we have assumed that foreign 

costs are lower than domestic costs for inshore aquaculture, but that the costs of foreign offshore 

aquaculture would be the same as those in the United States. We have drawn the supply curve 

for foreign aquaculture as similar in shape to that for U.S. aquaculture, but farther to the right, 

because for any given price, foreign producers are able to supply a greater volume than U.S. 

producers. The world supply curve—which shows the total volume supplied to world markets 

for any given world price—is the horizontal sum of the United States and foreign demand 

curves. 

Figure 2.7 illustrates two situations in which U.S. offshore aquaculture would not be 

economically viable because of competition from foreign aquaculture. In Figure 2.7A, the 

demand curve for fish intersects the supply curve at an equilibrium quantity, Q, which can be 

met by lower-cost, foreign inshore farms. The equilibrium price, P, is too low for either U.S. or 

foreign offshore farms to be profitable. 

In Figure 2.7B, foreign offshore farms exhibit lower costs than U.S. farms. Although 

demand is high enough for foreign offshore farms to be profitable, the world price is too low for 

U.S. offshore farms to be profitable (although it is high enough for U.S. farms on sites with 

moderate exposure to be profitable). 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

23 

Figure 2.6. Hypothetical U.S., foreign, and world marine aquaculture supply curves. 

Quantity

Price

U.S. 

Supply 

Curve

Foreign 

Supply 

Curve

World 

Supply 

Curve + =

For this example, foreign inshore 

farming costs are assumed to be 

lower than U.S. inshore costs.

For this example, foreign offshore 

farming costs are assumed to be 

the same as U.S. offshore costs.

U.S. offshore farms will not be competitive if they have to match prices for lower-cost 

foreign inshore or offshore farms, and those farms can satisfy world demand at prices less than 

the cost of U.S. offshore farms. 

Figure 2.7. Situations in which U.S. offshore aquaculture would not be economically viable 

because of competition from foreign aquaculture. 

A. Inshore sites can meet demand. There is sufficient 

production from low-cost foreign and U.S. inshore sites 

to meet world demand. 

B. Foreign offshore costs are lower. Even though 

world demand exceeds that which can be supplied by 

inshore sites, foreign offshore production can meet 

world demand at prices at which U.S. offshore 

production is not profitable.. 

Quantity

Price World

Demand

P

World

Supply

QUS QForeign QWorld

SUS SForeign

Quantity

Price World

Demand

P

World

Supply

QUS QForeign QWorld

SUS SForeign

Figure 2.8 illustrates two ways in which demand or supply conditions could change so 

that U.S. offshore farming could become competitive with foreign farms. 

 

• U.S. offshore farms can compete with lower-cost foreign inshore farms if their costs 

are similar to foreign offshore costs, and if demand expands sufficiently so that 

lower-cost U.S. and foreign inshore sites are fully utilized, causing prices to increase 

to levels at which U.S. offshore farming is profitable (Figure 2.8A). 

• U.S. offshore farms can compete with lower-cost foreign inshore or offshore farms if 

U.S. offshore farms are able to command a price premium over the world market 

price; for example, due to lower costs of transport to the U.S. market or perceived 

higher quality (Figure 2.8B). 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

24 

Figure 2.8. How U.S. offshore aquaculture could become competitive with foreign 

aquaculture. 

A. U.S. is competitive offshore. Even though the U.S. 

is not competitive in inshore aquaculture, it can match 

costs of foreign producers in offshore aquaculture. 

B. U.S. offshore production enjoys a price-premium. 

Even if foreign offshore costs are lower, U.S. offshore 

farms may be competitive if they command a price 

premium over foreign production.

Quantity

Price

World

Supply

Q*US Q*Foreign Q*World

SUS SForeign

P*

D Increase in demand D*

P

Quantity

Price

P*foreign

World

Supply

Q*US Q*Foreign Q*World

SUS SForeign

D

P*US

Price premium for U.S. 

production

Competitiveness of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture with Wild Fisheries 

Considering, finally, competition from wild fisheries, this could be modeled similarly to 

the way we have modeled competition between U.S. offshore aquaculture and foreign 

aquaculture. (To avoid repetition, these supply and demand curves have been omitted.) A key 

difference is that total supply from wild fisheries is limited by nature. Thus, the supply curve 

becomes steeper and, ultimately, vertical as production increases. 

Following the same reasoning as discussed above, U.S. offshore farms cannot compete 

with wild fisheries if they have to match prices for lower-cost wild fisheries and if wild fisheries 

can satisfy world demand at prices below the costs of U.S. offshore farms. However, U.S. 

offshore farms can compete with wild fisheries if wild fisheries cannot fully satisfy world 

demand, allowing prices to rise to levels at which U.S. offshore farms are profitable—or if U.S. 

offshore farms can command a sufficient price premium over lower-cost, wild fisheries. 

An Algebraic Restatement 

We may make the same points about the potential competitiveness of higher-cost 

offshore aquaculture in a different way using simple algebra and the following definitions: 

Offshore cost = Cost per pound for offshore farms 

Competitor cost = Cost per pound for competitors of offshore farms 

Offshore price = Price paid for fish produced by offshore farms 

Competitor price = Price paid for fish produced by competitors of offshore farms 

Competitor profitability = Competitor price – Competitor cost 

Offshore cost premium = Offshore cost – Competitor cost 

Offshore price premium = Offshore price – Competitor price 

Offshore farming will be viable if: 

Offshore cost < Offshore price 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

25 

Subtracting “competitor cost” from both sides of this equation, and subtracting and 

adding “competitor price” on the right-hand side of the equation, we may rewrite this condition 

as: 

(Offshore cost – Competitor cost) < (Offshore price – Competitor price) + (Competitor price – Competitor 

cost) 

Simplifying, we may restate the condition for higher-cost offshore farming to be 

profitable as: 

Offshore cost premium < Offshore price premium + Competitor profitability 

Thus, higher-cost offshore farming can be viable as long as the difference in costs is less 

than the sum of any offshore price premium (if there is one) and lower-cost competitors’ profits. 

Put differently, if lower-cost competitors are earning sufficiently high profits, higher-cost 

offshore farms may be profitable at the same prices or, especially, if they are able to command a 

premium price. 

Summary of Insights from Supply and Demand Analysis 

U.S. offshore fish farms may be economically viable even if other farms have lower 

costs, as long as the total supply from lower-cost farms is limited. What matters is not whether 

competitors can produce fish at a lower cost, but whether they can produce enough fish at a 

lower cost to keep prices below levels at which U.S. offshore farming is profitable. 

For any given fish species, the economic viability of U.S. offshore fish farms depends on 

far more than the relative cost of U.S. offshore farming in comparison with other sources of 

world fish supply. Note that farming—rice, wheat, poultry, beef—occurs worldwide in countries 

and environments with vastly different costs of production, not just in the lowest-cost countries 

and environments. 

Neither prices nor costs for U.S. offshore aquaculture or its potential competitors are 

fixed. Prices and costs may change over time, and as a result, the economic viability of different 

types of offshore aquaculture may change over time. The economic potential for U.S. offshore 

aquaculture will also respond to changes in either world demand or changes in world supply 

from any source. 

Basic Economics of Aquaculture 

We next discuss basic economics of aquaculture. We focus on factors important for 

considering the potential economic viability of a farm and the relative competitiveness of 

offshore farming. For purposes of this discussion, we simplify the analysis by expressing all 

costs and revenues on a per-pound basis. This requires converting all costs and revenues—

including one-time investment costs—into costs and prices per pound. The appendix to this 

chapter explains how this may be done so that costs per pound are comparable to prices per 

pound.5

 

 

5

 As discussed in the appendix, a fish farm incurs costs and receives revenues over time. Prior to earning any 

revenues, a fish farm incurs initial one-time costs of planning, permitting, and capital investments for cages and 

other facilities. These are followed by further investments in juveniles and feed. After the first grow-out period, the 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

26 

A Conceptual Framework 

Figure 2.9 provides a conceptual framework for thinking about factors affecting the 

economic viability of a fish farm in a given location growing a particular species of fish. This is 

a useful conceptual framework to think about how the economic viability of farming in a 

particular type of location—offshore U.S. waters—compares with the economic viability of 

farming in other locations, such as inshore waters and foreign waters. 

A fish farm is economically viable if the average price per pound received for the fish 

exceeds the average cost per pound of producing the fish. The cost per pound may be divided 

into four major cost components: facilities costs, feed costs, juvenile costs, and other operating 

costs. Each of these cost components is determined by cost parameters, which are driven in part 

by the farm design. A wide variety of external factors—shown on the left side of the diagram—

drive both farm design and cost parameters. Some of the same and other external factors drive 

supply and demand conditions, which determine the price for which the farm can sell its fish. 

Below, we first discuss major farm cost components and cost parameters. We then 

discuss how these are affected by different external factors, both directly and indirectly through 

farm design. We then discuss major factors affecting supply, demand and prices. 

Facilities Cost 

A marine fish farm requires a variety of capital investments. The most significant 

investments are typically for cages, boats, feeding and monitoring systems, onshore facilities 

(docks, storage facilities, and offices), and initial project planning (including design and 

permitting). For purposes of this discussion, we refer to the cost of these investments as a 

“facilities cost.” 

As discussed in the appendix to this chapter, any given total facilities cost of a fish farm 

may be converted into an equivalent annual facilities cost per year of production, which may be 

thought of as the annual equivalent payment that would be required to pay both principal and 

interest on a loan for the full cost of the investment over the lifetime of the investment.6

The facilities cost per pound is equal to: 

(Equivalent annual facilities cost per year of production) / (Annual production in pounds) 

 fish farm begins to earn revenues as the initial fish are harvested and sold. Over the operating life of the farm, the 

farm continues to incur additional costs of juveniles and feed as well annual operating and maintenance costs. 

Analysis of the profitability and economic viability of a fish farm requires comparison of the stream of costs 

incurred over time with the stream of revenues over time. This may be done using standard methods of investment 

analysis. In general, a farm is economically viable if the net discounted value of expected revenues over time 

exceeds the net discounted value of expected costs over time (including the risk-adjusted cost of capital). Thus, 

profitability depends not just on total costs and revenues, but also on the timing of costs and revenues over the life of 

the farm, and the risk-adjusted cost of capital. 

6

 Financial analyses of fish farms often include “interest” and “depreciation.” The concept of annual facilities cost 

as used here is approximately equal to the sum of interest and depreciation, with the assumption that interest and 

depreciation are identical for each year of facility life. 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

27 

Figure 2.9. Major factors affecting the economic viability of a fish farm. 

Farm 

design

Technology 

Scale

Environmental factors

Do suitable sites exist?

Site exposure

Water depth

Water quality and flow

Feed conversion ratio

Price of feed

Juvenile survival rate

Average harvest 

weight

Price per juvenile

Labor productivity

Wage rates

Distance from shore

Feed

costs

Juvenile

costs

Facilities

costs

Is the farm 

economically 

viable?

Farm price per pound

Regulatory factors

Is farming allowed?

Regulatory restrictions and 

requirements

Permitting process cost and 

time

Regulatory certainty

Taxes and royalties

Other

operating

costs

Capital intensity

Operating life

Discount rate

Start-up period

Farm cost per pound

Major cost parameters Major cost

components

Industry factors

Availability and cost of 

juveniles

Availability of skilled labor and 

technical specialists

Marine support infrastructure

Processing & distribution 

infrastructure

Level of farming technology

Scale of production

Market development

Economic factors

Labor supply & wages

Infrastructure (roads, ports, 

energy, etc.)

Political & economic stability

Market factors

Demand in local, national, & international markets

Supply to local, national & international markets

Transportation and processing cost differentials 

relative to competitors

Market quality perception differentials relative to 

competitors

Exchange rates
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

28 

The most important factors affecting facilities cost per pound include: 

• Capital intensity. For purposes of this analysis, we define “capital intensity” as the 

total initial investment per pound of annual production. 

• Discount rate. This is the risk-adjusted opportunity cost of capital for the project. 

Depending on how the project is financed, this may be the interest rate which would 

be charged on a loan for the investment, or the rate of return which could be earned 

on an alternative investment of equivalent risk. For any given capital intensity, the 

higher the discount rate, the higher the facilities cost per pound. 

• Operating life. This is the number of years with harvests to which facilities costs may 

be attributed. For any given capital intensity, the greater the number of years with 

harvests, the lower the facilities cost per pound. 

• Start-up period. This is the period of time from when investments are made until 

harvests begin. For any given capital intensity, the longer the start-up period, the 

greater the facilities cost per pound. 

Table 2.1 shows several examples of how the discount rate, operating life, and start-up 

period affect the facilities cost per pound for a fish farm with a hypothetical capital intensity of 

$1/lb. Note that for any given capital intensity of a fish farm, all three of these factors may 

significantly affect facilities costs per pound. 

Feed Cost 

Feed cost is one of the largest components of finfish farming costs. The most important 

factors affecting feed cost per pound of fish production include: 

• Price of feed. This is the price per pound of feed purchased by the farm. 

• Feed conversion ratio (FCR). This is the ratio of the total weight of feed eaten by a 

crop of fish (from the time they are purchased as juveniles to the time they are 

harvested) to the weight of the fish at harvest. 

Feed cost per pound of fish is equal to: 

 (Price of feed) x (Feed conversion ratio). 

Table 2.2 shows feed costs per pound for various hypothetical combinations of the price 

of feed and the feed conversion ratio. 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

29 

Table 2.1. Effects of selected factors on facilities cost per pound for a hypothetical fish farm 

with a capital intensity of $1/lb. 

Example 

Discount 

rate 

Operating 

life 

Start-up 

period 

Total years 

from 

investment 

until final 

harvest 

Facilities 

cost per 

pound 

A 10% 10 0 10 $0.16 

B 15% 10 0 10 $0.20 

C 20% 10 0 10 $0.24 

D 10% 10 0 10 $0.16 

E 10% 20 0 20 $0.12 

F 10% 100 0 100 $0.10 

G 10% 10 0 10 $0.16 

H 10% 10 2 12 $0.20 

I 10% 10 5 15 $0.26 

Note: All examples assume a capital intensity of $1/lb (a one-time investment of 

one dollar per pound of annual production). 

Table 2.2. Feed cost per pound of fish: Effects of price of feed and feed conversion ratio. 

Price of feed ($/lb) 

 $0.30 $0.40 $0.50 $0.60 $0.70 

1.00 $0.30 $0.40 $0.50 $0.60 $0.70 

1.25 $0.38 $0.50 $0.63 $0.75 $0.88 

1.50 $0.45 $0.60 $0.75 $0.90 $1.05 

1.75 $0.53 $0.70 $0.88 $1.05 $1.23 

2.00 $0.60 $0.80 $1.00 $1.20 $1.40 

Feed conversion 

ratio 

= pounds of feed 

per pound of fish 

2.25 $0.68 $0.90 $1.13 $1.35 $1.58 

Note: Feed Cost per Pound of Fish Produced = (Price of Feed) x (Feed Conversion 

Ratio). 

Feed costs per pound of fish vary depending upon the type of feed, species, feeding 

technology, and other factors affecting growth and survival rates of fish, including water quality. 

In general, two opposing trends are likely to affect future feed costs per pound for marine 

aquaculture. The price of feed may increase as rising feed demand puts upward pressure on 

prices of fish meal and fish oil, which are major inputs to feed production. Rising prices of feed 

will increase farmers’ incentives to reduce feed costs by improving feed conversion ratios. This 

may be done in a number of ways, such as reducing fish mortality, developing better feeds that 

fish are able to utilize more efficiently, improving the timing and method of feeding, utilizing 

more vegetable-based feeds, and shifting production from carnivorous species to noncarnivorous species. Future aquaculture feed costs per pound will depend on the relative 

strength of these opposing trends. 

Juvenile Cost 

Juvenile cost is another important component of marine aquaculture cost. The most 

important factors affecting juvenile cost are: 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

30 

• Price per juvenile. This is the delivered cost of individual juveniles purchased from a 

hatchery. 

• Juvenile survival rate. This is the percentage of juveniles which survive to be 

harvested. It is equal to the inverse of the number of juveniles per harvested fish. 

• Average harvest weight. This is the average weight of fish at harvest. 

Juvenile cost per pound of fish harvested is equal to: 

 (Price per juvenile) * (Juveniles per harvested fish) / (Average harvest weight) 

 (Price per juvenile) / [(Juvenile survival rate) * (Average harvest weight)] 

Table 2.3 shows juvenile costs per pound for various hypothetical combinations of price per 

juvenile, juvenile survival rate, and average harvest weight. 

Relative Scale of Different Cost Components 

Fish farming costs vary widely depending upon the species being farmed and where and 

how it is farmed. In general, however, feed and juveniles represent the largest cost components 

for most types of finfish farming, while operating costs and facilities costs tend to represent a 

much smaller share of total cost, even in offshore farms. This basic fact is important in 

considering the economics of offshore fish farming and its ability to compete with inshore 

farming, because while operating costs and facilities costs are likely to be higher offshore, feed 

and juvenile costs are likely to be the same—or potentially lower, if offshore water quality and 

water flow are better. 

Table 2.3. Effects of Selected Factors on Fish Farm Juvenile Cost per Pound. 

Price per juvenile Juvenile 

survival 

rate 

Avg. harvest 

weight (lbs) $0.50 $0.75 $1.00 $1.25 $1.50 $2.00 $2.50 $3.00 

2 $0.25 $0.38 $0.50 $0.63 $0.75 $1.00 $1.25 $1.50 

4 $0.13 $0.19 $0.25 $0.31 $0.38 $0.50 $0.63 $0.75 

6 $0.08 $0.13 $0.17 $0.21 $0.25 $0.33 $0.42 $0.50 

8 $0.06 $0.09 $0.13 $0.16 $0.19 $0.25 $0.31 $0.38 

100% 

10 $0.05 $0.08 $0.10 $0.13 $0.15 $0.20 $0.25 $0.30 

2 $0.28 $0.42 $0.56 $0.69 $0.83 $1.11 $1.39 $1.67 

4 $0.14 $0.21 $0.28 $0.35 $0.42 $0.56 $0.69 $0.83 

6 $0.09 $0.14 $0.19 $0.23 $0.28 $0.37 $0.46 $0.56 

8 $0.07 $0.10 $0.14 $0.17 $0.21 $0.28 $0.35 $0.42 

90% 

10 $0.06 $0.08 $0.11 $0.14 $0.17 $0.22 $0.28 $0.33 

2 $0.31 $0.47 $0.63 $0.78 $0.94 $1.25 $1.56 $1.88 

4 $0.16 $0.23 $0.31 $0.39 $0.47 $0.63 $0.78 $0.94 

6 $0.10 $0.16 $0.21 $0.26 $0.31 $0.42 $0.52 $0.63 

8 $0.08 $0.12 $0.16 $0.20 $0.23 $0.31 $0.39 $0.47 

80% 

10 $0.06 $0.09 $0.13 $0.16 $0.19 $0.25 $0.31 $0.38 

Note: Juvenile cost per pound = (Cost per juvenile) / [ (Juvenile survival rate) * (Average harvest weight) ] 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

31 

The smaller the share of total costs represented by a particular cost element—such as 

facilities—the less significant the effect of an increase in that cost element will be in its relative 

effect on total cost. This basic mathematical principle is illustrated in Table 2.4. For example, 

suppose facilities costs and feed costs account for 10% and 50% of the total cost of an inshore 

farming operation, respectively. If facilities costs are 100% higher for an offshore farm, they 

would result in only a 10% increase in total cost. Such an increase in facilities costs would be 

fully offset by a 20% decrease in feed costs. 

Table 2.4. Percentage increase in total cost resulting from an increase in one cost 

component. 

Percentage of cost component in total cost 

 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 

10% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 

20% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 

50% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 

100% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 

200% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 

Percentage 

increase in 

cost 

component 

300% 30% 60% 90% 120% 150% 

Farm Design 

Some cost parameters are influenced by the farm design: the technology used by the 

farm and the scale of the farm (Figure 2.9). These cost parameters include capital intensity, 

operating life, feed conversion ratio, juvenile survival rate, and labor productivity. In general, as 

in other kinds of agriculture, fish farmers face a choice between capital intensity and other cost 

parameters. By increasing the capital intensity of the farm (which increases facility costs) 

farmers can achieve better feed conversion ratios, better juvenile survival rates, and higher labor 

productivity (which lowers feed costs, juvenile costs, and other operating costs). 

An important point to recognize is that cost-minimizing design choices for offshore 

farming may differ from those for inshore farming, and cost-minimizing design choices for U.S. 

offshore farms may differ from those for foreign offshore farms. For example, if labor costs 

more per hour for an offshore farm than for an inshore farm, an offshore farm is likely to use 

relatively less labor—thus reducing the extent to which higher labor costs represent a cost 

disadvantage. 

Regulatory Factors 

Regulatory factors directly affect the economic viability of fish farming—most obviously 

by prescribing whether farming is allowed at all, but also in numerous other ways. Regulatory 

restrictions and requirements may limit farm design choices of scale and technology and may 

impose additional costs, such as environmental monitoring. The permitting process may 

represent a significant expense which increases with the time required for permitting and the 

uncertainty associated with the outcome. Regulatory certainty—the likelihood that regulations 

will stay the same over the life of the farm—affects the risk associated with farming investments 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

32 

and the discount rate for facilities investments. Taxes and royalties represent additional direct 

costs. 

Put simply, to a significant extent the costs and economic viability of fish farming 

depends on how it is regulated. Favorable regulation cannot make a fish farm economically 

viable if environmental, economic, industry, and market factors are unfavorable. But 

unfavorable regulation can keep a farm from being economically viable even if other factors are 

favorable. 

Environmental Factors 

Key environmental factors affecting economic viability of a fish farm include site 

exposure, water depth, and water flow. Exposure to waves and wind directly determines what 

kinds of cages and other farm equipment will work, as well as the risks of farm damage and loss 

of fish. Water depth affects installation costs. Water depth, quality, and flow affect feed costs 

and juvenile costs by affecting fish growth rates and mortality rates. Water depth, quality, and 

flow also affect potential environmental effects of a farm and the extent to which these must be 

mitigated, either because it is in the farmer’s own interest or in response to regulatory 

requirements. 

Economic Factors 

General economic conditions affect the costs and economic viability of a fish farm. Key 

economic factors include labor supply and wages, transportation infrastructure, and availability 

and cost of utilities. Another critical factor is political and economic stability, including 

protection of property and basic rule of law. 

Industry Factors 

The costs and economic viability of an individual fish farm are affected by a number of 

industry factors which depend on the scale and experience of the industry. As the scale of the 

fish farming industry within a region or nation grows, it creates a demand for specialized 

aquaculture support activities, such as hatcheries, veterinary services, fish transport, and 

processing. As the scale of these activities expands, it tends to lower costs and expand the types 

and scale of farming which are feasible. More generally, experience gained in farming drives 

technological change. Industry factors may be thought of as “feedback factors” affecting 

economic viability, in the sense that as an industry grows and gains experience, economies of 

scale and technological change help to lower costs and further expand the industry. 

Market Factors 

Price is as important as cost to the economic viability of a fish farm. The price per pound 

received by a farm is driven by a wide variety of market factors interacting in complex ways. 

The effects of these factors can generally be described within the supply and demand framework 

presented earlier in this chapter. 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

33 

Which market factors are most important depends on the size of the market and the 

relative scale of competition. If a fish farm is supplying a market or markets which are also 

supplied with comparable fish of comparable quality from competing sources, the volume of 

competing supply and the prices offered by competitors are key factors influencing the price 

received by the farm. Put differently, the price depends on whether the demand for the fish is 

local, national, or international, and whether the competing supply is local, national, or 

international. 

Different factors also drive prices in the short term (over the course of one or a few years) 

than over the long term (the expected period of operation of a fish farm). In the short term, 

prices are driven by the total supply available to the market, given current production. Over the 

longer term, prices are driven by the capacity of producers to expand or contract production in 

response to higher or lower prices. 

In national and international markets, competition typically occurs at the wholesale level, 

between fish which have undergone primary processing and been transported either to endmarket locations or locations where further processing occurs. The price paid to a fish farm is 

driven not only by the wholesale price, but also by the costs of processing and transportation, 

which must be subtracted from the wholesale price. Put differently, whether a fish farm can be 

competitive is determined not just by the cost of growing the fish, but also by the costs of 

processing the fish and transporting it to markets. In considering whether a particular farming 

operation can be competitive, an important factor is how both processing costs and transportation 

costs to markets compare with those of competitors. A higher-cost farm can be competitive if its 

products can be processed at a lower cost or shipped to markets at a lower cost than its 

competitors. 

Both processing and transportation costs depend in part on the scale of the industry. A 

pioneer fish farm in one location may face relatively high processing and transportation costs if 

the fish processing industry and transportation infrastructure are not well developed. As the 

industry grows in scale, these costs may decline significantly, making fish farms relatively more 

competitive. Thus, some of the industry scale factors which affect the costs of a fish farm also 

affect the prices paid to a fish farm, through their effects on the costs of processing and 

transportation. 

A similarly important factor is the perceived quality of a farm’s products compared with 

competing suppliers’ products, as reflected in the relative prices that buyers are willing to pay. A 

higher-cost farm can be competitive if its products can command a higher price over those of 

competitors. 

Competitiveness of U. S. Offshore Aquaculture 

The economic viability of a fish farm depends on its costs and the prices it receives for its 

products. Prices depend in part on the prices received by competitors in the same markets, which 

in turn depend in part on competitors’ costs. Thus the economic viability of a fish farm depends, 

in part, on the competitiveness of the farm: how its prices and costs compare with those of 

competitors supplying the same markets. 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

34 

Table 2.5 suggests a simple typology of potential competitors for U.S. offshore 

aquaculture. By “competitor,” we mean a fish producer who might supply similar fish to similar 

markets as U.S. offshore fish farmers. The table below suggests which producers are most likely 

to be competitors of U.S. offshore fish farming during “early” development of offshore farming, 

and which are most likely to be competitors if or when offshore farming achieves large-scale 

commodity production. Note that wild fisheries are not considered a likely, significant 

competitor of future large-scale offshore aquaculture production, because those fisheries are 

unlikely to be able to expand production. 

Table 2.5. A typology of potential competitors for U.S. offshore aquaculture. 

 United States 

Other 

Developed 

Countries 

Undeveloped 

countries 

Offshore 

farming F F 

Inshore farming e, f E, F E, F 

Onshore farming e E, F 

Wild fisheries e 

E = major early competitor; e = minor early competitor 

F = major future competitor; f = minor future competitor 

Arrows indicate focus of discussion in text. 

Following is a discussion of the competitiveness of offshore farming relative to inshore 

farming, as indicated by the vertical arrows in the table. This is followed by a discussion of the 

competitiveness of domestic offshore farming, relative to offshore farming abroad. The goal is 

to highlight key considerations in thinking about the competitiveness of U.S. offshore farming—

in particular, reasons why costs and prices may be higher or lower for U.S. offshore farming than 

for its competitors. 

The goal is not to discuss the competitiveness of U.S. offshore farming with respect to 

every potential competitor. For example, no attempt is made to discuss how competitive U.S. 

offshore farming might be with inshore or onshore farming in other countries. 

Competitive Disadvantages of Offshore Farming Relative to Inshore Farming 

Exposure

Probably the greatest competitive disadvantages of offshore aquaculture derive from the 

technical challenges and costs of constructing, installing, operating, and maintaining cages and 

feeding and monitoring systems able to withstand wave and wind conditions in an exposed ocean 

environment. A more exposed environment also adds to the required sizes and construction and 

operating costs of support vessels. This cost disadvantage may be significantly reduced where 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

35 

there are synergies with existing or new offshore facilities built for other purposes, such as 

offshore oil platforms or (as envisioned for the future) wave power generation installations. 

Support transport costs 

Offshore farms are (by definition) located farther from shore than onshore farms. In 

general, this will mean that fish, feed, and workers will need to be transported over greater 

distances, adding to fuel and labor costs. Note, however, that locating a farm farther offshore 

does not necessarily imply a greater transportation distance when compared to available inshore 

sites. Depending on terrain, infrastructure development, and the extent of the existing inshore 

farming industry, offshore facilities will not necessarily be farther from onshore support facilities 

such as docks and roads than are available protected inshore sites. Put simply, it may be shorter 

and quicker for a support vessel to travel three miles straight out to sea than five miles up the 

coast or around a cape to the next bay. 

Water depth 

In general, water depth is greater for offshore farms, and may in some cases be much 

greater—adding to the costs of mooring systems. 

Working conditions 

Offshore farms will likely need to pay higher wage rates for workers able and willing to 

work in a harsher and riskier offshore environment and able to work with the more complex 

technology of offshore farms. Note, however, that higher wage rates may be significantly offset 

by the use of more capital-intensive and labor-saving technology, such as remote feeding and 

monitoring systems. 

Industry economies of scale 

The costs of manufacturing cages and offshore feeding and monitoring systems depend 

upon the scale at which they are produced. Currently, far fewer cages and feeding and 

monitoring systems are being built for offshore farming than for inshore farming. Over time, as 

the scale of offshore investment expands, it will help to lower manufacturing costs for offshore 

cages and feeding and monitoring systems. 

Operating experience 

For almost any economic activity, operating experience helps to identify better and 

cheaper ways of doing things. Worldwide, there has been far less experience in building and 

maintaining offshore farms than inshore farms. Over time, as more experience is gained with 

offshore farming, costs are likely to decline at a relatively greater rate. 

Regulatory experience 

Experience with the regulation of offshore farming lags behind the regulation of inshore 

aquaculture. Regulatory frameworks and effective methods for offshore farm monitoring and 

regulatory enforcement may not be in place. Potential jurisdictional and legal issues may not 

have been resolved. This lack of experience is likely to increase the difficulty, time, costs, and 

risks associated with applying for offshore sites and meeting regulatory requirements. Over 

time, as more regulatory experience is gained, these offshore costs are likely to decline until they 

compare with those of inshore farming. 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

36 

Competitive Advantages of Offshore Farming Relative to Inshore Farming 

Water quality 

Water quality is critical to successful fish farming. In general, offshore farms will have 

more water flow than inshore farms. Offshore farms are also less likely to be affected by 

pollution from land-based sources, such as agricultural runoff. Better water quality contributes 

to better growing conditions for fish and is reflected in better feed conversion and survival rates, 

lowering the costs of feed, juveniles, and facilities and other costs (on a per-pound basis). 

Availability of sites 

For much of the world’s coastlines, “inshore” farming is not an option because there are 

no protected waters in which to locate such farms. In areas with protected waters, inshore 

farming may still not be possible because available sites are already being used. In addition, the 

best inshore sites tend to be used first, so new inshore sites will be even less economically 

competitive, relatively speaking, with offshore sites. In contrast, available sites for offshore 

farming are almost limitless in comparison to the potential scale of offshore farming for the 

foreseeable future.

Conflicts with other activities 

Because of their greater distance from shore, offshore farms are likely to experience 

fewer conflicts with other economic and recreational uses of the environment. This reduced 

potential for conflicts may result in fewer restrictions on farm size and greater economies of 

scale, as discussed below. 

Environmental impacts

Because of greater water flow and depth, the potential for fish feces, fish feed, or other 

farm residues to concentrate in the water or on the ocean bottom is comparatively less. The 

potential for interaction with species migrating close to shore or with concentrations of migrating 

anadromous fish is also less. Such reduced environmental impacts may result in fewer 

restrictions on farm size and greater economies of scale. 

Farm economies of scale

Because of the greater availability of suitable large-scale farming sites and the potential 

for fewer regulatory restrictions on farm size, offshore farms have the potential to be larger, 

allowing for reduced costs through greater economies of scale. 

Distance from markets

Because of reduced conflicts with other activities and greater availability of sites, it may 

be possible to locate offshore farms closer to markets (such as major cities), thus reducing 

transportation costs and making it possible for fresher products to be delivered to markets. This 

may, in turn, allow some offshore farms to capture higher prices than more distant, inshore 

farms. 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

37 

Other Considerations for the Competitiveness of Offshore Farming with Inshore Farming 

An uncertain factor affecting the relative economic viability of offshore aquaculture is its 

relative political viability: the choices of society—through the political process and legal, 

political, and regulatory institutions at local, state, and national levels—about whether to allow 

offshore aquaculture and how to regulate it. The relative political viability of offshore 

aquaculture may depend on the relative geographical distribution of perceived costs and benefits. 

Suppose inshore aquaculture is regulated by multiple local (state-level or lower) 

authorities, while offshore aquaculture is regulated by a single, national authority. A simple 

political theory would suggest that regulation of inshore aquaculture would reflect perceptions at 

local levels of the relative costs and benefits of inshore aquaculture, while regulation of offshore 

aquaculture would reflect national perceptions of these costs and benefits. The relative 

geographical distribution of perceived costs and benefits of inshore and offshore aquaculture is 

likely to differ for different regions and different types of farming. This may result in more 

economically favorable local regulation of inshore aquaculture in some areas, and less 

economically favorable regulation of inshore aquaculture in other areas—relative to national 

standards for offshore regulation. 

Competitiveness of Offshore Farming with Inshore Farming: Summary 

As summarized in Table 2.6, a large number of factors may affect the relative 

competitiveness of offshore farming with inshore farming in different ways, through their effects 

on costs, on price, and more. There is no obvious or single answer about whether offshore 

farming could be competitive with inshore farming. The answer depends upon the specific 

circumstances of location and species farmed. In general, facility and operating costs are likely to 

be higher for offshore farming. However, these cost disadvantages may be offset by improved 

water quality, greater availability of sites, fewer conflicts with other activities, and reduced 

environmental impacts. As offshore aquaculture grows in scale and experience, it will tend to 

become relatively more competitive. 

Wherever it develops, large-scale offshore fish farming will be an inherently capital- and 

technology-intensive activity. It will generally tend to look the same. As a result and as 

discussed below, the differences between the United States and other countries which might 

affect the competitiveness of U.S. offshore farming are likely to be less dramatic than the 

differences between offshore and inshore farming. 

Environmental conditions

The United States EEZ is a very large area extending from the Arctic to the tropics, with 

a wide range of temperature, depth, wave, wind, and ice conditions. In general, the United States 

has favorable water temperatures for a wide variety of offshore aquaculture. However, in much 

of this area, other environmental factors—such as wave exposure—are less favorable compared 

to some potential foreign competitors. U.S. offshore aquaculture is most likely to be successful 

where favorable water temperature and wave exposure conditions for the offshore farming of a 

species combine with favorable economic conditions—particularly infrastructure and distance to 

markets. 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

38 

Table 2.6. Selected factors which may affect the relative competitiveness of offshore 

farming with inshore farming (N = negative factors; P = positive factors). 

Type of effect 

 Facility 

costs 

Feed 

costs 

Juvenile 

costs 

Other 

costs Price 

Other 

effects 

Exposure N N 

Support transport costs N 

Water depth N 

Working conditions N 

Industry economies of scale N* 

Operating experience N* N* 

Regulatory experience N* 

Water quality P P P P 

Availability of sites P 

Conflicts with other 

activies P 

Environmental impacts P 

Farm economies of scale P P 

Distance from markets P 

Political viability ? 

*Factors likely to decline in significance over time as the scale of offshore aquaculture 

increases and more experience is gained. 

Competitiveness of United States Offshore Farming with Foreign Offshore Farming 

Feed prices

Feed costs represent the single, most important cost component for many kinds of fish 

farming. Aquaculture feeds and feed components (fish meal, fish oil, and vegetable-based feed 

inputs such as soybeans) are globally traded products for which prices follow similar trends 

worldwide. Thus, in general, feed prices are unlikely to represent either a major competitive 

disadvantage or advantage for U.S. offshore farms. 

However, feed prices may differ to the extent that they are impacted by transportation 

costs. U.S. agricultural products, such as soybeans, are becoming an increasingly important 

ingredient in world fish feed production. Lower costs of transporting these agricultural feeds 

could become a competitive advantage for U.S. offshore farming, as is the case for domestic 

livestock production. 

Note also that feed costs depend not only on feed prices but also on the efficiency of feed 

utilization. To the extent that U.S. offshore farms are able to achieve better feed conversion 

ratios through better water quality and superior technology, they may enjoy a competitive 

advantage in feed costs. 

Juvenile costs

Juveniles represent another major cost of fish farming. The production of juveniles may 

be considered a specialized type of onshore fish farming. Major cost factors for juvenile 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

39 

production include facilities costs, labor costs, level of technology, and scale of production. 

Clearly, the United States is able to produce juveniles for commercial fish farming at a price and 

on a scale which is globally competitive. For example, Washington-based Troutlodge, Inc. is a 

world-renowned trout and salmon breeding company, exporting trout eggs to 26 foreign 

countries.7

 The United States produces very large quantities of juveniles for recreational 

fisheries and salmon hatcheries, including the extensive Alaska salmon hatchery system which 

supports major Alaska commercial pink and chum salmon fisheries. In the short-term, however, 

local hatchery capacity may be limited or non-existent for some of the species which are 

potential candidates for U.S. offshore farming. This may represent an important competitive 

disadvantage until U.S. marine fish farming—including offshore farming—reaches a larger 

scale. 

Distance to U.S. markets

One of the most important competitive advantages of U.S. offshore farming may be the 

shorter distance to U.S. markets. This is particularly important for fresh fish which would have 

to be shipped by air to reach U.S. markets. It is relatively less important for the large-scale 

production of frozen fish. In the future, “food miles” could become an important factor for some 

markets where consumers or buyers are concerned about greenhouse gas releases associated with 

food production and transportation. If so, this would tend to favor domestic producers of fish in 

supplying the U.S. market. Note that this transportation cost advantage would not apply equally 

to all U.S. offshore aquaculture production. Alaska, in particular, is located a significant 

distance from U.S. markets. 

Labor costs

Although typically less than feed and juvenile costs, labor also represents a significant 

cost factor in fish farming. In general, annual costs per worker (wage rates and benefits) in the 

United States are similar to those in other developed countries that are potential competitors 

(such as Canada and Norway). But U.S. costs are higher than those of less economically 

developed, potential competitors (such as Chile and Vietnam). Given the geography of world 

economic development, labor cost differentials are more likely to be a significant competitive 

factor for warm-water offshore farming than for cold-water offshore farming. Wherever it 

occurs, offshore farming is likely to be highly mechanized and will utilize relatively fewer, but 

more skilled, workers than inshore farming. As a result, the fact that some potential competitors 

have lower labor costs may not be a particularly significant factor for the competitiveness of U.S. 

offshore fish farming. 

Put differently, higher labor costs do not mean that the United States could not compete 

in offshore fish farming. Norway and Chile currently dominate world production of farmed 

salmon. Although Norway has higher labor costs, it is able to compete successfully with Chile in 

many (but not all) markets due to other advantages, such as lower transportation costs. 

Differences in labor costs may represent an important consideration for the 

competitiveness of U.S. offshore fish farming not so much in farming but in the subsequent 

processing of fish. Some types of fish processing, such as extracting pin-bones from salmon, are 

 

7

Source: www.troutlodge.com. 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

40 

highly labor intensive. Increasingly, U.S. fish (Alaska salmon and pollock, for example) are 

being frozen and exported to low-labor cost countries such as China for value-added processing 

into products such as portioned fillets for re-export to markets in the United States and Europe. 

For species or products requiring labor-intensive processing, U.S. labor costs or the costs of 

shipping fish to other countries for processing could offset the potential transportation-cost 

advantage of growing fish closer to U.S. markets. 

Facilities costs

In well-developed aquaculture industries, such as salmon farming, cage design tends to 

be similar worldwide. However, cages are usually built locally, and cage costs may differ 

according to labor costs and local availability of materials. Other offshore farming facilities and 

equipment—including nets, monitoring and feeding systems, and the large boats which would be 

used to support them—are sourced globally and are likely to cost about the same, regardless of 

where farming occurs. 

Industry scale 

The U. S. marine aquaculture industry is currently much smaller than that of major 

marine fish farming countries such as Norway and Chile. This represents a potential competitive 

disadvantage with respect to the availability and cost of specialized support infrastructure (such 

as hatcheries) and technical support services (such as veterinary services). These disadvantages 

would decline over time as a domestic marine farming industry grows in scale. One of the most 

important components of support infrastructure—the fish processing industry—is well developed 

in many areas of the United States where large-scale wild fisheries are found. Marine 

aquaculture production could improve the utilization of existing processing facilities, thus 

lowering those costs for wild fisheries. 

Economic infrastructure

With the significant exception of many parts of Alaska, the United States has a highly 

developed physical and service infrastructure—roads, airports, utilities, construction services, 

vessel repair and maintenance services, electronics installation and repair services, for example. 

This represents a competitive advantage for the United States in offshore farming over less 

developed countries, and would help to offset the labor cost advantages these countries may 

enjoy. 

Political and economic stability

For major investments such as offshore fish farms, political and economic stability—in 

particular the security of property rights and the rule of law—is essential. With regard to some 

less developed countries, the fact that the United States is a stable and safe place to do business 

may be a significant competitive advantage. 

Economic Modeling of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

As suggested by the preceding discussion, there is no single answer about the economic 

viability of U.S. offshore fish farming. The economic viability of offshore fish farms may vary 

widely depending upon where they are located, the species that are farmed, how they are 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

41 

regulated, how they are designed, and the scale of operation. Economic viability may also 

change over time as the scale of the industry changes and as markets change. 

To move beyond these general conclusions to a more formal assessment of the prospects 

for a particular type of farm—or for U. S. offshore aquaculture in general—requires the 

development of models that explicitly consider both expected costs and prices. Such models 

may range from simple “back of the envelope” models based on rules-of-thumb for different 

types of costs, to complex systems of equations based on numerous, carefully researched 

assumptions. 

Table 2.7 provides an example of a relatively simple economic model of a hypothetical 

offshore fish farm for a hypothetical fish species. It is not intended to represent actual costs or 

prices for any particular fish species, or the economic viability of any particular kind of fish 

farming. It simply presents one potential approach to economic modeling of a fish farm. There 

are many other potential approaches. Which approach is best depends on the purpose for which 

the model is being developed and the reliability of the assumptions on which that model is based. 

In general, more complex models may be used to address more complex questions but require 

more assumptions and may be harder to understand. (Chapter 6 of this study provides an 

example of a more complex economic model of an offshore fish farm.) 

The model is driven by 21 assumptions: 9 technical assumptions (rows 1-9) and 12 price 

and cost assumptions (rows 10-21). All of the model outputs (rows 22-53) are driven by these 21 

assumptions. The fifth column of the table (“Explanation or formula”) explains how outputs are 

calculated from the assumptions. The sixth column illustrates the model calculations, based on 

hypothetical technical, price, and cost assumptions. 

The model incorporates three common economic viability indicators: net present value, 

internal rate of return, and annual economic profit (rows 44-46). These all depend upon 

operating profit, total investment, the cost of capital, the facility life, and the start-up period. The 

“net present value” indicator shows whether the net present value of the farm’s annual operating 

profits over the facilities life exceeds the cost of the investment. The “internal rate of return” 

indicator shows whether the farm’s annual operating revenues are providing a rate of return 

which exceeds the annual cost of capital. The “annual economic profit” indicator shows the 

farm’s annual profits after subtracting the “annual economic cost of capital” (row 42), defined as 

what equal annual payments would be on a loan for the total investment cost paid off over the 

period of time for which harvests occur. 

Economic models such as the one in Table 2.7 are important tools for analyzing the 

economic viability of offshore fish farming. Perhaps the first benefit of economic models is that 

they require the user to think systematically about costs and prices. This can be difficult, 

particularly for farms which do not yet exist and for which those costs and prices cannot actually 

be observed. However, ultimately there is no substitute for careful thinking about what the costs 

and prices may be, utilizing the best available information—particularly when contemplating 

actual investments. 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

42 

Table 2.7. Economic model of a hypothetical offshore fish farm. 

 Row Variable name Units Explanation or formula Value 

1 Annual production volume pounds Total annual production of farm operation 10,000,000 

2 Production per cubic 

meter* 

pounds Net pen production per cubic meter 40 

3 Individual pen volume meters3 Volume of an individual net pen 10,000 

4 Average weight pounds Average weight of fish at harvest 7 

5 Juvenile survival rate* % % of juvenile fish which survive to harvest 80% 

6 Feed conversion ratio* ratio Pounds of feed per pounds harvested 1.2 

7 Productivity pounds pounds per person per year 600,000 

8 Facility life years Years from investment to final harvest 15 Technical 

assumptions 9 Startup period years Startup years without harvests 1 

10 Fish price* $ Price received per pound, FOB processor $1.30 

11 Net pen cost per cubic 

meter* 

$ Fully-installed cost per cubic meter of net pen $30 

12 Other offshore investment 

per pen 

$ Costs of feeders and other equipment per pen $50,000 

13 Other investment $ Support vessels and onshore facilities $1,500,000 

14 Cost per juvenile* $ Cost per juvenile fish, including interest $1.65 

15 Feed cost per pound* $ Cost of feed per pound $0.33 

16 Average staff cost $ Average annual staff pay and benefits $50,000 

17 Fish insurance rate % Percentage of annual production value 4% 

18 Facilities insurance rate % Percentage of value of investment 2% 

19 Other annual costs $ Annual costs of fuel, diving, utilities, 

monitoring, & administration 

$880,000 

20 Annual repair and 

maintenance rate 

% Annual cost of repairs and maintenance 

expressed as a percentage of total fixed capital 

investment 

7% 

Price & cost 

assumptions 

21 Annual cost of capital rate* % Annual cost of capital expressed as a % of 

total fixed capital investment 

15% 

22 Total pen volume meters3 (Annual production) /(production per cubic 

meter) 

250,000 

23 Number of net pens number (Total net pen volume) / (Individual net pen 

volume) 

25 

24 Annual fish number (Annual production) / (Average weight) 1,428,571 

25 Number of juveniles number (Annual # of fish produced) / (Juvenile 

survival rate) 

1,785,714 

26 Volume of feed pounds (Annual production) x (Feed conversion ratio) 12,000,000 Technical 

outputs 27 Number of staff number (Annual production) / (Productivity) 16.7 

28 Net pen investment $ (Total pen volume) x (Net pen cost per cubic 

meter) 

$7,500,000 

29 Other offshore investment $ (Other offshore investment per pen) x 

(Number of net pens) 

$1,250,000 

Investment 

outputs 

30 Total investment $ (Net pen investment) + (Other offshore 

investment) + (Other investment) 

$10,250,000 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

43 

Table 2.7 (continued). Economic model of a hypothetical offshore fish farm. 

 Row Variable name Units Explanation or formula Value 

31 Cost of juveniles $ (Number of juveniles purchased) x 

(Cost per juvenile) 

$2,946,429 

32 Cost of feed $ (Volume of feed) x (Feed price per pound) $3,960,000 

33 Payroll cost $ (Number of staff) x (average staff cost) $833,333 

34 Fish insurance cost $ (Fish insurance rate) x (Annual sales value) $520,000 

35 Facilities insurance cost (Facilities insurance rate) x 

(Total fixed capital investment) 

$205,000 

36 Repair & maintenance cost $ (Annual repair & maintenance rate) x 

(Total fixed capital investment) 

$717,500 

37 Other costs $ (Assumed) $880,000 Operating 

cost 

outputs 38 Annual operating cost $ Total of operating costs listed above $10,062,262 

39 Annual sales $ (Annual volume) x (Fish price) $13,000,000 

40 - Annual operating cost $ Calculated above $10,062,262 

41 (=) Annual operating profit 

(or loss) 

$ $2,937,738 

42 - Annual economic cost of 

capital 

$ See discussion in text $2,059,141 

Summary 

financial 

outputs 

43 (=) Annual economic profit 

(or loss) 

$ $878,598 

44 Annual economic profit (or 

loss) 

$ (Annual operating cost) - (annual cost of capital) $878,598 

45 Net Present Value $ See discussion in text. $4,373,487 Economic 

feasibility 

indicators 46 Internal Rate of Return % See discussion in text. 22% 

47 Feed cost per pound $/lb (Cost of feed) / (Annual production volume) $0.40 

48 Juveniles cost per pound $/lb (Cost of juveniles) / (Annual production volume) $0.29 

49 Other operating costs per 

pound 

$/lb (Sum of rows 33-37) / (Annual production 

volume) 

$0.32 

50 Facilities cost per pound $/lb (Row 42) / (Annual production volume) $0.21 

51 Total cost per pound $/lb (Sum of rows 47-50) $1.21 

52 Price per pound $/lb Fish price $1.30 

Costs, 

price and 

profits 

per pound 53 Profit (loss) per pound $/lb (Price per pound) - (total cost per pound) $0.09 

Note: Critical factors affecting economic viability are shown in bold. 

Sensitivity analysis

A second benefit of an economic model is that it provides a mechanism for testing the 

implications of changes in model assumptions. In thinking about economic viability, what is 

important is not just the best estimate of economic viability, but how this estimate might be 

affected by changing key model assumptions. For example, Figure 2.10 illustrates how different 

assumptions about the feed conversion ratio for our hypothetical fish farm affect feed cost per 

pound and profit per pound. At feed conversion ratios of less that 1.47 the farm is profitable; at 

higher feed conversion ratios the farm is not profitable. 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

44 

Figure 2.10. Effect of feed conversion ratio on profit per pound. 

-$0.40

-$0.20

$0.00

$0.20

$0.40

$0.60

$0.80

$1.00

$1.20

$1.40

$1.60

1.00 1.20 1.40 1.60 1.80 2.00

Feed conversion ratio

$/lb

Other operating costs per pound

Juvenile cost per pound

Feed cost per pound

Facilities cost per pound

Price per pound

Profit (loss) per pound

As another example, Figure 2.11 illustrates how different assumptions about production 

per cubic meter affect facilities cost per pound and profit per pound. If annual production per 

cubic meter is 30 pounds or higher, the farm is profitable; if production is lower, the farm is not 

profitable. 

Optimization analysis

Investors face numerous choices in the design of a fish farm. For example, the scale of a 

farm may affect costs in many ways, ranging from initial investment costs to labor costs. A third 

benefit of an economic model is that it can be used to refine the design of a farm to explore 

trade-offs between different design choices and to minimize costs or maximize profits. 

Similarly, economic models may be used to examine the implications of how farms are 

regulated—such as imposing size limits. 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

45 

Figure 2.11. Effect of production per cubic meter on profit per pound. 

-$0.40

-$0.20

$0.00

$0.20

$0.40

$0.60

$0.80

$1.00

$1.20

$1.40

$1.60

20 25 30 35 40 45

Production per Cubic Meter

$/lb

Other operating costs per pound

Juvenile cost per pound

Feed cost per pound

Facilities cost per pound

Price per pound

Profit (loss) per pound

Economic impact analysis

Economic models of particular farming operations can provide the starting assumptions 

for analysis of economic impacts, both direct and indirect—such as the jobs and income that 

might be created by offshore farming. (Chapter 7 of this study provides an example of a model of 

potential economic impacts of offshore fish farming.) 

This brief discussion of modeling has addressed only the modeling of the economic 

viability of an individual fish farm. To formally analyze the economic potential for the U.S. 

offshore farming industry would be a much more complex task. Doing so would require 

developing not one, but a set of economic models of different kinds of farms for varying fish 

species in different types of locations. It would also require systematic analysis of U.S. and 

global fish markets to examine how U.S. and global prices may change in the future for those 

species which might be produced by domestic offshore farms—and how those markets might be 

affected, over time, by the development of U.S. offshore farming. 

The Limits of Economic Analysis for Assessing Economic Potential 

The true test of the economic potential of an industry is not an economic study or model. 

It is the market. Successful new industries do not develop because of government-sponsored 

“intelligent design.” Successful new industries develop because many new ideas are tried—and 

some of those ideas prove profitable. Government can best stimulate development of new 

industries by allowing and encouraging new ideas to be tried. 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

46 

At present, offshore aquaculture in this country is in the same situation as farming would 

be if all land were publicly owned and there was no clear process for obtaining a right to farm 

public lands. The federal government controls federal waters. No matter how interested 

investors may be in taking risks to develop offshore aquaculture, they cannot do so without 

federal authorization. U.S. offshore aquaculture cannot develop without an enabling regulatory 

structure. 

This does not, of course, mean that an enabling regulatory structure would necessarily 

lead to a profitable or large-scale domestic offshore aquaculture industry. But the fact that some 

investors are interested in offshore aquaculture in the United States suggests that certain types of 

offshore fish farming may be feasible at some scale. The only way to know if they are feasible is 

to allow them to be tried. 

The success of some offshore fish farms, over time, will help make offshore fish farming 

more viable, as experience is gained, technology develops, and the scale of the industry grows. 

Thus, offshore aquaculture could become a profitable and valuable new industry for the United 

States. 

Conclusions 

A wide spectrum of offshore aquaculture could potentially be undertaken within the vast 

area of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. Many different species could potentially be farmed, 

in many different places, using many different kinds of technologies, for many different markets. 

There is no single answer about the economic potential for these many types of endeavors. The 

answers vary for different species, locations, and technologies. 

The world offshore aquaculture industry remains in its infancy. There has been only 

limited experience on which to judge its future potential. It is impossible to know with certainty 

what the long-run economic opportunities for U.S. offshore aquaculture may be. 

Offshore aquaculture will face competition from other sources of fish supply, including 

inshore aquaculture, foreign offshore aquaculture, and wild fisheries. To be economically viable, 

domestic offshore aquaculture does not necessarily have to match competitors’ costs of 

production. Even if U.S. offshore farming costs are higher, the industry can be viable if lowercost competitors are highly profitable; if U.S. offshore farming can command a price premium 

over lower-cost competitors; or if lower-cost competitors are unable to meet the demands of 

specific market niches. 

In meeting growing domestic and world demand for fish, U.S. offshore aquaculture has 

both potential competitive disadvantages and advantages relative to other aquaculture producers. 

Table 2.8 summarizes some of the potentially most significant of these. 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

47 

Table 2.8. Potential competitive disadvantages and advantages of U.S. offshore 

aquaculture. 

 Potential competitive disadvantages Potential competitive advantages 

Relative to 

inshore 

farms 

Technological challenges in constructing cages and 

feeding and monitoring systems able to withstand 

exposed ocean environment 

Higher costs of capital facilities 

Higher costs of transportation 

Greater availability of potential farming sites 

Higher water quality 

Fewer conflicts with other economic and recreational 

activities 

Relative to 

foreign 

farms 

Higher labor costs 

Small scale of existing U.S. marine aquaculture 

industry and support industries 

Lower costs of transportation to local markets and to 

the U.S. market 

High level of technological development 

Well-developed transportation infrastructure 

Highly skilled work force 

Stable political and economic system 

In competing with wild fisheries, in general, it will be difficult for U.S. offshore 

aquaculture to compete with those for which supply is year-round, reliable, and abundant. 

However, where wild fisheries are unable to meet market demand for a species at particular 

times, in particular locations, or for particular product characteristics, competitive opportunities 

will be created for aquaculture, including offshore aquaculture. 

At its current scale and given current technology, offshore aquaculture is a relatively 

high-cost way of growing fish. Currently, in the United States and elsewhere, offshore 

aquaculture is probably able to compete with inshore aquaculture only under limited 

circumstances, such as: 

• When offshore farms are able to supply market niches which cannot be supplied by 

inshore farms, for reasons such as a lack of suitable sites, regulatory constraints, and 

transportation costs. 

• When offshore weather and wave conditions are relatively mild, reducing the costs of 

building and operating offshore facilities relative to inshore aquaculture. 

• When offshore farms enjoy significantly better water conditions than inshore farms, 

enabling faster growth or better survival. 

• When offshore farms are able to take advantage of cost-lowering synergies with other 

facilities or activities, such as existing inshore farm facilities or offshore oil rigs. 

Over time, however, the economic potential for offshore aquaculture—including U.S. 

offshore aquaculture—is likely to grow, for several reasons: 

• Growing population and income will increase world demand for fish, raising prices 

and increasing the utilization of limited onshore and near-shore areas suitable for 

aquaculture. These same factors will also increase the relative value of competing 

uses of potential onshore and inshore farming areas. 

• Technological change is likely to lower the cost of offshore aquaculture relative to 

inshore aquaculture. As in all industries (including onshore and inshore aquaculture) 

there will be a learning curve for U.S. offshore aquaculture. Over time, experience 

will help to identify ways to reduce costs (as well as operational designs and practices 

to minimize environmental impacts). 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

48 

• As offshore aquaculture grows, economies of scale will help to bring costs down. 

Among the most important factors affecting the economic potential for U.S. offshore 

aquaculture will be: 

• The extent and pace of technological development in areas such as remote 

monitoring, remote feeding, and cage construction, and the extent to which these 

technological developments can reduce costs and risks of offshore farming. 

• The extent to which offshore farms are able to achieve better growth rates and 

survival than inshore farms. 

• The extent to which offshore facilities face fewer conflicts with other activities than 

inshore farms. 

• The extent to which offshore farming is able to develop to a level at which it begins 

to realize significant economies of scale, and to spur development of key supporting 

industries such as hatcheries, veterinary services, cage manufacture, and processing. 

• The extent to which an enabling regulatory framework establishes clear, stable, and 

timely processes for permitting and regulating offshore farms. 

The economic potential for U.S. offshore aquaculture depends critically on how it is 

regulated. Part of the answer to the question, “What kind of offshore aquaculture could we 

have?” depends on the answer to the question, “What kind of offshore aquaculture do we want?” 

The true test of the economic potential of any industry is the market. No offshore 

aquaculture industry can develop in the United States without an enabling regulatory structure. 

Only by letting offshore aquaculture be tried can we learn what its economic potential might be. 

Appendix: Converting Fish Farm Costs and Revenues to Costs and Prices per Pound 

This appendix presents a simple approach to assessing the economic viability of a fish 

farm by converting costs and revenues over time to costs per pound and price per pound. 

A fish farm experiences a series of costs and revenues over time. As illustrated for a 

hypothetical fish farm in Figure 2.A1, costs include both initial investments in facilities (cages, 

boats, and other capital equipment) as well as annual costs for juveniles, feed, and other 

operating costs (labor, utilities, insurance, administration, etc.). Revenues begin only after a 

start-up period in which initial investments are made. 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

49 

Figure 2.A1. Costs, revenues and operating profits for a hypothetical fish farm. 

$0

$200,000

$400,000

$600,000

$800,000

$1,000,000

$1,200,000

$1,400,000

$1,600,000

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Year

cost and price per pound of annual production

Other operating costs

Feed

Juveniles

Facilities

Annual revenue

Annual operating profit

in years 2-11

 is $460,000

Initial investment cost

at beginning of year 1

Total annual operating costs

in years 2-11

are $1,040,000

Annual revenue

in years 2-11

is $1,500,000

Note: The farm is 

assumed to produce 

1,000,000 lbs per 

year of fish in years 2-

11. Revenues are 

received and 

operating costs are 

paid at the end of 

each year.

Annual "other" operating costs

are $270,000

Annual feed costs

are $460,000

Annual juveniles costs

are $310,000

Formally assessing the economic viability of a fish farm requires comparing these costs 

and revenues at different points in time. Using standard investment analysis, a fish farm is 

economically viable if the net present value of the stream of costs and revenues over time is 

positive, or if: 

NPV = ∑(Rt – Ct)

-(1+ r)t ≥ 0 

As shown in Table 2.A2, the net present value and economic viability of our hypothetical 

fish farm depends on the discount rate. The higher the discount rate, the lower the net present 

value. At a discount rate of 17.8%, the net present value falls to zero and the farm is barely 

economically viable. At higher discount rates, the farm is not economically viable.

Table 2.A2. Net present value of a hypothetical fish farm. 

 Payment Years Net Present Value 

Discount rate 10.0% 13.0% 16.0% 17.8% 19.0% 

Investment 

costs -$1,500,000 1 -$1,500,000 -$1,500,000 -$1,500,000 -$1,500,000 -$1,500,000 

Operating costs -$1,040,000 2-11 -$5,281,281 -$4,419,526 -$3,735,550 -$3,391,304 -$3,186,563 

Revenues $1,500,000 2-11 $7,617,232 $6,374,317 $5,387,813 $4,891,305 $4,596,005 

Total $835,951 $454,791 $152,263 $0 -$90,559 

Is the farm economically viable? Yes Yes Yes Barely No 

Calculating and comparing the net present value of different kinds of aquaculture 

projects, as illustrated in Table 2.A2, is complicated. We may simplify the analysis and 
Chapter 2: Economic Potential for U.S. Offshore Aquaculture: An Analytical Approach 

50 

comparison by expressing all costs and revenues on an average, per-pound basis. This involves 

the following steps: 

• Calculate average price per pound received for the fish 

• Calculate average annual operating costs per pound, expressed as of the time of sale 

of the fish. Thus, the costs of juveniles and feed would include interest costs for the 

period of time between when costs are incurred and when fish are sold. 

• Express facilities cost per pound on an “equivalent annual cost” basis. This translates 

investment costs in facilities such as net-pens into equivalent costs per year of 

production.8

 

If we express all revenues and costs on an average per-pound basis, then the fish farm is 

economically viable if the price per pound exceeds the total cost per pound (including the 

equivalent annual cost per pound of facilities investments). Mathematically, if all revenues and 

costs are converted to an average per-pound basis as described above, the total cost per pound 

will be less than the price per pound only if the net present value of revenues minus costs is 

greater than zero. 

Table 2.A3 illustrates these calculations for our hypothetical fish farm. Note that as the 

discount rate increases, the facilities cost per pound increases and the profit per pound declines. 

At a discount rate of 17.8%, the profit per pound falls to zero and the farm is barely 

economically viable. At higher discount rates, profit per pound is negative and the farm is not 

viable. 

Table 2.A3. Price, cost and profit per pound for a hypothetical fish farm. 

Discount rate 10.0% 13.0% 16.0% 17.8% 19.0% 

Facilities costs per pound* $0.30 $0.35 $0.42 $0.46 $0.49 

Feed costs per pound $0.31 $0.31 $0.31 $0.31 $0.31 

Juvenile cost per pound $0.46 $0.46 $0.46 $0.46 $0.46 

Other operating costs per pound $0.27 $0.27 $0.27 $0.27 $0.27 

Cost 

per 

pound 

Total cost per pound $1.34 $1.39 $1.46 $1.50 $1.53 

Price per pound $1.50 $1.50 $1.50 $1.50 $1.50 

Profit or loss per pound $0.16 $0.11 $0.04 $0.00 -$0.03 

Is the farm economically viable? Yes Yes Yes Barely No 

*Facilities costs per pound are expressed on an equivalent annual cost basis. 

 

8

 Equivalent annual cost is “the cost per year of owning and operating an asset over its entire lifespan. EAC is 

calculated by dividing the NPV of a project by the present value of an annuity factor. Equivalently, the NPV of the 

project may be multiplied by the loan repayment factor.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equivalent_Annual_Cost). 

Put simply, equivalent annual cost may be thought of as the annual payment on the loans needed to fully finance 

facilities investments in equal, annual installments over the years in which harvests occur. Like payments on house 

mortgages or car loans, the annual payments include both interest and principal. For the analysis in this chapter, we 

calculated equivalent annual costs using the PMT function in Excel. 
51 

CHAPTER 3 

Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

John Forster 

Chapter 3 looks at a spectrum of technologies from which offshore aquaculture will draw as it 

develops over the next 20 years. First it reviews advances in the three principal disciplines of 

engineering, and follows this with similar analyses of six key areas of science. The chapter ends 

with an examination of the forces that drive the human food supply chain, in general, and 

speculates on how marine aquaculture might respond to them in future decades. 

Introduction 

All farming, be it on land or in water, draws from an amazingly wide range of 

engineering and science disciplines in order to deliver wholesome food to the end consumer 

(Table 3.1). Farming is a synthesis of all that is known at a point in time about the animals and 

plants that humans cultivate and process into products that meet consumers’ needs. Cultivation 

of living things tests man’s grasp of biological, physical, and environmental science in a way that 

few other activities do. So it is reasonable to expect that advances in all of these disciplines in 

the years ahead will apply also to aquaculture, or the cultivation of living things in water. 

Advances will lead to improvements in efficiency and even to achievement of hitherto 

unattainable goals. What follows is a discussion of these disciplines and the significance that 

technological developments within them could render for open-ocean aquaculture in the future. 

Marine Engineering 

Working offshore is something for which man is ill-adapted. To do so, it is necessary to 

provide boats equipped with a variety of specialized equipment or to provide air-breathing 

humans the means to operate under water. Working offshore is therefore expensive and 

inherently dangerous. But advances in marine engineering in recent years have greatly increased 

the range of things that can be done at sea and promise even more. It would probably not be 

overstating the case to say that without such advances, offshore aquaculture would not be 

possible. 

Resources from three engineering disciplines must combine to provide the platform from 

which offshore farmers can operate. Offshore containment systems depend upon suitable 

structural design and choice of materials. Operations offshore depend upon adequate 

mechanization of key tasks to minimize the amount of time people must spend in an inherently 

hostile environment. And there is a need for continuous monitoring of key environmental 

conditions and livestock behavior to assure optimum efficiency and livestock health.
Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

52 

Table 3.1. Engineering and science applications in aquaculture.

a) Structures and materials Containment systems 

Moorings 

Nets, ropes and lines 

b) Mechanical General mechanization 

Underwater operations 

Feed storage, handling and distribution 

Net cleaning and anti fouling 

Fish handling and grading 

Product processing 

Engineering 

c) Electronics Monitoring 

Remote control 

Security 

a) Environmental sciences Site characterization 

Weather and ocean state forecasting 

Monitoring methods 

Beneficial waste assimilation (polyculture) 

b) General culture biology New species research and evaluation 

Broodstock and egg supply 

Larval rearing 

Grow-out to harvest 

c) Nutrition Definition of nutritional requirements 

Raw material processing 

Feed formulation 

Feed manufacture 

New raw materials 

d) Health management Diagnosis 

Vaccines 

Medications and chemotherapeutics 

Probiotics 

e) Genetics Selective breeding 

Hybridization 

Polyploidy 

Gene transfer 

Science 

f) Food science Mechanized processing 

Packaging 

Improved shelf stability 

Byproduct utilization 
Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

53 

Structures and Materials

Containment of livestock is as fundamental to aquaculture as it is to agriculture. Today, 

most marine aquaculture takes place in protected coastal areas, where benign conditions make it 

possible for man to provide containment with the structures and materials presently available. 

But farming in open-sea conditions presents a greater challenge, and there are now numerous 

research programs in progress, prototypes under test, and early commercial applications under 

evaluation that promise progress. 

Designs of open-sea containment structures must achieve utility at an acceptable cost. 

Depending on the specific location (see Environmental Sciences section, following), some 

present designs employ a floating collar that is flexible or strong enough to withstand rough sea 

conditions and from which a containment net is hung (see pictures 1, 3, 10 in Figure 3.A1). 

Other structures are designed to avoid heavy seas by being partly or fully submerged, either 

permanently or as an avoidance procedure (see pictures 4, 6, 8, and 9 in Figure 3.A1; see also 

Loverich and Forster, 2000). Materials employed include steel, aluminum, PEH plastic, rubber, 

and a variety of synthetic materials used in various netting and rope products. The latter include 

Spectra® and Dyneema® high performance polyethylene fibers that are claimed to be fifteen 

times stronger than steel on an equivalent weight basis and are used, for example, in Ocean Spar 

Technology’s SeaStation® cage (see picture 8 in Figure 3.A1). 

Perhaps the biggest debate in the offshore aquaculture community, presently, centers on 

the utility and accessibility of surface containment structures that must then be able to survive 

heavy seas, versus the elegant solution that submergence provides to the problems of surface 

disturbance, albeit at the expense of more difficult access. It is a debate that is likely to continue 

for years with a variety of hybrid solutions being proposed and with recognition of the idea that 

no single design is likely to be right in all circumstances. However, it does seem likely that with 

the development of ever-more elegant techniques for monitoring and operating offshore systems 

remotely (see Electronics section), submerged containment methods will eventually dominate the 

market. 

In either case, design is also driven by the necessity to assure that livestock are contained 

securely and that would-be predators are deterred. Already, designers have a considerable range 

of quite adequate materials from which to choose, and new fibers (referenced above), new 

methods of making them into netting, and new combinations of materials—such as plastic coated 

steel—promise to provide even greater reliability at comparable or lower cost. There is no 

obvious barrier to the development of ever-more effective containment systems, and with efforts 

ongoing in several parts of the world, such development is expected to keep pace with or lead the 

development of the industry itself. 

Mechanization

All farming requires that the stock are tended and handled at one time or another. 

Procedures for growing fish, shellfish or seaweeds differ substantially, but they all require initial 

seeding or stocking of the crop and, sometimes, thinning of individual plants or animals as they 

grow. All three must also be harvested eventually by removing them from the water and 

bringing them ashore for processing. Farm production of fish also requires that they be fed, that 
Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

54 

any fish that die are removed quickly, and that they can be corralled for bath treatment of 

possible parasite infestations. 

Since offshore farming is still in its early stages of development, mechanization of these 

procedures is still mostly experimental or relies upon adapting practices and equipment from 

near-shore farming. Thus, for example, the University of New Hampshire (UNH) is presently 

developing a feeding buoy for holding and dispensing feed offshore (Figure 3.1). Fish crowding 

or corralling methods under consideration would use inflatable structures within the containment 

systems to direct fish to a certain section of the structure so they could be harvested or moved to 

another container. And methods for the mechanical handling, harvesting, and seeding of ropegrown mussels are being adapted from methods presently being used near shore (Figure 3.2). 

Figure 3.1. Prototype offshore fish feeder and drawing of 20-ton commercial design.

Source: University of New Hampshire Atlantic Marine Aquaculture Center 
Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

55 

 Figure 3.2. Schematic of offshore longline mussel culture. 

Source: University of New Hampshire Atlantic Marine Aquaculture Center 

It is neither necessary nor possible to envision the full breadth and range of mechanical 

handling systems and devices that will be developed in the years ahead. Two things seem certain 

however. First, large-scale offshore farming will not be possible unless all or most of the critical 

stock and materials handling procedures are mechanized. Second, as with all mechanical 

handling systems, the range of engineering tools available to inventors is as varied as the range 

of skills and talents of the inventors themselves. One only has to look at the range of tools and 

machines that have been invented for terrestrial farming to imagine what is possible. 

Offshore, such machines will be operated from specially built workboats and, in some 

cases, may be remotely controlled, self-powered, and/or submersible. An example of the sort of 

device that will almost certainly be developed soon, but which is not yet available, is a remotely 

operated net cleaning device that will continuously track across the net panels, cleaning as it 

moves. Another example is a fish corralling system that will exploit specific behavioral traits of 

different species being grown. Everything that will be done on offshore farms in the future is 

susceptible to mechanization in one way or another, and there is no reason to suppose that the 

need for such mechanization will create a serious barrier to progress. 

Electronics

Just as modern electronic and communications technology has revolutionized almost all 

manufacturing and agricultural processes, so too will it be integral to almost all aspects of 

offshore farming. Within the next decade, remote monitoring of most aspects of an offshore 

farming operation should be possible. Real-time video, data from chemical and physical sensors, 

and readings of high definition Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates will allow 

operators to track all key performance parameters and to control some of them from shore-based 
Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

56 

or ship-based offices. There are two primary challenges, however. First, though the underlying 

technologies are already well advanced, applying them in the harsh marine conditions that will 

be part and parcel of offshore farming will be demanding. In many cases, it may call for levels of 

robustness and reliability that will require specific adaptation. Second, in caring for livestock, 

constant observation is critical. Remote video offers an obvious way of doing this, but it 

depends upon good underwater visibility. Acoustic Doppler methods have been used as an 

alternative where visibility is poor, and UNH is experimenting with methods whereby individual 

fish are tagged with radio tags so their movement can be continuously tracked. By accurately 

observing the location of a few individuals in a population, it may be possible to make judgments 

about the population as a whole. Nor is it too remote a possibility that such tags could one day 

be used to monitor physiological functions as well as location, thus providing managers with 

real-time information about respiration rates, levels of stress hormones, and more. As with other 

engineering aspects of offshore farming, there are no obvious barriers to monitoring needs, while 

the possibilities appear to be almost limitless. 

Environmental and Biological Science 

Aquaculture, like agriculture, draws on numerous branches of the environmental and 

biological sciences to meet its needs. All of them have been subject to rapid advance in recent 

years and promise more in years to come. For this reason, it is a mistake to judge aquaculture 

based on its recent history, or to propose prescriptive solutions for its further development. For 

example, there has been a tendency in recent years for people to opine unfavorably on the 

sustainability of certain aquaculture practices, such as the feeding of feeds containing fish meal 

to carnivorous fish, or on concerns about the discharge of nutrients into marine waters. But since 

aquaculture is still a work in progress its sustainability should not just be judged on the status 

quo. The past 20 years have seen great progress in everything from the engineering of fish 

containment systems to the routine application of vaccines for the control of fish disease. The 

next two decades promise more. Like many businesses, aquaculture will adapt through technical 

advances to the selective pressures of commerce. Some of the advances that seem most likely to 

occur in the immediate future are discussed below. 

Environmental Sciences

Environmental sciences are critical to offshore aquaculture in two ways. First, it is 

necessary to characterize farm locations in terms of weather, potential sea states, current profiles, 

and water quality, so that equipment and operating procedures can be specified appropriately. 

Ryan (2004) proposed a method for doing this for fish farm sites off the west coast of Ireland 

based on expected wave height. Four site classes were proposed, ranging from Class 1 

(sheltered) with significant wave heights of <0.5 meter (m) to Class 4 (exposed) with significant 

wave heights of 2 to 3 m. Though this is helpful as far as it goes, it does not take into account 

the frequency with which such wave states occur or the expected strength of currents, which can 

be magnified by high winds. Equipment that might be specified to work in constant or semiconstant ocean swell, as occurs off the coast of Ireland, may be quite different from equipment 

needed in locations where the sea state is benign most of the time but where there are occasional, 

extreme storms. 
Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

57 

This highlights a basic rule in marine fish farming; namely, it is always necessary to 

undertake a detailed physical characterization of a specific location before farming is 

contemplated. Oceanographic science provides numerous tools to help in such work, including 

GPS mapping methods, acoustic Doppler current profilers, satellite imagery, and a substantial 

body of documented oceanographic and meteorological knowledge. All of these tools can be 

used by fish farmers for site characterization, with the expectation that even more sensitive and 

sophisticated tools will become available in the future. Once in place, offshore farms can then 

draw on a formidable array of weather forecasting tools and reports in order to plan operations 

and/or an avoidance strategy if severe weather is predicted. Hurricane forecasting, for example, 

now provides up to five days’ notice of a possible threat, providing sufficient time to implement 

contingency plans. 

Next, the impact of operations on the chemistry and biology of the chosen area must be 

monitored. During the last 20 years, studies on the impacts of solid and soluble wastes from 

salmon farms in Norway, Scotland, Canada, and the United States, and from sea bass and sea 

bream farms in the Mediterranean, have resulted in a substantial body of knowledge (EAO, 

1997; NOAA, 2001; SAMS, 2002; European Commission, in progress). The primary 

conclusions are that, in most cases, effects on water quality are minimal, while effects in terms of 

sedimentation and organic enrichment of the seabed under fish farms are directly linked to site 

conditions and management. In fact, it has been learned that determination of excessive build-up 

of sediments under fish farms is the most sensitive and reliable indicator of when “carrying 

capacity”1

 of the local environment may become overused. These studies also predict that 

carrying capacity of offshore aquaculture locations will be greater than inshore locations, due to 

greater water depth and stronger or more consistent currents. 

Techniques and instrumentation for monitoring the biological and chemical impacts of 

offshore aquaculture may be expected to become more accurate and better targeted as the 

industry develops. All of the analytical techniques originate in other branches of research; their 

appropriate and targeted application is key to designing monitoring programs that yield useful 

information at a reasonable cost. As knowledge increases, remote, continuous monitoring of 

some key parameters may become possible, with data being uploaded to websites for review by 

the public and/or regulatory agencies. 

Environmental concerns about shellfish farms are less, since no feed needs to be provided 

for the stock. Instead, creatures such as mussels and scallops obtain their food by filtering 

microscopic plants from the water in which they live. However, the potential to over-graze a 

body of water exists if too many shellfish are held in one place, and accumulation of shell and 

other biological material from organisms that colonize the farm structures can occur on the 

seabed. Farming of seaweeds presents even less concern, because these plants require only 

sunlight and nutrients drawn from the surrounding water to grow. In fact, when grown in 

combination with finfish, seaweeds might be used to recover or recycle some of the wastes those 

fish produce. 

 

1

 Carrying capacity is used in this context to denote the capacity of a given body of water to assimilate waste 

products from aquaculture facilities without significant adverse effects. 
Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

58 

This introduces the idea of what is known in agriculture as integrated farming. 

Sometimes it is called “polyculture,” and it refers to the culture of more than one organism, each 

one of which—by feeding at a different trophic level—helps to maximize the efficiency with 

which nutrient inputs to the system are used (Chopin, 2005). Such multiple cultivation may take 

place in the same container (polyculture) or it may be performed in a series of containers 

(integrated aquaculture). Either way, it is particularly well-suited for aquaculture, where nutrient 

wastes are rapidly dispersed and become immediately available to the plants that use them. In 

terrestrial farming, this can only be accomplished by the physical removal of wastes and 

subsequent spraying on fields. By contrast, aquatic plant production can utilize the confined 

culture of a seaweed species or the unconfined, natural enhancement of phytoplankton, which, in 

turn, can become food for confined bivalve shellfish. The respective merits of each are 

determined by crop value. This evolution of aquaculture promises to become extremely 

important over the long term. 

General Culture Biology

Perhaps the most dramatic, or at least visible, progress in aquaculture over the last 30 

years has occurred in the field of general culture biology. Advances have included the selection 

and domestication of new species, development of hatchery rearing methods for species that 

have delicate, fragile larvae with complicated life stages, and establishment of breeding stocks of 

important species that provide the basis for year-round production and genetic improvement. It 

is expected that such progress will continue. In particular, advanced hatchery and breeding 

techniques will be applied to an ever-widening range of species. Though many will be found not 

to domesticate well, some will become substantial aquatic farm species in the same way that 

salmon, tilapia, shrimp, mussels, and scallops have become important in the last 30 years, while 

others may find roles as niche market species. 

From the market’s point of view, there seems to be a major opportunity for farmed, 

white-fleshed, marine fish that can provide comparable value to farmed salmon. Species such as 

cod, halibut, red drum, cobia, black cod, snapper, and some tuna have promising attributes, and 

they are the subjects of research and/or small-scale commercial production in several countries. 

Which of them might become candidates for large-scale offshore aquaculture depends on market 

acceptance and the costs of farming them. Simplicity in the hatchery, fast growth, 

responsiveness to farm conditions, and efficient growth on low-cost feeds are all attributes that 

lead to low-cost farming—an essential prerequisite to providing affordable seafood. Since 

salmon farming has proved this possible, salmon provides a good benchmark against which the 

potential of new species can be measured. 

Nutrition

Most captive finfish must be provided with food, therefore nutritional science is another 

critical discipline in aquaculture. It is an area where some of the most important developments 

may occur in years to come, especially since fish feed researchers and manufacturers can draw 

upon a huge body of knowledge in terrestrial animal nutrition. As is true in the farming of 

chickens or pigs, the feed in fish farming can account for over 60% of total costs. Therefore, 

better and lower cost feeds will render a large impact on the economic competitiveness of the 

industry. Extensive research is already progressing in several key areas, including: 
Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

59 

• Better definition of the nutritional requirements of different species, especially amino 

acid and lipid needs, since they have a direct bearing on what raw materials can be used. 

• Identification of alternative raw materials that can be used to replace fish meal and fish 

oil in feeds. These may be processed wastes from other industries, such as meals made 

from chicken processing waste or fermentation byproducts. Or, they may be agricultural 

raw materials such as soybean (United Soybean Board, undated) and canola, which may 

themselves be genetically improved to increase nutritional value to target species. This is 

discussed in more detail in Chapter 6. 

• Processing of raw materials to make them suitable for fish. Some potentially suitable 

plant materials, such as soybean, contain anti-nutritional components that must be denatured by cooking or other treatment prior to their use in fish feeds. 

• Formulation of feeds so that nutritional requirements of target species are more 

completely met. This is especially important for brood fish, in which egg quality can be 

compromised by inadequate nutrition, and in fish that through genetic improvement grow 

very quickly—thereby imposing extra nutritional demands. 

• Milling of raw materials into water-stable rations that are appetizing to fish. Usually this 

requires some form of pelleting; for example, cooking extrusion, which produces waterstable feed pellets to which high levels of fat can be added. Extruded feeds have become 

widely used for many species in recent years, especially for salmon, and have contributed 

greatly to improvements in feeding efficiency. 

• Better definition and control of feeding practices that optimize feed intake and minimize 

waste. 

The success of this research will be measured mostly in terms of cost per unit of weight 

gain by the animals in culture. Salmon farmers, for example, who have pioneered much of what 

is now known about net-pen aquaculture, have been able to reduce the food conversion ratio 

(FCR) from about 2:1 some 20 years ago to an industry average of about 1.3:1 today. This 

represents a substantial savings in cost and reduction in wastes discharged. Further gains will 

occur in the years ahead, with an anticipated theoretical minimum of about 0.7:1 to 0.8:1 (Figure 

3.3). 

Health Management

A basic rule of animal or plant husbandry is that maintaining a good rearing environment 

will minimize health problems. This idea is often thought of today in terms of general animal 

welfare, with the clear underlying principle that if the creatures in care are kept clean, fed well, 

and not overcrowded they are more likely to be healthy. As aquaculturists learn more about 

basic welfare for the species they grow, it is expected that health problems will be minimized. 

This is especially likely to be the case in the offshore environment where water quality is good 

and conditions more stable than inshore, and where rates of water exchange through the culture 

systems will be higher. 
Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

60 

Figure 3.3. Gains and projected gains in food conversion rates (FCR) for salmon. 

Source: Blyth and Dodd, 2002

However, parasitic infestations and bacterial and viral diseases are a constant threat in all 

forms of husbandry, making an active livestock health management plan mandatory. In 

aquaculture, major advances have been made over the last 30 years in techniques for diagnosing 

health problems and in methods of dealing with them. These include better diagnostic tools 

(especially for viruses), improved understanding of the immune systems of the animals in 

culture, development of vaccines (especially against bacterial diseases in fish), and the advent 

and registration of new and better chemotherapeutants. On a parallel track, regulations 

governing the movement and sale of live aquatic organisms have been tightened, in part at least, 

because disease screening techniques have improved. 

One of the most dramatic areas of improvement has been in the field of fish vaccines 

where, again, the salmon farming industry has pioneered the way. For example, until the early 

1990s, two bacterial diseases, Vibriosis and Furunculosis, constantly caused problems in farmed 

salmon and in some other species too. Though vaccines had been developed, they were not very 

effective until it was found that they should be injected into the body cavity of juvenile fish as an 

emulsion in vegetable oil. This discovery spurred rapid development by pharmaceutical 

companies, such as Alpharma and Novartis (Aquahealth), and vaccines against at least six fish 

diseases are in use today. The salmon farming industry in Norway, for example, now uses less 

than 0.5% of the medicine required to treat these diseases than it did 10 years ago (Ludvigsen, 

2003). Vaccines are presently under development against common parasitic infestations and 
Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

61 

viral diseases in several species of fish in different countries. They will provide future offshore 

aquaculturists with powerful new health management tools. Oral vaccines, in particular, if they 

can be developed, would greatly simplify and extend how vaccines are used, and in this 

aquaculture can draw on scientific advances elsewhere. 

Genetics

Data in Watts and Kennet (1995) show how the performance of broiler chickens was 

improved over 60 years between 1935 and 1994 (Table 3.2) when the key production parameters 

of finished weight, FCR, and growth rate improved by 1.7, 2.3, and 2.5 times respectively. 

Improved genetics is generally considered to have contributed 80% of these advances. 

Table 3.2. Improvements in broiler chicken growth rate and feed conversion rate.

Year Weight (kg) FCR Age marketed (wks) 

1935 1.27 4.4:1 16 

1950 1.36 3.5:1 11 

1975 1.70 2.0:1 8 

1994 2.11 1.9:1 6.5 

Source: Watts and Kennet, 1995 

Arguably, aquaculture is at least 50 years behind the broiler industry, so this example 

provides insight into how dramatically aquaculture could advance in the years ahead. Eknath et 

al. (1991) showed that some improvement has been achieved in salmon already, versus species 

new to aquaculture - where first generation progeny are from wild stock. It is highly probable 

that genetic gains similar to those achieved in terrestrial animals will be possible with aquatic 

livestock, especially since their high fecundity allows for increased selective pressure. Also, 

modern genetic techniques, such as the use of genetic markers in conventional breeding 

programs, can be used to focus effort on specific traits. 

Alternative genetic tools are available too. Triploidy, where a fertilized egg is induced by 

a simple temperature or pressure treatment to retain an extra set of chromosomes, is used in some 

species to produce non-reproductive stocks. For example, triploid rainbow trout eggs are 

commercially available and are used in several state recreational fishery programs because fish 

from them do not mature sexually and, therefore, can reach large, “trophy” sizes. Triploidy, a 

natural phenomenon but not self-sustaining in nature because the progeny cannot breed, is now 

the subject of research with several species that are of interest to aquaculture (Troutlodge Inc., 

undated). 

Another technique that might be used to improve aquatic stocks for farming is the 

transfer of genes between species to create “transgenic” stock, or genetically modified organisms 

(GMOs) as they have become commonly known. A frequently cited aquacultural example is a 

genetically modified Atlantic salmon developed by a company called Aqua Bounty Technologies 

Inc. Due to the transfer of genes from Chinook salmon and ocean pout, this transgenic salmon 

produces a higher than normal amount of growth hormone and will grow four to six times faster 

than genetically normal salmon (Aqua Bounty, undated). 
Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

62 

One concern about genetically improved aquaculture species and, especially, transgenic 

organisms is that they may become feral in the marine environment. Triploidy, and other 

techniques to make such improved animals non-reproductive, would mostly overcome such 

concerns, because the animals could not then establish a population or interbreed with wild 

stocks. But this is still an area where caution and further research are needed. Equally, however, 

GMO research is also an area that may provide huge benefits, like those it has already conferred 

in terrestrial crop farming, and must be given consideration in any long-term evaluation of 

aquaculture’s potential. 

Food Science

This subject embraces a wide spectrum of technologies that can be applied post harvest to 

assure quality and safety, to improve efficiency, and to add value to the finished product. 

Procedures for post harvest handling of seafood to assure best quality are well understood and 

there does not seem to be much scope for new technology per se to add materially to what is 

known. The key is to ensure that these procedures are always followed and a number of quality 

assurance programs are available to facilitate this, including the U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration’s (FDA) Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) program and the 

International Standards Organization (ISO) quality assurance certification programs. In general, 

since the harvesting process for seafood raised on farms is inherently more controlled than for 

wild-caught seafood, such control programs are more easily applied to aquaculture products. 

Mechanization of processing procedures is a field where there is already considerable 

innovation but, also, opportunity for substantial efficiency improvements. This is particularly 

important in the United States, where the higher cost of labor makes manual processes 

noncompetitive with those of lower-wage economies. For example, a primary reason for the 

initial competitiveness of Chilean-farmed salmon fillets in the United States during the late 

1990s was that the cost of doing all the work in Chile to produce a “pin bone out, skinless fillet” 

was much lower than in other major producing countries such as Norway and Canada (Johnson, 

2003). Today, the development and application of filleting, skinning, and pin-boning machines 

is narrowing the competitiveness gap. The trend towards mechanized processing will continue, 

especially for fresh seafood products, because of the advantages in producing such products 

close to their market. 

Consistency of supply of farm-raised products is another advantage, enabling processing 

plants that invest in expensive equipment to be assured of its efficient use. A notable example of 

such mechanization and efficiency is the U.S.-farmed catfish processing industry, where plants 

are able to produce a wide variety of processed, value-added catfish products despite having to 

do so within the high wage U.S. economy. 

 Improved shelf stability of seafood products is another area where technological 

advances will affect the competitive dynamics of the industry. Freezing, canning, salting, 

smoking, vacuum packing, and retort pouching are all techniques in common use today. 

However, they all change the product to a greater or lesser degree, and with it, the perception of 

quality. Fresh seafood still carries a cachet that few shelf-stabilized products can match. Several 

techniques are used today to extend the shelf life of fresh foods, all designed to kill or inhibit 

spoilage bacteria. They include ozonation of processing wash water and ice, modified 
Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

63 

atmosphere packaging, and irradiation. The latter has been approved by the FDA for meat and 

poultry but not yet for seafood. 

An underlying assumption, or at least one that is not often questioned, is that the market 

premium for fresh seafood will continue, and this will drive further developments to extend the 

shelf life of fresh products while constraining producers who find it difficult or expensive to 

supply fresh products. Presently, for example, the U.S market for fresh tilapia fillets is supplied 

almost exclusively from Central and South America, because airfreight is available at a 

reasonable cost. On the other hand, Chinese farmers, who could otherwise be extremely 

competitive in this market, are restricted to shipping frozen tilapia fillets because the cost of 

airfreight from China to the United States is prohibitive. It is easy to see how changes in market 

preference toward frozen seafood, or shelf-life extension of fresh products that would allow sea 

freight to be used, or changes in the cost of airfreight, could change competitiveness in a global 

market. It is expected that producers will constantly probe for advantages in this area. The 

competitiveness of future U.S producers, therefore, will constantly be challenged and will 

demand international levels of productivity and efficiency in all parts of the business. 

An aspect of the seafood industry where aquaculture is not yet particularly efficient is its 

use of byproducts from processing. And yet, due to the consistency and predictability of supply, 

plants that process aquaculture products have an intrinsic advantage over those that process wildcaught products. There are a number of processing technologies in use for converting fish and 

shellfish waste into marketable products (Johnson, 2003). Some of these processes involve 

grinding and cooking of raw fish and offal, drying of raw material, or the hydrolysis of fish 

protein through some form of enzymatic action. Outputs from these processes include 

pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, industrial compounds, food products (oils, gelatins, flavors, 

and extracts), feeds, and fertilizers (Table 3.3). Some products are of sufficient value that they 

may, in fact, become primary targets. 

The key to successful byproduct recovery is to have a consistent supply of raw material 

in a volume sufficient to justify investment in the processing equipment and management of the 

byproduct operation. Currently, most aquaculture activities are too small to meet the volume 

criteria, and disposal of processing waste represents a cost rather than a source of income. 

Realistically, this is likely to remain the case for some time to come, but clearly it represents 

upside potential for the industry and offers one example of the benefits that derive from largerscale production. 

Long-term Considerations 

The long-term direction and future of offshore aquaculture will be governed by forces 

that drive the food supply chain in general. These forces include both threats and opportunities. 

Tables 3.4 and 3.5 summarize aspects of a future competitive environment that seem especially 

likely to affect the seafood industry. 
Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

64 

Table 3.3. Seafood industry byproducts. 

Industry Product Application 

Aquafeed Fish hydrolysates Feed additives 

Animal Feed Co-dried products Flavorants and attractants 

Pet Feed Fish hydrolysates 

Fish oils 

Natural pigments 

Protein supplements and flavorants 

Fish oils 

Antioxidants and pigment enhancement 

Organic Food Industry Fish fertilizers Plant nutrition 

Nutraceuticals Fish oils 

Peptides 

Chitin 

Chondroitin sulphate 

Health promotion 

Industrial Compounds Chitin 

Gelatin 

Enzymes 

Paper making 

Cheese processing 

Water purification 

Human Food Fish oils 

Gelatin 

Seafood derivatives 

Health foods 

Kosher and Hatal gelatins 

Flavorants and thickeners 

Pharmaceuticals Specialty products Drug delivery 

Anticoagulants 

Arthritis, cancer, and other treatments 

Photoelectric applications 

Biotechnology 

Source: Johnson, 2003 

The balance between human needs and the Earth’s capacity to supply them is delicate and 

subject to continuous change. Human needs change in response to numbers of people, 

perceptions of preference, and market forces, while understanding of capacity changes in 

response to new technology and new appreciation of the ecological footprint that activities 

impose. Most animal agriculture, as it is practiced today, represents an ecological extravagance 

that man embraces because meat is a preferred food item and, in many cases, provides nutrients 

that would not be available in adequate quantities from an all-vegetable diet. Until now, it has 

also been an affordable extravagance, since the number of humans has been moderate and a high 

level of meat consumption has been confined to a relatively small proportion of them. But trends 

suggest that this may not be the case much longer (Figure 3.4). Since human consumption of 

meat is driven both by an increase in the human population and its overall level of affluence, 

how long will it be before resource pressures impose limits on such growth? And, what will 

happen when they do? 

The threats (Table 3.5) are all consequences of such resource pressures or responses to 

them. For example, increasing acceptance of simulated meat made from textured vegetable 

protein is a likely response to rising costs and, therefore, prices for the real thing. Similarly, 

vegetarianism, or at least a reduction in per-capita consumption of meat, is another response (the 

Atkins diet notwithstanding), especially in the United States where levels of meat consumption at 

98 kg per capita per year is 2.5 times the world average, and dietary guidelines are urging 

general moderation.
Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

65 

Table 3.4. Long-term threats and possible responses or consequences.

Threat Impact Response / Consequence 

Higher energy 

costs 

Will affect all parts of the 

business especially marine 

mobility 

Mechanization and remote monitoring and 

control (see Marine Engineering section of 

this chapter). 

Feed raw 

material 

shortages 

Feed cost increase Assuming feeds can be formulated from a 

variety of feed ingredients (see Chapter 4) 

fish farming will be no more affected by 

feed cost increases than other animal 

farming industries. In fact, it may have an 

advantage because some fish may use feed 

more efficiently than their terrestrial 

counterparts (Forster and Hardy, 2002). 

Development of 

synthesized or 

artificial foods; 

e.g., artificial 

crab meat 

Foods made from single cell 

proteins, textured vegetable 

proteins or, possibly, 

cultured muscle tissue could 

be a competitor. 

Assuming such products are safe, are 

effective imitations, and are cost 

competitive, the only response can be to 

emphasize the benefits of “the real thing.” 

Omega 3 fatty 

acid supplements 

Weakens a key selling point 

for seafood, i.e. health. 

There are other, though less unique, 

benefits of seafood that can be promoted 

but fish oil pills and fortified foods are 

already being sold. In the long term, 

seafood must sell because it is good tasting 

food not because it is “medicine.” 

Vegetarianism 

due to concerns 

about animal 

welfare or the 

ecological cost 

of humans as 

carnivores 

Reduced consumption of 

animal proteins 

Animal welfare concerns may be partly 

addressed by good farming practices and 

humane slaughter methods, which are more 

easily demonstrated for aquaculture 

compared to commercial fishing. Also, the 

ecological costs of farmed seafood may be 

less than those of producing meat on land, 

which would give aquaculture a 

competitive advantage 

Aquaculture offers another response. By finding ways to use a greater proportion of the 

Earth’s surface for food production, and by growing species that may be more efficient in 

converting resources into animal tissue, aquaculture promises to change how the Earth’s capacity 

is presently understood. The opportunities and possibilities identified in Table 3.5 touch upon 

this promise. It is impossible to know how it will actually develop. Other factors besides simple 

resource considerations will determine the ultimate outcome. But insofar as the future will be 

driven by the balance that is struck between human needs and the Earth’s capacity to supply 

them, aquaculture in the oceans seems certain to become increasingly important. 
Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

66 

Figure 3.4. World trends in population, gross domestic product (GDP), meat and vegetable 

oil consumption. 

 Source: Bunge, undated 
Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

67 

Table 3.5. Long-term opportunities and possibilities. 

Opportunity Impact Response / Consequence 

Increased 

purchasing 

power in 

developing 

countries 

As China, India and other Asian 

countries modernize, their people 

will seek to upgrade their diets. 

This will increase demand for 

what may be a limited supply of 

some products. 

Though offshore aquaculture will seek 

to expand internationally to meet this 

demand, it may be difficult to keep up. 

Since the United States can be a 

competitive producer, a homeland 

industry can benefit from market 

strength and help to assure supply to 

U.S. consumers. 

Cold-blooded 

creatures that do 

not maintain 

body temperature 

or have to resist 

gravity are more 

energy efficient 

than warmblooded 

terrestrial 

animals 

Less food energy will be needed 

by aquaculture to produce an 

equivalent amount of animal 

protein. And less carbon dioxide 

or methane will be produced as 

waste products. 

In an energy-limited world, this may be 

a key long-term advantage for 

aquaculture. It remains to be thoroughly 

examined and quantified by detailed 

input/output analysis, but there are good 

theoretical grounds to believe it will be 

found to be real (Asgard et al., 1999). 

Moreover, a case may be made that 

farmed seafood provides a better 

nutritional return for the inputs invested 

than do farmed mammals and birds. 

Nutrient 

recycling 

Nutrients discharged as wastes 

may be taken up and used by the 

marine food chain more 

effectively than nutrients from 

terrestrial animals that may 

overload localized terrestrial 

capacity. More aquaculture could, 

therefore, lessen impacts on land, 

freshwater aquifers, and nearshore marine waters. 

This also needs to be demonstrated but 

there are theoretical grounds for 

believing it could be true. Nutrients 

from offshore aquaculture will be widely 

dispersed quickly, thereby becoming 

available to phytoplankton over a large 

area receiving, proportionally, a much 

greater amount of sunlight than nutrients 

sprayed on fields. 

Polyculture – the 

controlled 

recovery of 

nutrients by 

cultivating more 

than one 

organism 

This will have the same impact as 

nutrient recycling above except 

that the “take-up” will occur by 

other farmed organisms that may 

be grown and harvested at a profit 

(see Environmental Sciences 

section of this chapter). 

The most direct way to accomplish this 

is through the culture of seaweeds for 

food, chemicals or biomass. Indirect 

recovery is also possible by cultivating 

filter feeding shellfish that feed on 

enhanced phytoplankton stocks that will 

develop in the vicinity of a fish farm. 

Synergy with 

wave and wind 

energy systems 

More efficient use of the 

maritime infrastructure is needed 

for both industries. 

Since working offshore is inherently 

difficult, and therefore expensive, this 

has the potential to reduce costs. Wave 

energy systems will also provide 

protection for aquaculture structures. 
Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

68 

Appendix 

Figure 3.A1. Open-sea cages: A design history. 

2. Viking Sea Going Farm circa 1988. Relied 

on strength to withstand ocean forces and 

failed.

1. Bridgestone cage circa 1986. Non submersible, 

flexible structure. Still in use and one of the most 

successful open sea cages to date.

3. FarmOcean semi submersible cage circa 1990. 

Still some in use but few were sold. Expensive

4. Refamed Tension Leg cage circa 1990. Relies 

only on floats and lines. Deforms in currents. 

Used extensively in Italy

5. Ocean Spar cage circa 1990. Relies on anchor 

tension to hold shape. Partly submersible but has not 

done well in really heavy sea conditions.

6. Trident Cage circa 1992. Geodesic design, 

submersible but with interior single unit net. No 

longer made or in use.
Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

69 

Figure 3.A1 (continued). Open-sea cages: A design history. 

7. Seatrek concept cage Circa 1992. Permanently 

submerged barrel cages. Never built

8. SeaStation single spar submersible cage, circa 

1992. Fixed volume, tensioned rigging lines to 

support net, now in service in several countries

9. Sadco Shelf submersible cage, circa 1992. Similar to 

SeaStation but rigid structure supports net and includes 

integral feeder. Now in use I several countries. 

11. Submersible PolaCirkel cage, circa 1994. Conventional 

PEH cage that can submerge when rim is flooded. Now in 

service in several countries

12. Platfarm cage, Spain, circa 2000. Uses oil field type 

structure fixed to sea bed for net support

10. Dunlop Tempest cage, circa 1990. Very 

similar to the Bridgestone cage.
Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

70 

Figure 3.A1 (continued). Open-sea cages: A design history. 

14.Ocean Glob, circa 2004. Norwegian concept cage 

made with PEH pipe. Yet to be built and tested

13. Ocean going concept cage , Spain, circa 2004. 

Specially designed for tuna where wild caught juveniles 

are used

16. SubFishCage, Europe, circa 2004. Concept cage 

being designed as part of EU development project

15. Sea Haven cage circa 2004. Under development in 

Western Australia.

References 

Asgard, T., Austreng, E., Holmefjord I., Hillestad, M., and K. Shearer. 1999. Resource 

efficiency in the production of various species. Proceedings of the Second International 

Symposium on Sustainable Fish Farming. Oslo, Norway. Nov. 2-5th 1997, Publ. A.A. Balkema, 

Rotterdam. 

Aqua Bounty. Undated. www.aquabounty.com 
Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

71 

Blyth, P.J., and R. A. Dodd. 2002. An economic assessment of current practice and methods to 

improve feed management of caged finfish in several SE Asia regions. 

http://library.enaca.org/Grouper/ResourceMaterials/Grow-out/Feed2003.pdf

Bunge. Undated. http://www.bunge.com/US/en/industry_information/afoa_slides.pdf 

Chopin, T. 2005. “Integrating for Sustainability: Benefits of Fish/Seaweed/Shellfish Farming”. 

Presentation at symposium on “Farming Ocean Carnivores: The Science, Economics and 

Politics of Rapidly Expanding Fish Aquaculture.” Meeting of the American Association for the 

Advancement of Science, Washington, D.C., Feb. 2005. 

EAO. 1997. Salmon Aquaculture Review. Environmental Assessment Office, British Columbia, 

Canada. http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca 

Eknath, A.E., Bentsen, H.B., Gjerde, B., Tayamen, M.M., Abella, T.A., Gjedrem, T., and Pullin, 

R.S.V.P. 1991. Approaches to national fish breeding programs: pointers from a tilapia study. 

NAGA the ICLARM Quarterly, April 1991:10-12. 

European Commission. In progress. The Meramed Project. http://meramed.akvaplan.com/ 

Forster, J., and R. Hardy. 2002. Measuring efficiency in intensive aquaculture. World 

Aquaculture 32(2):41-45. 

Johnson, H.M. 2003. Market Outlook in the International Fish and Seafood Sector. Alternative 

Products/Uses and Food Safety Issues. Appendix III, Study 2 Achieving the Vision. Report of 

the Commissioner for Aquaculture Development. Ottawa, Canada. 

Loverich, G., and J. Forster. 2000. Advances in Offshore Cage Design using Spar Buoys. J. 

Mar. Technol. Soc. 34(1):18-28. 

Ludvigsen, S. 2003. “Norwegian aquaculture - potential and challenges.” Speech at seminar 

hosted by the Brazilian Ministry of Fisheries - Brasilia - 7. October 2003. 

http://odin.dep.no/fkd/engelsk/p10001957/p10001958/008031-090031/dok-bn.html 

NOAA. 2001. “The Net-pen Salmon Farming Industry in the Pacific Northwest.” U.S. Dept. of 

Commerce, NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFC-49. 

http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/publications/techmemos/tm49/tm49.pdf

Ryan, J. 2004. Farming the deep blue. Bord Iscaigh Mhara (BIM), Dublin, Ireland. 

SAMS (Scottish Association for Marine Science). 2002. Review and Synthesis of the 

Environmental Impacts of Aquaculture. 

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/46951/0030621.pdf 

Troutlodge Inc. Undated. “Triploids in Aquaculture.” www.troutlodge.com (Technical 

Bulletins) 
Chapter 3: Emerging Technologies in Marine Aquaculture 

72 

Watts, G., and C. Kennett. 1995. The broiler industry. Poultry Tribune, Centennial Edition, 

Watt Publishing, pp.6-18. 

United Soybean Board, “Soy in Aquaculture Initiative.” http://www.soyaqua.org/ 
73 

CHAPTER 4 

Future Aquaculture Feeds and Feed Costs: 

The Role of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

Gina Shamshak and James Anderson 

This chapter will explore the important interlinkages between the fish meal and fish oil sectors 

and the aquaculture industry. Aquaculture has been the fastest growing food sector over the 

past two decades and this steady and rising growth in the aquaculture sector is forecast to 

continue into the future (Anderson, 2003). This growth will, in turn, fuel increased demand for 

fish meal and fish oil. Within the aquaculture industry, small pelagic fish, such as herring, 

menhaden, capelin, anchovy, pilchard, sardines, and mackerel, are used either whole or are 

reduced into fish meal and fish oil and used to feed aquaculture species. The dependency of the 

aquaculture industry on the availability of fish meal and fish oil has raised concern among 

environmental groups about potentially negative effects on wild fish stocks (Naylor et al. 2000). 

This dependency also has potential implications for the future growth of the aquaculture industry 

and the development of an offshore aquaculture industry. This chapter provides an overview of 

global fish meal and fish oil production. It identifies the main sources, producers, and 

consumers of fish meal and oil products. The discussion highlights past, current, and future 

trends in fish meal and fish oil consumption by its two primary consumers: the agriculture sector 

and the aquaculture sector. Finally, it explores the implications for the future of the aquaculture 

industry and, in particular, the emergence of offshore aquaculture. 

Introduction 

Fish meal and fish oil products are derived from small pelagic species that are not 

generally used for human consumption. Examples of such fish include: herring, menhaden, 

capelin, anchovy, pilchard, sardines, and mackerel. These commercial fisheries are often referred 

to as reduction fisheries due to the steps by which the harvest is processed, or reduced, into a 

final product. Early maturation and high fecundity often characterize the species that comprise 

reduction fisheries. In addition, these species are known to be sensitive to changes in 

environmental conditions, which lead to uncertainty in stock forecasts. The major reduction 

fisheries are located off the coasts of Peru and Chile and in the North Atlantic, North Sea, and 

Baltic Sea. 

Global Fisheries Production 

Total global fisheries production has been increasing over the past 30 years; however, the driving 

component of that growth has been an emerging global aquaculture sector. Global aquaculture 

production increased from 10.2 million metric tons (mmt) in 1984 to 59.4 mmt in 2004 (Figure 

4.1). Aquaculture now represents approximately 37% of total fisheries production worldwide. 

However, when one restricts the definition of “production” to fish caught or produced for human 

consumption (that is, excluding industrial catches), aquaculture represents approximately 43% of 

total fisheries production. However, it is difficult to accurately estimate this percentage since a 

growing portion of small pelagics, such as Chilean jack mackerel, is now consumed directly by 

humans rather than being reduced (Zaldivar, 2004; Wray, 2001). Aquaculture has been the 
Chapter 4: Future Aquaculture Feeds and Feed Costs: The Role of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

74 

fastest growing food sector over the past 20 years, with an average annual growth rate of 8.7% 

(Tacon, 2005; FAO, 2005). Developing countries have been and will continue to be the main 

drivers of this growth (Figure 4.2). Of the top five aquaculture producing countries, four of the 

five are developing countries (India, China, Philippines, Indonesia) and four of the five are Asian 

countries (China, Philippines, Japan, Indonesia). 

Figure 4.1. Global fisheries production: capture fisheries and aquaculture 1984-2004. 

Source: FAO, 2005 

Global Fish Meal and Fish Oil Production 

The major producers of fish meal are the following: Peru, Chile, China, Thailand, USA, 

Japan, and Scandinavia - which is an aggregation of Iceland, Norway and Denmark (Figure 4.3). 

According to the Fishmeal Information Network (FIN), there are approximately 400 dedicated 

fish meal plants that produce about 6.3 million tons of fishmeal and 1.1 million tons of oil 

annually from about 33 million tons of whole fish and trimmings. Dedicated fishing fleets 

accounted for 27.4 million tons, while trimmings and rejects from food fish accounted for the 

remaining 5.6 million tons (FIN, 2005a). 

-

20

40

60

80

100

120

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Million Metric Tonnes

Aquaculture Capture Fisheries
Chapter 4: Future Aquaculture Feeds and Feed Costs: The Role of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

75 

Figure 4.2. Global aquaculture production by economic class grouping, 1983-2004. 

0

10,000,000

20,000,000

30,000,000

40,000,000

50,000,000

60,000,000

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Developed countries or areas Developing countries or areas

Source: FAO, 2007 

Figure 4.3. Global fish meal production by country, 1983-2003. 

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Million Metric Tonnes

Peru China Chile Thailand United States of America Japan Scandanavia Others

Source: FAO, 2005 
Chapter 4: Future Aquaculture Feeds and Feed Costs: The Role of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

76 

Peru is the major supplier of both fish meal and fish oil worldwide, accounting for 28% 

of fishmeal and 29% of fish oil production in 2003 (Figures 4.3 & 4.5). Approximately 600 

fishing vessels comprise the Peruvian fishery, of which 550 are wooden vessels for artisanal 

fishing (IFFO, 2005b). In Peru, the major species harvested are anchovy (Engraulis ringens) and 

jack mackerel (Trachurus symmetricus ) (FIN, 2005b). Both species are small in size, have a 

short life span, and are highly fecund. Since they are both highly influenced by El Niño, their 

harvest levels can fluctuate significantly during El Niño events (Figure 4.4). The most recent El 

Niño event (1997-1998) was the strongest on record. It developed more quickly than any other 

El Niño event in the past 40 years and it had an immediate impact on weather, marine 

ecosystems, and fisheries (McPhaden and Soreide, undated). 

Figure 4.4. Peruvian fish meal and fish oil production, 1983-2003. 

0

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Million Metric Tonnes

Fish Oil Fish Meal

Source: FAO, 2005 

Scandinavia and Peru dominate the global production of fish oil. The majority of fish oil 

produced is devoted to the production of aquafeeds (81%), while the remainder is allocated 

across the industrial (5%) and edible foods (14%) sectors (Figure 4.7). The major producers of 

fish oil are: Peru, Chile, Japan, Scandinavia, and the United States (Figure 4.5). 

Most of the major producers of fish meal are also the major producers of fish oil, given 

the nature of fish meal and fish oil production. In general terms, fish meal is produced through a 

process of cooking, pressing, drying, and milling. The production process is comprised of six 

main steps. The first step is to inspect the raw fish for freshness and expected yield of meal and 

oil. Once the raw fish are cleaned for production, they are conveyed through a steam-heated, 

continuous cooker at temperatures ranging from 70°C to 100°C. The high temperature helps 
Chapter 4: Future Aquaculture Feeds and Feed Costs: The Role of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

77 

sterilize the fish as well as separate out proteins and oils. This cooked material is then fed 

though a screw press, where the majority of the remaining liquids are pressed out of the material. 

The collected liquid and oils are further refined through decanting processes, while the remaining 

presscake material is dried and milled to form a product ready for export. 

Figure 4.5. Global fish oil production by country, 1983-2003. 

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Million Metric Tonnes

Peru Chile Scandanavia United States of America Japan Other

Source: FAO, 2005 

Fish meal can be categorized into the following product headings (FIN, 2005c): 

• High quality – usually for small-scale aquaculture units (trout farms) or marine species 

• Low temperature meal – highly digestible and used in salmon and piglet production 

• Prime – specified protein content exceeding 66 percent but not exceeding 68 percent 

• Fair average quality (FAQ) – lower protein content feed ingredient for pigs and poultry 

Uses of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

Pike (2005) estimated that 6.2 million tons of fish meal and 0.975 million tons of fish oil 

were produced globally in 2002. Based upon those estimates of total global production, Pike 

calculated that the aquaculture sector consumed 46% of the fish meal and 81% of the fish oil 

produced in 2002 (Pike, 2005). By 2012, Pike estimates that the percentage of fish meal 

consumed by the aquaculture sector will be 50% and the percentage of fish oil comprising 

aquafeeds will be 88%. These estimates are based on a forecast of global fish meal (6.0 million 

tons) and fish oil (1.1 million tons) production in 2012 (Pike, 2005). Historically, global fish 

meal and fish oil production has averaged 6 mmt and 1.2 mmt, respectively, and this level of 
Chapter 4: Future Aquaculture Feeds and Feed Costs: The Role of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

78 

production is expected to continue in the future. Figures 4.6 and 4.7 illustrate the allocation of 

fish meal and fish oil across the various animal producing sectors. 

Figure 4.6. Fish meal utilization by sector: 2002 (estimated) vs. 2012 (forecasted). 

46%

22%

24%

1%

7%

50%

15%

25%

0%

10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Aquaculture Poultry Pigs Ruminants Others

2002

 2012

 2002

 2012

 2012

 2012 2002

 2002

 2002

 2012

Source: Pike, 2005 

Figure 4.7. Fish oil utilization by sector: 2002 (estimated) vs. 2012 (forecasted). 

81%

5%

14%

88%

7% 5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Aquafeed Industrial Edible

2002

2002

2002

 2012

 2012 2012

Source: Pike, 2005 
Chapter 4: Future Aquaculture Feeds and Feed Costs: The Role of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

79 

Within the aquaculture sector, the major species groups dependent upon the use of 

compound aquafeeds in 2002 included (Tacon, 2004): 

• carp (8.27 mmt, or 46.6% of aquafeeds used in 2002) 

• marine shrimp (2.08 mmt) 

• salmon (1.58 mmt) 

• marine finfish (excludes mullets; 1.56 mmt) 

• tilapia (1.35 mmt) 

• trout (0.74 mmt) 

• catfish (0.72 mmt) 

• freshwater crustaceans (0.61 mmt) 

• milkfish (0.47 mmt), and 

• eels (0.38 mmt) 

Figure 4.8. Total estimated compound aquafeed production, 2002. 

Source: Tacon, 2004 

As mentioned earlier, China is the global leader in aquaculture production and one of the 

major species cultured by the Chinese is carp. Most carp are omnivores that can be raised in 

either extensive, semi-intensive, or intensive aquaculture production systems. The more intensive 

production systems involve augmenting the diet of the carp with fish meal to increase their rate 

of growth and meat production. While the quantity of aquafeed consumed per carp may be 

small, the total amount of aquafeed consumed by the sector is quite large, given the quantity of 

carp produced annually. To put global carp production into perspective, the Cyprinidae (carp) 

Carp 

46%

Catfish

Tilapia 4%

8%

Freshwater 

Crustaceans

3%

Marine Shrimp

12%

Salmon

9%

Trout

4%

Milkfish

3%

Eel

2%

Marine Finfish

9%
Chapter 4: Future Aquaculture Feeds and Feed Costs: The Role of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

80 

family accounted for 31% of total aquaculture production, greater than both Penaeidae (shrimp) 

and Salmonidae (salmon) production combined, in 2003 (FAO, 2005). 

Currently, China is the largest importer of fish meal, importing more than 1 million tons 

per year, followed by Japan (approximately 400,000 tons), Taiwan (approximately 250,000 tons) 

and Germany (approximately 200,000 tons) (IFFO, 2005b). Through their demand for fish meal 

and fish oil, China will ultimately have an impact on global fish meal and fish oil prices. In 

general, aquaculture’s dependence upon fish meal and fish oil is greatest for those which are 

highly valued species, including all carnivorous (i.e., fish/invertebrate animal-eating) finfish 

species and most omnivores/scavenging crustacean species (Tacon, 2004; Zaldivar, 2004). 

Figure 4.9. Estimated global use of fish meal within compound aquafeeds in 2002 by major 

cultivated species (Values expressed as % of total fish meal used within aquafeeds, dry as-fed 

basis. 

Source: Tacon, 2004 

Future Trends in Fish Meal and Fish Oil Consumption 

By 2012, the consumption of fish meal and fish oil by the aquaculture sector is expected 

to increase (Figures 4.6 & 4.7). In general, lower costs of production and increasing levels of 

production have led to falling market prices for aquaculture species. Since feed costs represent 

40-70% of total production costs, depending on the species, producers are sensitive to rising fish 

meal and fish oil prices (Tacon, 2005; Anderson, 2003; Guttormsen, 2002). The challenge is to 

identify lower cost substitutes for fish meal and fish oil while still maintaining both the quality 

and quantity of production achieved through the use of fish meal and fish oil. 

Carp

16%

Milkfish

1%

Eel

7%

Salmon

Marine Shrimp 21%

6%

Marine Fish

24%

Catfish

1% Tilapia

1%

Trout

18%

Freshwater 

Crustaceans

5%
Chapter 4: Future Aquaculture Feeds and Feed Costs: The Role of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

81 

Figure 4.10. Estimated global use of fish oil within compound aquafeeds in 2002 by major 

cultivated species (Values expressed as % total fish meal used within aquafeeds, dry as-fed 

basis). 

Source: Tacon, 2004 

Note: It is important to note that actual fish meal and fish oil consumption is higher than is represented in Figures 

4.9 and 4.10, due to the omission of 10% of total finfish and crustacean production in the calculations by Tacon 

(2004). 

The inclusion of fish meal and fish oil in the diets of animals is not an arbitrary decision 

on the part of producers and feed manufacturers. Fish meal is an excellent source of high quality 

proteins and long chain omega-3 fatty acids, including EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA 

(docosahexaenoic acid). Both DHA and EPA provide essential health benefits, including 

cardiovascular health, improved cellular function, and overall brain and nervous system function. 

Fish meal also provides essential amino acids in a highly digestible form. Across all animals, 

fish meal use has led to increases in growth rates, improvements in feed conversion ratios, lower 

allergic reactions, and improvements in disease resistance (IFFO, 2005a). The consumption of 

omega-3 fatty acids is also beneficial to humans, especially with regard to cardiovascular health 

(Seierstad et al., 2005; Kris-Etherton et al., 2002; Eliseo et al., 2002; Connor, 2000; Kromhout et 

al., 1985). 

For certain aquaculture species, fish meal and fish oil may become limiting factors of 

production, since they cannot be perfectly substituted with other protein sources to date. At low 

levels of fish meal and fish oil inclusion, issues regarding digestibility, growth rates, disease 

resistance, and overall quality of meat can emerge. Fish meal cannot easily be substituted in the 

diets of pigs (Makkink et al., 1994; Jorgensen et al., 1984; Woodman and Evans, 1951) and 

poultry (Klasing, 1998; Pike et al., 1984; Pensack et al., 1949). In fact, the use of fish meal by 

the pig sector is expected to remain essentially unchanged from 2002 to 2012 (Figure 4.6). Thus, 

the issue of reduced substitutability across different protein sources is not unique to the 

aquaculture sector. 

According to Tacon (2005), some typical dietary fish meal inclusion levels within 

conventional livestock feeds are: 

Milkfish

1%

Salmon

39%

Marine Shrimp

6%

Marine Fish

21%

Eel

2%

Carp

12%

Catfish

1%

Trout

14%

Tilapia

2%

Freshwater 

Crustaceans

2%
Chapter 4: Future Aquaculture Feeds and Feed Costs: The Role of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

82 

• Pig: Creep 5-10%, Weaner 5-10%, Grower 3-5%, Finisher 3%, Sow 3% 

• Poultry: Chick rearing, up to 3%, Broiler 2-5%, Breeder 1-5%, Layer 2%, Turkey 3-10%, 

Pheasant/game 3-7% 

• Dairy Cattle: Late Pregnancy 2.5-10%, Lactating 5-10%, Calves 2.5-10% 

• Sheep: Breeding ewes/pregnant 2-7.5%, Lactating 5-10%, Growing Lambs 2.5-10% 

• Carnivorous Fish (Salmonids/Eels/Marine Finfish): Starter 35-75%, Grower 20-50% 

• Omnivorous Fish (Carp/Tilapia/Catfish): Starter 10-25%, Grower 2-15% 

• Marine Shrimp: Starter 25-50%, Grower 15-35% 

Research and development of new protein sources is ongoing by all users of fish meal 

and fish oil, not just the aquaculture sector. Higher fish meal and fish oil prices have and will 

continue to provide the economic incentives to develop more efficient production systems, to 

improve diet formulations, and to innovate and discover new compounds that can provide highquality substitutes for fish meal and fish oil. 

Soybean Meal and Oil and Other Substitute Feeds 

Possible land-based substitutes in the oil meal family include: rapeseed, soybean, corn 

gluten, wheat, gluten, and terrestrial byproduct meals that include meat meal, bone meal, feather 

meal and blood meal (Tacon, 2004). Marine-based substitutes include the use of small marine 

crustaceans, including krill, copepods, and algae. Other potential sources of fish meal include the 

recycling of bycatch for use in production, as well as the use of fish processing byproducts, 

mainly the excess trimmings and wastes that result from processing fish for human consumption. 

In addition, bio-technological substitutes are in the early stages of development. 

The main impediment in substituting vegetable-based proteins for marine-based proteins 

concerns the underlying differences in protein quality. Plant-based replacements can be 

substituted up to a point before growth, immunity, and overall fish health and quality decline. 

Another important issue is the impact of protein substitutes on human health and 

nutrition. A recent study by Norwegian researchers investigated the effect of dietary intake of 

Atlantic salmon on cardiac patients. Atlantic salmon were separated into three groups and fed a 

diet ranging from high (100% fish oil) to low (100% rapeseed oil) levels of omega-3 fatty acids. 

Cardiac patients were separated into three groups and consumed the differently-fed Atlantic 

salmon over a six-week period. All human subjects had statistically significant changes in their 

serum fatty acid profiles, regardless of the differences in feed across the salmon groups; 

however, the changes were even more pronounced for those whose feeds contained the greatest 

fish oil content (Seierstad et al., 2005). 

In addition to reiterating the cardiovascular benefits of diets high in omega-3 fatty acids, 

this study also highlights the importance of the composition of aquaculture feeds in human 

nutrition. Diets high in plant oils can have nutritional implications, not only for animal but also 

human health and nutrition. Regardless, soybean meal still remains the main competitor to fish 

meal within the global, animal meal sector. 
Chapter 4: Future Aquaculture Feeds and Feed Costs: The Role of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

83 

The Relationship between Fish Meal and Soybean Meal 

Soybean meal is a vegetable-based protein source that provides amino acids and essential 

nutrients, although not of the same caliber as fish meal. Historically, fish meal has commanded a 

higher price than soybean meal (Figure 4.11). The price differential between the two protein 

sources is related to differences in quality. Using price data from the 1980s and 1990s, if one 

were to account for the differences in protein content across both meals, the price gap essentially 

disappears (Asche and Tveteras, 2000). The critical question to ask is: Does fish meal have 

unique nutritional properties that distinguish it from the general oilseed market? If fish meal is a 

substitute for other protein sources on the market, then substitution across protein sources should 

occur. The ability to make substitutions will reduce the possibility of large increases in the price 

of fish meal and fish oil as the demand for fish meal and fish oil increases. 

However, if it is the case that fish meal is a unique protein with limited substitution 

possibilities across other protein sources, this has implications for future pricing of fish meal and 

fish oil. A study by Asche and Tveteras (2000) examined the relationship between aquaculture 

and reduction fisheries. The authors analyzed the monthly prices for soymeal and fish meal from 

the United States and Europe from January 1981 to April 1999. Through co-integration analysis, 

the authors found evidence that fish meal and soymeal are strong substitutes and that fish meal is 

part of the larger oil meal market (Asche and Tveteras, 2000). Their work is consistent with 

research by Vukina and Anderson (1993), which examined the soy meal/fish meal market from 

1986-1991. Vulkina and Anderson found the high degree of substitutability between soy meal 

and fish meal such that cross-commodity futures hedging could successfully reduce price risk in 

the fish meal market. 

While the work of Vulkina and Anderson (1993) and Asche and Tveteras (2000) 

confirmed a co-integrated relationship between soybean meal and fish meal throughout the 1980s 

and 1990s, recent research by Kristofersson and Anderson (2005) suggests that this historical 

relationship has changed, following a structural break in 1998. Kristofersson and Anderson 

identified two structural breaks, one in October 1996 and one in October 1998, with the latter 

occurring after the El Niño event in 1998. Their findings suggest that fish meal and fish oil post1998 are not behaving as close substitutes in the more general oil meal market as was the case in 

the past. This has potential implications for the future of not only the aquaculture sector, but also 

reduction fisheries. 

An indication of the changes that are occurring with regard to the relationship between 

fish meal and the aquaculture industry can be seen in Figure 4.13. This figure presents an index 

of predicted fish meal use in aquaculture under the assumption of no substitutability with the 

input/output relationship reported by Naylor et al. (2000). If no substitution with other protein 

sources is possible, predicted fish meal use (solid line) should be identical to actual fish meal use 

(dashed line). 

 
Chapter 4: Future Aquaculture Feeds and Feed Costs: The Role of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

84 

Figure 4.11. Monthly averages for fish meal (64/65% any origin, wholesale CIF Hamburg) 

and soybean meal (44% any origin, CIF Rotterdam/Hamburg) prices (US$ per ton). 

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Jan-81

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Jul-04

Jan-05

Soybean Meal Fish Meal 

Source: FAO Globefish Commodity Report, February 2005 

Figure 4.12. Fish oil (international prices, any origin CIF N.W. Europe), palm oil 

(international palm oil prices-RBD palm olein, Malaysia, CIF Rotterdam), and soybean oil 

(international prices-Dutch, FOB ex-mill) (US$ per ton).

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Mar-84

Sep-84

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US$ per ton

Palm Oil Soybean Oil Fish Oil

Source: FAO Globefish Commodity Report, February 2005 
Chapter 4: Future Aquaculture Feeds and Feed Costs: The Role of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

85 

While the trends of the actual and predicted fish meal use were similar prior to 1997, it 

appears that, post-1997, this relationship has broken down. The actual use of fish meal has 

fluctuated between 2.0 and 2.5 million metric tons, suggesting that the aquaculture industry has 

been able to either find substitutes for fish meal and/or they have improved farm management 

and/or the formulation of the diet as to improve the efficiency of the production process. Since 

1997, the aquaculture industry has been able to sustain an annual average rate of growth of 7.9% 

per year while consuming essentially the same quantity of fish meal over that same period. 

Additionally, there has been little change in the output mix of aquacultured species as the share 

of carnivorous species produced has fluctuated between 20% and 25% over that same time 

period (Kristofersson and Anderson, 2006). 

 Figure 4.13. Estimated actual versus predicted use of fish meal in aquaculture. 

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

4.00

1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004

Fishmeal use, MMT

Actual fishmeal use in aquafeed

Predicted fishmeal use based on the 1997 fishmeal/aquaculture production ratio (Naylor et al 2000)

 Source: Kristofersson and Anderson (2005) 

 Looking at the farmed salmon industry, the percentage of dietary fish meal and fish oil 

used within salmon feeds has changed dramatically over the past two decades (Table 4.1). There 

has been a decrease in dietary protein levels within salmon feeds, with an equivalent increase in 

dietary lipid and energy levels (Tacon, 2005). This shift has resulted in faster fish growth rates 

and improved feed efficiencies. Today, Chilean salmon production cycles are at least 20-25% 

shorter than they were ten years ago, due to the use of higher energy and lower protein feeds 

(Larrain et al., 2005). Canadian and Norwegian producers currently lead the way in terms of the 

current level of dietary marine protein (i.e., fish meal) and marine lipid (i.e., fish oil) substitution 

rates at 55% and 50%, followed by Chile at 60% and 20%, and the UK at 45% and 10%, with no 

apparent loss in fish growth or nutritional quality of the fish carcass (Tacon, 2005). 
Chapter 4: Future Aquaculture Feeds and Feed Costs: The Role of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

86 

 Table 4.1. Inclusion of fish meal within salmon feeds, 1985-2005. 

Year Fishmeal Inclusion Dietary Lipid Levels 

1985 60% 10% 

1990 50% 15% 

1995 45% 25% 

2000 40% 30% 

2005 35% 35-40% 

 Source: Tacon, 2005 

Further research and development in nutrition and husbandry will help improve feed 

conversion ratios within the aquaculture sector. Already, within salmon production the 

economic feed conversion ratio has fallen significantly from over 2 to 1.3 during the past 20 

years (Table 4.2). 

Table 4.2. Economic FCR for farmed salmon, 1983-2003. 

Year Economic FCR 

1983-1985 > 2.0 

1986-1990 1.7 

1991-1995 1.6 

1996-2000 1.5 

2001-2003 1.4 

Current 2003 1.3 (range 1-1.5) 

Source: Tacon, 2005 

The economic feed conversion ratio is defined as (Economic FCR = Total feed fed / total 

live fish produced), which takes into account all fish mortality over the production cycle. It is 

interesting to note that the economic FCR for farmed salmon (including large rainbow trout) is 

the lowest of all the major, cultured/fed aquaculture species, ranging from a high of 2.4 

(freshwater crustaceans), 2.0 (feeding carp, tilapia, milkfish, marine finfish, eel), 1.9 (marine 

shrimp), 1.6 (catfish) to a low of 1.3 (trout and salmon) (Tacon, 2004). These gains in efficiency 

can be attributed to better feed manufacture and formulation and better farm management 

(Tacon, 2005). Such technological advancements will help check prices until a biological limit 

on vegetable protein inclusion is reached. 

The Role of Fisheries Management 

As mentioned before, if fish meal and fish oil have unique properties and few substitutes, 

as demand increases, so too will prices. Without adequate management of the resource, price 

increases could lead to an increase in the amount of effort exerted in reduction fisheries. Such a 

situation could lead to a reduction in stock biomass and the potential collapse of reduction 

fisheries. If mismanagement of the resource occurs and effort is allowed to increase in response 

to price increases, harvest levels could ultimately decrease due to over-harvesting. In contrast, 

within well-managed fisheries, harvest levels would remain stable in accordance with established 

harvest targets and effort controls, which would help to ensure the sustainable use of the 

resource. Within well-managed fisheries, local fishermen and local economies would benefit 

from increased prices for their harvest. 
Chapter 4: Future Aquaculture Feeds and Feed Costs: The Role of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

87 

Currently, the reduction fisheries in Peru and Chile are managed under harvest quota 

systems designed to foster the sustainable use of this resource. In Peru, the government’s 

Institute of Fisheries Research (IMARPE) provides assistance in determining current stock 

assessments and the appropriate quota for a given season. In Peru, global satellite tracking 

systems are installed on all fishing boats that operate outside the 5-mile limit, allowing the 

government to strictly monitor all vessels to ensure compliance with geographical, temporal, or 

seasonal regulations (FIN, 2005b; Pike and Barlow, 2002). In addition, the Peruvian government 

imposes season limits, area closures, and limited entry to new fishing boats within their exclusive 

economic zone. Fishing is halted during February and March to reduce pressure on juvenile 

anchovy and sardine stocks, and the fishery closes from August to October to protect spawning 

stocks (FIN, 2005b). 

In Chile, similar fishing bans are imposed to protect juvenile stocks and critical spawning 

seasons for anchovy and sardines. Total allowable catch (TAC) limits are set for each species 

declared in full exploitation and the Institute of Fisheries Research, a Chilean government 

agency, provides guidance on establishing the quota in that country’s reduction fisheries (FIN, 

2005a or b or c). Well-established and enforced fisheries management are critical to the 

sustainability of reduction fisheries, and countries like Peru and Chile recognize the importance 

of protecting their nation’s natural resources and ensuring the sustainable use of the resource for 

current and future generations. 

With regard to U.S. reduction fisheries, the predominant species targeted are menhaden, 

herring and sardines. The U.S. Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) fishery is one of the 

most productive and important fisheries on the Atlantic coast (ASMFC, 2007). This fishery is 

managed under a Fishery Management Plan by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission 

(ASMFC). In 2001, the ASMFC approved Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management 

Plan for Atlantic menhaden. The objective of the amendment was to manage the Atlantic 

menhaden fishery according to fishing mortality and spawning stock biomass targets. In October 

of 2006, a cap on annual reduction fishery harvests was implemented under Addendum III. The 

cap, which sets the level of Atlantic menhaden harvests for reduction purposes at 109,020 metric 

tons is in effect until 2010. The Gulf of Mexico menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) fishery is one 

of the largest fisheries, by volume, in the United States. It is managed under a regional 

Menhaden Fishery Management Plan by the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission 

(GSMFC). This fishery is also one of the most effort-controlled, with only 41 vessels currently 

operating in the Gulf region (GSMFC, 2007). The Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) fishery is 

similarly managed under a Fishery Management Plan by the New England Fisheries 

Management Council (NEFMC). According to the NEFMC website, herring is managed by the 

NEFMC through the use of a quota system. When 95% of the annual quota is caught within one 

of the herring management areas, that area is closed to fishing until the start of the next fishing 

year (NEFMC, 2007). On the West Coast, the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Coastal 

pelagic species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan manages species including Northern anchovy 

(Engraulis mordax), Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax), Pacific (chub) mackerel (Scomber 

japonicus), Jack mackerel (Trachurus symmetricus) and Market squid (Loligo opalescens). 
Chapter 4: Future Aquaculture Feeds and Feed Costs: The Role of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

88 

Factors that will Influence the Future of the Fish Meal and Fish Oil Industry 

Continued Demand from Terrestrially-based Animal Protein Sectors 

It is important to recall that the poultry and pig sectors currently consume the same 

percentage of fish meal (46% combined) as the aquaculture sector (46%) (Figure 4.6). Both 

poultry and pig production are forecasted to expand as global demand increases. Aquaculture 

will continue to face competition for fish meal and fish oil resources from these two sectors. The 

poultry and pig sectors currently rely on fish meal and, to a lesser extent, fish oil in their feed 

formulations due to their high quality and current low cost, relative to other protein sources. 

While these sectors respond to price incentives when determining the composition of their 

animal feeds, at some stages of production the ability to substitute fish meal and fish oil is 

limited. This situation is similar to the situation faced by aquaculture producers, who also must 

contend with limited substitution possibilities at certain stages of production. 

The production of all animal proteins is influenced by the price and availability of fish 

meal and fish oil. This has potentially serious implications for the availability of animal proteins 

raised for human consumption. As the price of fish meal and fish oil rises relative to other 

protein sources, such as soybean meal, both agriculture and aquaculture users will attempt to 

substitute across protein sources to reduce production costs while maintaining nutritional and 

quality standards for their products. Following the El Niño event in 1998, this sort of pricedriven substitution was observed in the poultry and pig sectors, as the price of both fish meal and 

fish oil rose (Figures 4.11 & 4.12). The poultry sector halved its annual demand for fish meal 

from 2.4 mmt to 1.2 mmt, while the pork sector reduced its demand by 20% (Jystad, 2001). Still, 

there is a point at which both the agriculture and aquaculture sectors will face limitations 

regarding their ability to substitute fish meal and fish oil within their production cycles. 

Continued Growth in the Global Aquaculture Industry 

Steady and rising growth in the aquaculture sector is forecasted to continue into the future 

(Anderson, 2003). This growth will, in turn, fuel increased demand for fish meal and fish oil. 

Within the next 10 to 20 years, the global aquaculture sector is forecasted to surpass wild 

production, with estimates ranging between the years 2015 to 2030. (Tacon, 2004; FAO, 2000). 

A majority of the growth in aquaculture will come from developing countries, and in particular, 

Asian countries. A significant portion of the demand for fish meal and fish oil will come from 

China, who is already producing and importing a significant quantity of fish meal and fish oil to 

sustain its fisheries production. There is no sign of the Chinese fisheries industry, or for that 

matter its economy, slowing down in the near future. 

Transition of Small Pelagics from Industrial Production to Human Consumption

Within reduction fisheries, the potential exists for a shift in the final destination of fish 

caught in industrial fisheries. Currently, portions of fish such as anchovy, sardines, and 

menhaden are directly used for human consumption, thereby reducing the available supply of 

fish available for fish meal and fish oil production (Zaldivar, 2004; Wray, 2001). This has 

implications for the future supplies of fish available for reduction. 
Chapter 4: Future Aquaculture Feeds and Feed Costs: The Role of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

89 

Developments in the Markets for Protein Substitutes 

Developments in the availability and efficacy of protein substitutes will have an impact 

on the price of fish meal and fish oil. Increases in the price of fish meal and fish oil are 

important stimuli in the development of protein alternatives. As prices rise, the return from 

investing in alternative protein sources increases. Technologies that were not feasible at lower 

fish meal prices are now economical, given higher prices. Thus, higher fish meal and fish oil 

prices will provide the economic incentives for conservation and the development of new 

substitutes. 

Environmental Conditions

Future environmental shocks, such as El Niño events, will affect the future price of fish 

meal and fish oil. In 1998, El Niño was responsible for a significant decrease in Peruvian 

harvests, which in turn caused fish meal and fish oil prices to rise to all-time highs (Figures 4.11 

& 4.12). At that time, the poultry and pig sectors responded by substituting away from the 

higher-priced protein source. Another significant El Niño event could further disrupt fish meal 

and fish oil production and prices. Over the long term, another factor—climate change and 

subsequent sea temperature rise—may contribute to a change in the location and productivity of 

reduction fisheries. The ecological and economic effects that such a change could have are 

currently unknown and subject to great debate. Nonetheless, it could prove to be an important 

factor affecting the future supply of fish from reduction fisheries. 

Effective Management of Reduction Fisheries 

Countries whose economies rely upon reduction fisheries have acknowledged the 

importance of effective fisheries management in sustaining their respective industries. As the 

world’s major suppliers of both fish meal and fish oil, both Peru and Chile have implemented 

fishing regulations to protect their valuable reduction fisheries. To date, fish meal production 

has averaged 6.4 mmt over the past 20 years, despite increases in production across all animal 

protein sectors (FAO, 2005). Effective management of reduction fisheries will remain an 

essential factor in ensuring the sustainability of this resource. 

Refinements in Husbandry Techniques

As mentioned above, the percentage of dietary fish meal and fish oil used within feeds 

and, in particular, salmon feeds changed dramatically over the past two decades. This 

development, coupled with improved farm management and better feed formulations, has led to 

faster growth rates and improved feed efficiencies. Further research and development in 

nutrition and husbandry will help improve feed conversion ratios within the aquaculture sector. 

Food Safety and Health Issues

In European markets, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), also known as mad 

cow disease, has played an important role in shifting markets for fish meal consumption. Due to 

concerns in the European Union (EU) over the transmission of BSE, strict rules regarding the 

feed for ruminants were enacted (OJEC, 2001). These rules also prohibit fish meal consumption 

by ruminants based upon fears that fish meal may be contaminated with other meals that could 

spread BSE. In 2005, there was an amendment to the Council Decision; however, the ban on 

fish meal in ruminant diets was upheld pending further investigation (OJEC, 2005). The 

prohibition of fish meal in EU markets has led to a shift to Asian markets, where demand for fish 
Chapter 4: Future Aquaculture Feeds and Feed Costs: The Role of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

90 

meal primarily used in aquaculture is strong. Thus, through regulations in other markets, more 

fish meal has been made available for use in aquaculture and other industries. 

Another health-related issue that may impact the future availability of fish meal concerns 

the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in aquacultured products. Fish meals have 

been identified as a potential source of PCBs in the meat of farmed products (FIN, 2005d; EU, 

2001). Future regulations may address this problem by requiring fish meal producers to certify 

their product, to reduce the potential for the transmission of PCBs from the fish meal to the 

farmed species. This may reduce the available supply of “allowable” fish meal—fish meal that 

meets specific, certified guidelines—thereby impacting its price. Again, higher prices will 

stimulate the development of alternative protein sources that are both biologically and 

economically feasible. 

Additional Sources of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

Aside from technological developments in the production of protein alternatives, the 

recycling of bycatch is another possible source to augment current supplies from reduction 

fisheries. The FAO recently estimated global bycatch and found that, based on global data over 

the last decade, the average amount of fish thrown back into the sea was 7.3 million metric tons 

(Kelleher, 2005). This is a reduction in the estimate made back in 1994, which estimated that 

average annual global fish discards were around 27 million metric tons (Alverson et al., 1994). 

Instead of being discarded at sea, bycatch could be redirected into the production of fish meal 

and fish oil, thereby augmenting current supplies. Fish processing byproducts, mainly the excess 

trimmings and wastes that result from processing fish for human consumption, could also be 

directed into fish meal and fish oil production. 

Implication for Offshore Aquaculture

The offshore aquaculture industry may focus part of its efforts on the rearing of highvalued carnivores, such as salmon or cod. Carnivorous species currently require fish meals that 

incorporate some portion of fish meal and fish oil for nutritional requirements. This has 

implications for the long-term potential of the aquaculture industry. As the price of fish meal and 

fish oil rises due to increased demand, feed costs will also rise. Within the aquaculture sector, 

feed costs represent the largest cost of production. Thus, the economic viability of an offshore 

finfish aquaculture industry may be constrained or rendered economically infeasible due to the 

presence of prohibitively high feed costs. 

Within salmon aquaculture, feeds and feeding costs represent between 50-70% of total 

farm production costs (Tacon, 2005; Guttormsen, 2002). For the two leading salmon farming 

producers, feed costs represented 45.8% (Chile) and 51.9% (Norway) of total production costs, 

and research by Engle and Killian (1997) estimated that feed costs represented 44.5% of total 

farm costs for U.S. catfish farmers in Arkansas (Anderson, 2003). 

Given current forecasts, the demand for fish meal and fish oil will continue to increase as 

the general aquaculture sector continues its expansion. The argument that omnivores rather than 

carnivores should be raised to solve the “fish meal problem” is misguided, because omnivores 

currently consume fish meal. Fish meal and fish oil are essential ingredients in the early 

developmental stages of fry and juvenile omnivores (Hardy, 2005). Based upon the increasing 
Chapter 4: Future Aquaculture Feeds and Feed Costs: The Role of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

91 

production levels of omnivores, they in fact consume almost half (46%) of the total available 

compound aquafeeds (Figure 4.8). Thus, even with the culture of omnivores and herbivores, 

small amounts of fish meal and fish oil will be used as secondary protein sources, due to their 

high quality. 

This is concerning, given the level of carp production globally. As mentioned earlier, 

global carp production represented 31% of total aquaculture production in 2003. The results of 

Kristofferson and Anderson (2005) suggested that fish meal has unique nutritional properties that 

distinguish it from the general oilseed market. This implies limited substitution possibilities for 

fish meal and fish oil that may hinder the expansion of the industry across all species, including 

omnivores. 

Gains in production efficiency (such as better feed formulations, better feed conversion 

ratios) will help reduce the quantity of fish meal required on a per-fish basis. Feed costs are a 

driver of overall production costs; therefore, producers will seek to lower these costs through 

various mechanisms. From a production perspective, better use of fish meal can come from 

improved feeds and feeding methods, both of which can help lower costs. Uneaten feed creates a 

two-fold problem: it is wasteful and therefore costly, and it accumulates under the cages, causing 

potential environmental problems in some locations. It is important to recall that price increases 

signal scarcity to the users of the resource, thus encouraging conservation and the innovation of 

new products. 

Technological advancements will play an important role in expanding the knowledge of 

the nutritional and environmental requirements of various finfish species. These developments 

will also foster the development of alternative protein sources for use in both the terrestrial and 

marine-based protein producing sectors. The recycling of trimmings and bycatch can also help 

expand the available base of fish for fish meal production. Regardless, effective management 

will be vital in ensuring sustainable reduction fisheries for future generations. 

Conclusion

There has been considerable debate regarding the use of fish meal and fish oil as an input 

to the production of higher-valued finfish (Weber, 2003; Goldberg et al., 2001; Naylor et al., 

2000; Goldberg and Triplett, 1997). In fact, the use of fish meal by the aquaculture sector is the 

most efficient use of the resource relative to other protein sources. The efficiency of feed 

conversion is greatest for finfish (30%) as compared to poultry (18%), pigs (13%), and sheep 

(2%) (Åsgård and Austreng, 1995). Furthermore, Åsgård and Austreng (1995) and Åsgård et al. 

(1999) demonstrated that 10 kg of capelin would produce 4.6 kg of farmed salmon, of which 3.0 

kg were edible, as compared to 2.0 kg of wild cod, of which 0.7 kg were edible. Wild fish must 

expend extra energy in pursuit of prey as well as in defense from predators. Both activities 

require energy—energy that could otherwise be devoted to biomass growth. Thus, aquacultured 

species are able to produce more pounds of edible meat per quantity of feed consumed, 

compared to their wild counterparts. Again from a production standpoint, finfish offer a product 

with more edible meat per pound of live weight. Additionally, the finished product of finfish and 

shellfish typically contains a higher Omega-3 content than terrestrial proteins, such as pork, 

chicken and beef (USDA, 2005). 
Chapter 4: Future Aquaculture Feeds and Feed Costs: The Role of Fish Meal and Fish Oil 

92 

In poultry, the final yield of edible meat is less than 40% of live weight, with only about 

15% of live weight being the premium breast meat and tender (Forster, 1999). In contrast, 

salmon yields approximately 60% of edible meat with the majority of this meat considered 

‘premium cut’ (Forster, 1999). 

Many countries derive extensive economic benefits from the existence of their reduction 

fisheries. If properly regulated, this industry is sustainable. A recent report commissioned by 

the European Parliament explicitly identifies the fish meal industry as a viable and sustainable 

industry. Within the executive summary, the report states: “Overall the industrial fishing of feed 

fish appears to be ecologically and socio-economically sustainable” (EP, 2004). The fish 

targeted by reduction fisheries are fish that have little to no demand for consumption by humans, 

due to their consistency and/or taste. They are well-managed fisheries that do not threaten the 

sustainability of the resource for future generations. A primary goal of all affiliated parties 

(reduction fishermen, feed manufacturers, agriculture and aquaculture producers, regulatory 

bodies, environmental groups, concerned scientists and citizens) should be the sustainable 

management of reduction fisheries for all users of fish meal and fish oil, which includes both the 

agriculture and aquaculture sectors. 

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Goldburg, R. and T. Triplett. 1997. Murky Waters: Environmental Effects of Aquaculture in the 

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97 

CHAPTER 5 

Lessons from the Development of the U.S. Broiler and Catfish Industries: 

Implications for Offshore Aquaculture in the United States 

Gina Shamshak and James Anderson 

This chapter examines the emergence and development of the U.S. broiler and catfish industries. 

A brief overview of each industry, along with key factors associated with each industry’s success, 

is identified and discussed. Reflecting on the two industries presented, some important lessons 

emerge that can be applied to the development of a U.S. offshore aquaculture industry. This 

chapter will explore those lessons and discuss their relevance with regard to the emergence of 

an offshore aquaculture industry in the U.S. 

Brief Case Study of the United States Broiler Industry 

Introduction

Before the advent of the broiler industry, chicken meat was strictly a byproduct of the egg 

industry (USDA/NASS, 2002). Today, the U.S. broiler industry is the world’s largest producer 

and exporter of poultry meat (USDA/NASS, 2005). Some of the key factors attributed to the 

industry’s success include: contract growing, vertical integration, enhancements in nutrition, 

advances in disease control, and improvements in broiler production, processing, and marketing 

(Watts and Kennett, 1995). Collectively, these advancements contributed to the growth and 

development of this industry. Production increased more than ten-fold from 1934-1945; it nearly 

tripled the following decade; and it more than doubled from 1955-1965 (Figure 5.1). Due to its 

ability to expand and evolve rapidly, the industry rose from non-existence to one that provided a 

key staple of the American diet by the latter third of the century. The per-capita consumption of 

chicken now stands at 81.1 pounds, greater than beef (62.0), pork (48.5), and seafood (16.3) 

(USDA/ERS, 2004a; NMFS, 2005). Furthermore, the gap between the per-capita consumption 

of chicken and the per-capita consumption of all red meats (pork, beef, lamb, and veal) has been 

steadily narrowing (Figure 5.4). 

Industry Development

The industry has evolved from millions of small backyard flocks to less than 50 highly 

specialized, vertically-integrated agribusiness firms (USDA/NASS, 2002). One can see the 

transition to a highly organized and integrated industry by examining the evolution of the 

number and capacity of chicken hatcheries. In 1934, 11,405 facilities hatched all of the U.S. 

chickens; by contrast, in 2001 that number had dropped to 323 hatcheries (USDA/NASS, 2002). 

In the early years of the industry, the majority of broilers were bred and produced in New 

England. Today the majority of this production is centered in the southeastern U.S. around the 

top five producing states: Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, and North Carolina. In 

2004, the U.S. broiler industry produced 34.1 billion pounds of meat with a retail equivalent 

value of 43 billion dollars. The United States is the world’s largest exporter of broilers. In 2004, 

broiler exports totaled 4.8 billion pounds (15% of total production), and were valued at $1.7 

billion (USDA/ERS, 2005). While the volume of product may seem small relative to total 

production, the value of broiler exports ($1.7 billion in 2004) is greater than the value of the 
Chapter 5: Lessons from the Development of the U.S. Broiler and Catfish Industries 

98 

entire U.S. aquaculture industry, which is approximately $1 billion. In contrast, the U.S. imports 

a very small amount of broiler products, accounting for less than 1% of domestic production 

(USDA/ERS, 2005). 

Figure 5.1. U.S. broiler production, 1966-2003. 

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Pounds

Source: USDA/ERS, 2004 

Figure 5.2. U.S. chicken hatcheries, 1934-2001. 

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

1934 1937 1943 1953 1957 1961 1965 1971 1975 1981 1985 1991 1995 2001

Number of Hatcheries

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

800,000

900,000

1,000,000

Capacity (Millions)

Number Incubator Egg Capacity

Source: USDA/NASS, 2002 
Chapter 5: Lessons from the Development of the U.S. Broiler and Catfish Industries 

99 

Figure 5.3. Real average live weight price of broilers, 1945-2001 (dollars per pound). 

$0.00

$0.50

$1.00

$1.50

$2.00

$2.50

$3.00

$3.50

19451947194919511953195519571959196119631965196719691971

19731975197719791981

1983198519871989199119931995199719992001

Source: USDA/NASS, 2002 

Note: *Nominal Prices converted to 2001 dollars by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index 

(All Urban Consumers 1982-84=100) 

The total farm value of U.S. poultry production in 2003 was $23.3 billion and broiler 

production accounted for $15.2 billion of that value. While the nominal price per pound has 

remained essentially constant, the real price of broilers per pound has fallen 85% since 1946. 

Through its amazing expansion, the broiler industry has been able to catch up with and surpass 

both per-capita pork consumption in 1986 and per-capita beef consumption in 1993 

(USDA/ERS, 2004a). The per-capita consumption of total red meats, which includes beef, pork, 

veal, and lamb is still greater than the per-capita consumption of total chicken, which includes 

both young chickens (broilers) and other chicken, although the gap between the two is steadily 

narrowing (Figure 5.4). 

Key Factors in the Industry’s Development 

 Automation

Automation in processing signaled a major development in the industry. During this 

period, the industry became more capital intensive, as workers were replaced by machines that 

could process birds more quickly and efficiently. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 

Bureau of Labor Statistics, productivity in poultry processing doubled in the 20-year period from 

1973 to 1992 (Watts and Kennett, 1995). This increased efficiency in production led to a 

significant increase in the supply of broilers in the market, which was also a contributing factor 

in the decline of live weight, price per pound of broilers. The end result of this over-supply was 

consolidation in the industry, as operating losses mounted for many firms. 
Chapter 5: Lessons from the Development of the U.S. Broiler and Catfish Industries 

100 

Figure 5.4. Per-capita consumption of total red meat (pork, beef, lamb, veal), total chicken 

(excluding turkey) and total seafood (finfish & shellfish) boneless trimmed equivalent. 

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

1909191219151918192119241927193019331936193919421945194819511954

19571960196319661969

19721975197819811984

198719901993199619992002

2005*

Pounds Per Capita

Red Meat Poultry Fish & Shellfish

Source: USDA/ERS, 2004a; NMFS, 2005 

Improved Husbandry Techniques

Improvements in husbandry techniques also led to industry expansion. Broiler growth 

rates improved as vitamins, antibiotics, high-energy diets, and the inclusion of different amino 

acids became more prevalent. If one were to compare the diet of a broiler in 1912 to the diet of a 

broiler in 1958, the same three-pound broiler would mature 34 days sooner on the 1958 diet (44 

days) as compared to the 1912 diet (78 days) (Watts and Kennett, 1995). Today, that figure has 

been reduced to less than 42 days for a three-pound broiler (Bell, 2005). 

Disease also played a major role in development of the industry. During the 1920s and 

1930s, two major diseases hit the broiler industry: pullorum and coccidiosis. Initially, these 

diseases devastated producers, some of whom experienced broiler mortality rates of 50% (Watts 

and Kennett, 1995). Over time, both of these diseases were brought under control through the 

use of antibiotics, enhanced diet formulas, and improved husbandry techniques. 

A more recent threat to the industry has been avian influenza (AI), which is classified as 

either low pathogenic (LPAI) or highly pathogenic (HPAI) depending on the severity of the 

illnesses they cause (USDA/APHIS, 2001). Birds infected with LPAI may show few or no 

clinical signs of infection; however, birds infected with HPAI can quickly succumb to this 

extremely infectious and fatal disease, often without warning. Humans have also been 

susceptible to certain strains of the HPAI virus. In 1997 in Hong Kong, a strain known as H5N1 

infected chickens as well as 18 humans—6 of whom later died. Domestically, a major outbreak 
Chapter 5: Lessons from the Development of the U.S. Broiler and Catfish Industries 

101 

of HPAI occurred in the Northeast United States in 1983-1984 and resulted in the destruction of 

more than 17 million birds. This disease cost the industry nearly $65 million and caused retail 

egg prices to increase by more than 30% (USDA/APHIS, 2001). More recently in 2004, an 

outbreak of HPAI occurred in Texas, while outbreaks of LPAI occurred in Delaware and New 

Jersey. The rapid spread of HPAI, especially in Asian regions, has stimulated concern for both 

animal and human health (USDA/APHIS, 2001). Both globally and locally, animal and human 

health organizations are actively monitoring both domestic flocks and imported birds for the 

disease in the hopes of minimizing potential outbreaks, especially since most experts agree that 

another influenza pandemic is “inevitable and possibly imminent” (WHO, 2004). 

Vertical Integration 

Through the use of contract growing, the broiler industry has reduced costs and improved 

the quality and value of the final product. The prevalent contractual agreement in the broiler 

industry can be broken down as follows. Individual companies, also known as “integrators,” 

own and control a large portion of the production process. They typically own the breeder 

flocks, hatcheries, feed mills, and processing plants, leaving the actual grow-out process to 

individual farmers. The integrators are responsible for the provision of chicks, feed, medication, 

and sometimes fuel used in the brooding process. In addition, integrators provide representatives 

from the company to administer field supervision and technical advice to the farmers. This high 

level of involvement in the production process helps ensure that farmers consistently provide a 

high-quality product that meets specific company standards. 

On the other side of this agreement is the individual farmer, or producer, as he or she is 

known, who provides the growing facilities, equipment, labor, fuel and electricity, and day-today supervision of the chicks until slaughter. Broiler farms are required to be located within a 

certain number of miles away (25-35 miles) from key facilities such as feed mills, processing 

plants, and hatcheries. This restriction helps reduce transportation costs across the various stages 

of production. When the birds are ready for slaughter, the producers receive a payment 

corresponding to the pounds produced plus a bonus based upon a performance ranking against 

other producers. Often, producers are ranked based upon an average production cost per pound 

for all flocks sold during a given week (Cunningham, 2002). A common arrangement is 3.8 to 

4.6 cents per pound of live weight plus 0.01 cents per pound for each 0.01-point advantage 

(relative to the average) that a grower achieves in production costs (Cunningham, 1999). This 

sort of arrangement benefits both parties because it helps reduce risk on the producers’ side and 

helps ensure quality and consistency of product on the integrators’ side. 

As the industry transitioned from whole chickens to de-boned, highly-processed and 

value-added products, the need for consistency in size and quality heightened. This is especially 

true in the mechanical processing of the birds, since automated machines cannot easily adjust to 

various sized birds. Furthermore, consumers demand a consistent, reliable product in the 

marketplace, and heterogeneity on the production line only hinders the ability of firms to provide 

a consistent product. A major benefit of the contractual arrangement between processors and 

producers is the inherent risk sharing across the entire production process. With their roles and 

expectations clearly defined, farmers and processors are able to devote time and resources 

toward long-term investments and improvements in their production processes rather than 
Chapter 5: Lessons from the Development of the U.S. Broiler and Catfish Industries 

102 

behaving more myopically. By reducing the amount of risk each faces, more optimal decisions 

can be made across the entire planning horizon. 

Research and Development

A major development in the broiler industry was the “Chicken of Tomorrow” 

competition. In 1944, Howard C. “Doc” Pierce, national research director for A&P Food Stores, 

discussed at a Canadian poultry meeting the need for development of a broad-breasted chicken 

similar to the broad-breasted turkey (Watts and Kennett, 1995). Soon after that meeting, a 

nationwide competition was established. National finalists were assembled from the winners of 

40 state and regional contests during 1946 and 1947. The national final was held in Georgetown, 

Delaware in 1948. Contestants sent two cases of eggs to the organizers of the national 

competition so that all of the eggs could be hatched, fed, grown, slaughtered, and processed as 

“New York Dressed” under identical conditions. USDA officials conducted a thorough 

inspection of the meat for quality and consistency characteristics, and the winning contestant was 

presented with a cash prize. The contest was so successful that, in 1951, another competition was 

held. This competition was critical to development of the industry, because it helped the broiler 

industry establish itself as an industry of its own. From now on, broilers were no longer 

considered a mere byproduct of the egg industry, and the so-called dual purpose bird became 

virtually extinct (USDA/ERS, 2001; Watts and Kennett, 1995). 

Industry Collaboration 

Industry leaders realized the importance of a common, unified voice and a strong 

marketing campaign. Created in 1954, the National Chicken Council’s (NCC) three principal 

activities are in the areas of: public affairs, consumer education/public relations, and membership 

services. According to its website, the NCC’s primary purpose is to “represent the interests of 

the broiler industry in Washington” (NCC, 2005). The industry also collaborated through the 

NCC to stimulate greater consumer demand. The NCC devotes 40% of its budget “to promote 

the use of chicken and maintain a positive image of the industry.” It sponsors events and contests 

such as the National Chicken Cooking Contest and it publishes “The Chicken Cookbook,” both 

of which promote chicken consumption. 

Future Outlook

Over time, two outlets for the broiler product—the fast food market and export market—

emerged. These two channels did not exist in the early years of the industry. Growth in these 

two channels is expected to remain strong. The development of further processed convenience 

foods—such as value-added products like boneless breasted meats and thighs, batter-breaded 

fried parts, patties, and nuggets—continues to open up new markets for the broiler industry. 

Domestically, chicken consumption is forecasted to remain strong, especially given the 

per-capita consumption of broilers over time, relative to other protein sources (Figure 5.4). 

Furthermore, global demand for chicken products is expected to remain strong, which is 

encouraging for U.S. producers, given that the U.S. is the world’s largest exporter of broilers. 

The real, live weight price per pound has remained stable for the past 14 years, averaging 40 

cents per pound over that period. Provided there are no major disease outbreaks, such as avian 

influenza, to disrupt the supply of broilers on the market, the average price per pound will most 

likely remain stable. The U.S. broiler industry does not face any serious foreign competition 
Chapter 5: Lessons from the Development of the U.S. Broiler and Catfish Industries 

103 

from imports, and the industry has done a relatively good job of coordinating production to 

minimize supply gluts. 

Costs will play an important role in the industry; especially if feeds costs, and in 

particular fish meal prices, rise. Feed costs represented 60% of total production costs for young 

chicken farm production, measured on a live weight basis in 2002 (USDA/ERS 2004b). Over the 

past 20 years, feed costs have averaged 63%, fluctuating between a high of 70% in 1984 and a 

low of 58% in 1999 (USDA/ERS 2004b). Energy costs will also play an important role as the 

cost of a barrel of oil continues to rise. Despite the potential for shrinking profit margins on the 

cost side, the outlook for the industry remains strong. 

Brief Case Study of the United States Catfish Industry 

Introduction

The U.S. catfish industry expanded from a local, specialty species to a product with 

national appeal by developing strong partnerships with local government and universities and by 

collaborating as an industry to brand its product. The end result has been an industry that 

contributes to the local economy and competes with foreign producers. The industry has 

expanded from a relatively small, wild fishery to the largest sector within the U.S. aquaculture 

industry. There has been a greater than four-fold increase in production from 62,256 metric tons 

(mt) in 1983 to 285,967 mt in 2004 (Figure 5.5). This level of production places the U.S. catfish 

industry third behind the Alaska walleye pollock (1,519,928 mt) and menhaden (679,311 mt) in 

total U.S. seafood production in 2004. 

When measured by value, however, the U.S. catfish industry ranks first ($438,845,737) 

among all species produced (including all wild-capture and farmed species), followed by 

American lobster ($365,749,516), sea scallops ($320,975,956) and Alaska walleye pollock 

($271,424,181). Consumers can now find catfish in almost every major supermarket chain 

across the country. This broad availability stands in stark contrast to the product’s availability 20 

years ago, when one would not have seen catfish outside the southeastern United States. 

Industry Development

The modern catfish farming industry originated in the Mississippi Delta during the late 

1960s and early 1970s. Local farmers desired to diversify their farms, and they sought 

alternatives to the more prevalent, low-priced row crops grown in clay-based soils (Dean et al., 

2003). The near-level land surface and abundant groundwater found in the Delta gave the area a 

natural advantage in the production of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). In addition, 

proximity to the Mississippi River allowed for the relatively cheap transport of grain from the 

Midwest and Southeast. Traditionally, catfish were harvested in local lakes and rivers by smallscale commercial fishermen. 

This industry has emerged from a small, capture-based industry serving local markets to a 

large aquaculture industry that has expanded to national and international markets. Channel 

catfish farming is the fastest growing segment of the aquaculture industry in the United States 

(Lewis and Shelton, undated). Today, there are 196,590 acres of catfish in the United States and 

111,500 of those acres are in Mississippi (Dean et al., 2003). 
Chapter 5: Lessons from the Development of the U.S. Broiler and Catfish Industries 

104 

Figure 5.5. U.S.-farmed channel catfish production.

Source: FAO (2005), USDA/NASS (various years) 

Catfish production grew from 98,300 metric tons in 1983 to 285,967 metric tons in 2004 

(Figure 5.5). Mississippi’s farm-raised catfish industry is a world-class example of a commercial 

aquaculture industry that is profitable, sustainable, and environmentally sound (Dean et al., 

2003). Catfish has also gained popularity with consumers, who have increased per-capita 

consumption of catfish from 0.70 pounds in 1990 to 1.091 pounds in 2004 (NFI, 2005). 

According to research conducted by H.M. Johnson & Associates for the National Fisheries 

Institute, domestic consumption of catfish has ranked among the top five in seafood per-capita 

consumption since 1998. 

The gross value of the U.S. catfish industry has averaged $414 million over the past 15 

years; however, the value of the industry in real terms in 2003 was essentially identical to the 

value of the industry in 1990 (Figure 5.6). One factor contributing to this situation has been the 

declining price per pound farmers have received at the farm gate. In real terms, the price per 

pound has fallen 36% from its 1990 level. Many factors contributed to the decline in farm-gate 

prices. Domestically, production levels increased—flooding the market with catfish and thereby 

driving prices down. During this supply glut, farmers also saw production costs increase, which 

further shrunk already narrowing profit margins. Feed costs can account for 52-54% of total 

annual operating costs; therefore, any increase in the cost of feed has a significant impact on 

overall production costs for each farmer (Engle, 2005). By mid-June of 2005, feed costs had 

fallen from highs of $310 a ton to $230 a ton for 32% protein feed, and farm-gate prices were on 

the rise (Coblentz, 2005). The easing of the cost-price squeeze is certain to help farmers in the 

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Metric Tons
Chapter 5: Lessons from the Development of the U.S. Broiler and Catfish Industries 

105 

short run, as they regain some cash flow to pay debts and possibly increase investment in their 

operations. 

Figure 5.6. Value of U.S. channel catfish aquaculture and farm-gate prices paid to farmers, 

all adjusted for inflation. 

Source: USDA/NASS (various years), FAO (2005) 

In an effort to address the impact of foreign competition, trade sanctions were imposed 

on Vietnam to restrict the labeling of Vietnamese catfish to “tra” (Pangasius hypophthalmus) or 

“basa” (Pangasius bocourti) in an attempt to reduce direct competition with U.S.-raised channel 

catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Concerns still exist regarding foreign competition. Recent 

revisions in the estimates of catfish imports by the USDA/NASS show that more Vietnamese 

catfish entered the U.S. market than had been previously thought. Despite the ruling that 

required Vietnamese catfish be labeled either “tra” or “basa,” regulators are finding that catfish 

fillets are now being imported as frozen fillets of fish, frozen fillets of freshwater fish, and frozen 

fillets of sole (Bennett, 2003). Previously, the USDA was only reporting Vietnamese catfish 

imports that fell under the category of frozen fillets of catfish. This revision, then, actually 

increased the quantity of Vietnamese catfish that entered the U.S. market. In a perverse way, 

therefore, the new labeling requirement has compromised the ability of regulators to track 

Vietnamese catfish. 

Often, foreign producers have a cost advantage over domestic producers—who are 

constrained by many factors, including access to credit and environmental regulations. Little can 

be done to prevent the exportation of technology and expertise to more business-friendly 

locations, where there is greater access to credit, labor costs are lower, and regulations do not 

hinder development of the industry. 

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Million US Dollars (Real)

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

Real Price Per Pound

Million US $ Real Prices
Chapter 5: Lessons from the Development of the U.S. Broiler and Catfish Industries 

106 

Key Factors in the Industry’s Development 

Research and Development 

During the 1920s, channel catfish were cultured in hatchery ponds of many state and 

federal facilities (Hargreaves, 2002). This knowledge, coupled with extensive state and 

university training for individual farmers helped foster the industry’s success. Research scientists 

affiliated with the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife Service’s Fish Farming Experiment 

Station in Stuttgart, Arkansas, and Auburn University provided the technical information, culture 

guidelines, and technical advice necessary to initiate industry development (Hargreaves, 2002). 

Federally-supported research conducted at state land-grant institutions throughout the region 

provided critical technical support and outreach to the industry (Hargreaves, 2002). 

Industry Leadership

Significant collaboration took place within the catfish industry, vital to its success. The 

Catfish Institute and the Catfish Farmers of America are two major associations that formed with 

the purpose of promoting and protecting the U.S. channel catfish industry. Since its creation in 

1986, The Catfish Institute has effectively marketed channel catfish nationally, with Americans 

doubling their per-capita consumption of U.S. farm-raised catfish since 1986. The Institute has 

been dedicated to increasing demand for channel catfish by promoting the positive attributes of 

farm-raised catfish to consumers and food service professionals through advertising and other 

promotion programs (Hargreaves, 2002). This non-profit corporation derives its revenues from 

member feed mill dues to fund its national and international marketing campaigns. Established 

in 1987, feed mill dues were set at $6/ton and, to date, more than $30 million has been invested 

in The Catfish Institute (Hargreaves, 2002). This joint marketing effort effectively raised public 

awareness of catfish. 

Vertical Integration

This catfish industry has enjoyed some degree of vertical coordination since its inception. 

The industry developed from agricultural roots and formed cooperatives. In addition, it benefits 

from a relatively strong trade organization (The Catfish Institute) and it has support from the 

USDA Extension Service. To a large extent, the industry has avoided the bureaucracy and 

regulatory complexities that characterize traditional fisheries and coastal aquaculture. Its inland 

location resulted in the development of high quality fish processing facilities instead of 

dependency on processing plants used by traditional fisheries. 

Catfish processing plants have established contractual arrangements with individual 

farmers. Approximately 93% of all catfish produced are sold to processing plants 

(USDA/NASS, 2003), and one arrangement between producers and processing plants requires 

the farmer to own stock in the processing company. Then, the amount of fish (often in weight) 

that the farmer can sell to the processing plant is related to the number of shares held. Another 

arrangement is a “feed for fish” program where plants agree to purchase fish from farmers who 

purchase feed directly from the company’s feed mill (Engle, 2003). Finally, some plants sell 

delivery rights (frequently $0.15 to $0.20 per pound) that allow the farmer to sell the total weight 

equivalent of the volume of delivery rights purchased (Tucker et al., 2004). 
Chapter 5: Lessons from the Development of the U.S. Broiler and Catfish Industries 

107 

Expanding Markets

This industry has successfully marketed their product throughout the United States. They 

have done this by highlighting its many attributes and by providing the product in a variety of 

value-added forms. The industry has been able to reasonably manage the market, and prices for 

catfish have remained essentially stable over the past decade (Figure 5.6). Note that a decline in 

prices (2001-2003) is largely attributed to imports of “tra” and “basa” from Vietnam (USITC, 

2003). In addition, production costs have remained relatively stable over that same time period. 

Protection from Foreign Competition

During the early 2000s, the U.S. catfish industry experienced significant competition 

from foreign producers, especially Vietnam. This increase in supply significantly decreased 

farm-gate prices received by U.S. producers. Through legislative and judicial rulings, the 

Catfish Farmers of America successfully united against direct competition from Vietnamese 

catfish producers. In 2002, Congress restricted the use of the word “catfish” to strictly refer to 

catfish from the Ictaluridae family, thereby requiring Vietnamese catfish to instead be labeled 

“tra” or “basa.” More importantly, the Catfish Farmers of America won an anti-dumping suit 

against Vietnamese producers in 2003, resulting in a country-wide tariff of 64% on Vietnamese 

“tra” and “basa” imports. As a result, “basa” imports have fallen 50% since the tariffs went into 

effect in June 2003 (Klinkhardt, 2004). The important lesson to be learned from the catfish 

industry is that, despite being comprised of many small farms, producers have successfully 

banded together as a powerful political and industry force. 

Lessons for the U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Industry 

Reflecting on the two industries presented here, some important lessons emerge that can 

be applied to the development of a U.S. offshore aquaculture industry. One key similarity 

between both industries was the presence of strong and well-defined property rights (discussed 

below). Both industries evolved through increases in economic efficiency, including innovations 

in institutional structure and markets. Research and development—funded through both public 

and private investment—increased the technical efficiency of the industry. And finally, the 

government played a role in fostering or hindering industry development. 

Establishment of Well-defined Property Rights

Property rights are a fundamental component of the U.S. agricultural system. The 

hallmarks of strong property rights include the following: 1) the ability to exclude access and 

retain net benefits; 2) a high level of security; 3) a long duration; and 4) a high degree of 

transferability. Within the agricultural sector, property rights allow farmers the legal right to 

exclude others, thereby limiting the dissipation of rents (benefits) that commonly occurs in 

unregulated common property resources such as open-access fisheries. The property right is well 

defined in the sense that, not only does the owner have the legal right to exclude others, but a 

legal system is in place that supports and enforces this right. The security of the property right is 

strengthened because there is a system to protect and enforce the property right. 

Another important feature of property rights is exclusivity of the right. Exclusivity grants 

the holder sole control over the property right. Under strong property rights, all decisions and 

access to the property are controlled by the owner. With well defined property rights, 
Chapter 5: Lessons from the Development of the U.S. Broiler and Catfish Industries 

108 

externalities are internalized and net benefits are captured. Additionally, those that produce 

externalities that infringe on the property right are held responsible. 

Durability is the third feature of well-defined property rights. Durability refers to length 

of ownership. Typically, strong property rights have a long duration; in some cases, in 

perpetuity. Short-term property rights are weaker in the sense that they encourage more 

exploitation of the resource. In this case, owners of the property right have the incentive to 

behave more myopically, which implicitly raises the discount rate. 

The final feature of well-defined property rights is transferability. The ability to sell or 

transfer the property to another individual is important for two reasons. First, the owner has 

exclusive control of the property, and with transferability, he or she can transfer the property 

right with compensation, thereby capturing the value of the property right. A second key feature 

of transferability is the ability to use the property right as collateral. Since the property right is 

under the exclusive control of an individual and it has a market value, it is recognized as an asset 

by lending institutions. The ability to use an agricultural operation as collateral is significant 

because it allows the owner the ability to acquire financing. This is a critical feature that is not 

available to aquaculturists in the U.S., whose operations exist on short-term leases that have no 

market value because they cannot be transferred. 

 Well-defined property rights are crucial to the development of any industry, because they 

provide the economic incentives to engage in long-term planning and investment. Producers 

become more forward looking, invest in new technology, and attempt to gain control of their 

production and marketing systems. When property rights are insecure, regardless of whether the 

reason is crime, civil unrest, war, government instability, or government’s aggressive use of 

eminent domain, the resulting dis-incentive is the same. Uncertainty causes owners to be more 

exploitive with resources, neglecting future costs and long-term investment opportunities in 

favor of short-term (and most likely, sub-optimal) returns. 

In contrast, stronger property rights encourage the owner to make decisions over a longer 

planning horizon, thereby allocating resources more efficiently and using the resource more 

sustainably. In essence, strong property rights encourage owners to become strong stewards of 

the resource. When the government establishes well-defined and strong property rights, 

sustainability and success are more likely. Thus, for the development of an offshore aquaculture 

industry, the emphasis should be on creating a business environment where property rights are 

well defined and enforced. The government should set up and ensure well-defined property 

rights though the establishment of a transparent and expedient permitting and zoning system, and 

then allow farmers the ability to operate much like their agricultural counterparts. 

Currently, the permitting process is unnecessarily complicated, costly, and timeconsuming. Defining the rights and responsibilities of property is an essential first step. 

Governing institutions need to take responsibility for establishing, protecting and enforcing 

property rights as a primary responsibility. The emergence of research, investments, and 

complementary industries will follow, not precede, the establishment of well-defined property 

rights. Therefore, the focus should be on establishing a process for the creation and 
Chapter 5: Lessons from the Development of the U.S. Broiler and Catfish Industries 

109 

implementation of property rights which will pave the way for the emergence of the following, 

ancillary factors. 

Role of Increased Economic Efficiency 

Establishment of well-defined property rights can increase the economic efficiency of an 

industry. As discussed above, this can manifest in longer operating horizons, better use and 

management of a resource, and higher levels of investment in capital and technology. 

Additional forms of economic efficiency can also improve performance of an industry. Within 

both the poultry and catfish industries, contracts play an important role in diversifying risks, 

thereby increasing the efficiency and functionality of the markets within both. Contracts allow 

farmers from both industries some protection from price risks. With this limited protection, a 

farmer is able to make better investment decisions rather than behave more myopically, due to a 

perceived level of risk he or she would bear alone. 

Consolidation and vertical integration were also key drivers in each industry. Vertical 

integration allowed producers to reduce risk across the various stages of production by collecting 

those stages under one company. Vertical integration also allowed companies to better control 

their chain of production, from chicks or fingerlings to the final fillet, thus meeting the needs of a 

consumer who demands a consistent, high-quality product in the marketplace. While this may 

have resulted in fewer and larger companies, it also helped ensure a smoother production 

process, with a high-quality and higher-valued final product. Significant production risk will 

reduce the efficiency of the industry, due to an inability or an unwillingness to make appropriate 

capital investments because of an uncertain business climate. This especially impacts 

complementary investments in ancillary industries, such as hatcheries and feed production 

plants. 

To date, a critical issue for the U.S. aquaculture industry has been the availability of 

broodstock from hatcheries. On both coasts, offshore producers have had difficulty acquiring 

steady, high quality supplies of fingerlings. This problem relates back to a lack of well-defined 

property rights and the current problems associated with offshore zoning and permitting in the 

U.S. Persistence of this problem has serious implications for the viability of the industry. The 

establishment of well-defined property rights will help encourage the development of both the 

offshore industry and the related ancillary industries, such as processing facilities and feed 

manufacturers. 

 Another example of how the U.S. broiler and catfish industries increased the economic 

efficiency of their industries was through the formation of industry groups that unified their 

voice and provided strength both in the marketplace and in the courtroom. The aquaculture 

industry has faced constant opposition from environmental groups, and this opposition has only 

grown stronger with the emergence of offshore aquaculture as a potential alternative to nearshore or land-based aquaculture operations. The aquaculture industry would benefit from 

forming a common voice that can counter these criticisms and provides balance to the 

arguments. A common voice could help the industry gain acceptance from consumers and 

improve its marketing potential. 
Chapter 5: Lessons from the Development of the U.S. Broiler and Catfish Industries 

110 

Industry collaboration was an important factor in improving the economic performance 

of both the poultry and catfish industries by improving the markets that each industry faced. In 

the case of U.S. catfish, the industry formed The Catfish Institute to carry out generic advertising 

programs and public relation activities to promote catfish consumption (Engle and Quagrainie, 

2006). In the case of the U.S. broiler industry, marketing was company-specific, owing to the 

more consolidated and vertically-integrated nature of the industry. Regardless, each industry was 

able to essentially grow markets where they previously did not exist. 

 As the U.S. offshore aquaculture industry develops, direct competition with foreign 

producers will surely occur and challenge the profit margins of U.S. producers. The majority of 

aquaculture occurs internationally; therefore, the U.S. is already at a competitive disadvantage, 

given differences in labor costs and environmental regulations relative to other countries. 

Furthermore, the current situation regarding the issuance of permits in the U.S. places the 

industry at further disadvantage, given those additional costs—both in terms of time and money. 

The U.S. aquaculture sector will have to be innovative in both their production processes and 

their marketing campaigns if they are to compete with cheaper, well-established foreign 

producers and still remain economically viable. 

Role of Public and Private Sector Research 

Research and development of the poultry and catfish industries, both at the public and 

private level, played a major role in their growth and evolution. Federal, state, local, and 

university research provided a strong foundation of baseline knowledge for both industries from 

the outset. Outreach and extension programs then helped disseminate this critical information 

down to producers at the farm level. With this critical knowledge in hand, the private sector was 

able to expand and improve production technologies and techniques. In the case of the broiler 

industry, as production expanded and the industry became more vertically integrated, large-scale 

private sector research and development emerged. Major companies, such as Tyson Foods, 

undertook research and development at the company level and provided information to farmers 

through various programs and arrangements. 

In the catfish industry, extension programs played a major role in technological 

developments. In some cases, initial technologies were developed on farms through partnerships 

with universities and federal research laboratories, while in other cases the technologies were 

primarily developed at universities and transferred through extension programs to the private 

sector (Engle, 2005). In addition to a publicly-financed research program, there has also been 

some private sector funding of research. For example, Goldquist financed a selective breeding 

program for channel catfish. However, since the majority of catfish farms are small businesses, 

they do not have the capital resources necessary to fund private sector investment in research 

(Engle, 2005). 

 Applied research, both at the public and private level, will be critical to the success and 

viability of the U.S. offshore aquaculture industry. While current knowledge exists, further 

research and development is essential in this ever-changing and evolving industry. Important 

issues pertaining to disease management, optimal feeding and nutrition, and optimal stocking 

density will require further research. Both public and private sector investment in research and 

development will be fundamental to advancing the industry. The presence of well-defined 
Chapter 5: Lessons from the Development of the U.S. Broiler and Catfish Industries 

111 

property rights will provide the correct economic incentives to engage in such behavior. Yet, 

while technological advancements and economically efficient improvements will be essential in 

fostering development of an offshore industry, one final key component—the participation of 

state, local and federal agencies—is critical. 

Role of Government 

The establishment of land-based operations, whether it is for poultry or catfish, faces 

significantly fewer obstacles than the establishment of an offshore operation. This relates back 

to the presence of well-defined property rights in the agriculture sector. For offshore aquaculture, 

the establishment of zoning and permitting will be critical in the creation of these rights. 

As a first step, the government needs to establish a streamlined process for identifying 

approved areas for offshore aquaculture operations. The zoning process should consider such 

factors as potential interactions with existing users (commercial, recreations, shipping) and 

potential interactions with marine life (mammalian interactions and impacts on the surrounding 

marine environment), as well as bio-geochemical considerations (temperature, nutrients, 

upwelling, currents, etc.). It is the role of the government to parse out where offshore activity is 

permitted, leaving the operator free to choose when and how he or she will operate within those 

zones. Relating back to the U.S. broiler and catfish industries, each was able to operate with 

minimal restrictions or complications from outside influences. Certainly farmers had to comply 

with environmental guidelines and requirements (rules regarding waste disposal and groundwater 

contamination, etcetera) but there was little else constraining their investment and production 

decisions. Similarly, the government needs to establish where activity is permitted and then 

allow operators to manage their operations, much like their agricultural counterparts. 

Once zoning rules and regulations are established, the actual process of issuing permits to 

prospective operators must be streamlined. Currently, a number of permits must be obtained for 

an aquaculture operation—many of which must be obtained in a specific, sequential order. 

Delay in a given permit can de-rail the entire permitting process, as granted permits expire before 

other permits are obtained. Additionally, the permitting process is costly—both in terms of the 

time spent throughout the duration of the permitting process and also in legal fees incurred to 

fight challenges and denials. 

The National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007, proposed by NOAA, is designed to 

streamline the permitting process for offshore aquaculture operations. It is a first step in 

establishing well-defined property rights for operators, while also addressing the need for 

regulatory guidelines to address potential environmental impacts and interactions. This Act will 

be critical to the establishment of an offshore aquaculture sector in the U.S. If current zoning and 

permitting ambiguities persist, offshore aquaculture will seek out less risky and more businessfriendly countries. As it stands, over 80% of the seafood consumed within the U.S. is imported 

and at least 40% of that is farm-raised (NMFS, 2007, USDA/FAS, 2005). Furthermore, the U.S. 

seafood trade deficit reached an all-time record of $9.2 billion in 2006, and that number will only 

grow as the demand for seafood products continues to expand and domestic production remains 

constant (NMFS, 2007). 
Chapter 5: Lessons from the Development of the U.S. Broiler and Catfish Industries 

112 

Conclusion 

To recap, a key component in the establishment of any industry is the establishment of 

well-defined property rights. Well-defined property rights provide appropriate economic 

incentives for owners to engage in long-term planning and investments that foster a more 

efficient use of the resource. In the case of a U.S. offshore aquaculture industry, zoning and 

permitting issues have hindered industry development. This, in turn, has hindered ancillary 

developments, such as the ability to secure capital for financing, investment in research and 

development, and growth and emergence of complementary industries. The development of 

transportation networks, processing facilities, feed, and hatchery facilities all must occur in a 

coordinated fashion. The failure of property rights in one industry will affect other industries, 

given the interdependent nature of aquaculture production. Efforts are already underway to 

streamline the permitting process with the presentation of the National Offshore Aquaculture Act 

of 2007 to Congress. The U.S. government has the ability to advance the development of an 

offshore industry in the United States, and the National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007 

represents an important first step in this endeavor. 

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Chapter 5: Lessons from the Development of the U.S. Broiler and Catfish Industries 

115 

United States International Trade Commission (USITC). 2003. Certain Frozen Fish Fillets from 

Vietnam. Investigation No. 731-TA-1012 (Final). Publication 3617. August 2003. 

http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/docs/pubs/701_731/pub3617.pdf 

US Poultry & Egg Association. 2005. http://www.poultryegg.org/economic_data/ 

Watts, G. and C. Kennett. 1995. The broiler industry. Poultry Tribune, Centennial Edition. Watt 

Publishing. p. 6-18. 

World Health Organization (WHO). 2004. Avian influenza – fact sheet. 

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/avian_influenza/en/index.html 
116 

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117 

CHAPTER 6 

Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations

 

Di Jin 

This chapter provides a quantitative assessment of the economic feasibility of offshore 

aquaculture using a bio-economic model of firm-level investment and production. 

Introduction 

To evaluate the economic potential of offshore aquaculture, interactions among 

various economic and biological factors in a specific production process (species, technology, 

and location, for example) are modeled. Typically, a firm-level investment-production model 

includes revenue from fish sales, different cost components, and a biological growth function. 

The total cost of a specific technology consists of fixed and variable components. Fixed cost 

(for example, construction cost) is “sunk cost” once an investment has been made. Variable 

cost (such as feed, energy, and labor) may be controlled in future operations. Production may 

be optimized to improve the economic efficiency of a specific system.1

 Suppose revenue and 

cost projections for an open-ocean aquaculture project are accurate and there are no risks. A 

firm’s investment decisions can be made according to the traditional NPV (net present value) 

rule: invest when the value of the project is at least as large as the investment costs (NPV ≥ 0). 

This chapter provides a quantitative assessment of the economic feasibility of offshore 

aquaculture using a bio-economic model of firm-level investment and production. We 

develop case studies of offshore productions of Atlantic cod and salmon, respectively. The 

production technologies examined are large, offshore cage farms with a high level of 

automation.2

The Model 

Our model assumes that the offshore grow-out operation will produce a fixed amount 

of fish each month, following pre-determined stocking and harvesting schedules.3 The model 

simulates fish growth and projects financial flows for each month in a 15-year period. It 

calculates project NPV, the amount of up front investment required, and different cost 

components. 

The model may take into account seasonal variability in the price of fish landings as 

well as the effect of water temperature on fish growth rates. It allows for comparison of 

different species at alternate grow-out sites, based on their biological and physical 

characteristics (Kite-Powell et al., 2003). Several economic, biological, and environmental 

variables (such as price, mortality, and water temperature) may be specified as stochastic to 

 

1

 For example, the biomass growth rate may be controlled through feeding rate and changes in density (e.g., 

stocking rate, survival/culling) (see Allen et al., 1984; Arnason, 1992). 

2

 For an introduction to cage aquaculture, see Beveridge (2004). 

3

 A different version of the model allows the optimization over stocking time and number of fish for each harvest 

month (see Kite-Powell et al. 2003). 
Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

118 

capture random effects in fish growth and revenue from sales. For a given set of stochastic 

variables, the model calculates both the mean and the variance of project NPV. 

Fish Growth

To ensure year-round fish yield, a certain number of fingerlings are stocked each month. For 

a particular cohort, fish growth may be modeled using the Beverton-Holt approach (Ricker, 

1975), as follows: 

x(τ) = n(τ)w(τ) (1) 

where n is the number of fish in thousands and w is the weight of a fish in grams. In discrete 

time (τ = month) and without intervention, 

n(τ ) = n(τ −1)(1− m ) (2) 

where m is the mortality rate (Allen et al., 1984), the number of fish will decrease while weight 

grows. 

The growth rate of individual fish weight (w) in discrete time is 

w(τ ) = w(τ −1) + g(τ −1) (3) 

where g is the weight growth function of an individual fish. 

 

The feed conversion ratio (FCR) is defined as: 

g( )

f ( )

s( )

τ

τ

τ 0 = (4) 

where s is the FCR and f0 is the quantity of feed per fish. Thus, the total feed quantity in 

kilograms (kg) at τ is 

f (τ ) = f (τ )n(τ ) = s(τ )g(τ )n(τ ) 0 (5) 

Revenue from Fish Sales

For specific stocking and harvesting schedules, the model calculates the financial 

performance of the grow-out operation month by month over 15 years to determine projected 

cash flows. For an individual aquaculture farm, price is exogenous. We model dockside 

price as a function of fish size and time of year. With total harvest fish biomass at harvest 

time x(T) in kg and market price (p) in $/kg, the gross revenue from the sale of a cohort is 

R(t ) = p[ w(T ),t] x(T ) (6) 

where t equals time over the study period [t = 1, 2, ..., 180 (month)].4

Costs of Investment and Production

Total cost includes expenditures on cages, a boat, fingerlings, feed, and shore-based 

operations (e.g., administration and marketing). In the model, we assume a sequential cage 

installation schedule. For cod and salmon, the grow-out period is two years. There are 24 

cohorts. Thus, for each of the first 24 months, there is one new cage added to the farm. The 

investment cost of each cage is 

ck (t ) = v( acq + inst ) + efix t =1,2,...,24 (7) 

 

4

 In the model, we specify stocking and harvesting schedules within this time frame. For example, Cohorts 1 is 

initially stocked at t = 1 (τ = 1), harvested at t = 24 (τ = T), and re-stocked at t = 25 (τ = 1). Note that R(t) = 0 for 

t = 1 – 23. 
Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

119 

where ck is the cost of each cage in $, v is the cage volume in m3, acq is the cage acquisition 

cost in $/m3

, inst is the cage mooring and installation cost in $/m3, and efix is the fixed cost 

associated with environmental compliance in $/cage. 

The installation cost is a function of water depth in meters (wd): 

inst = 2 + 0.02wd (8) 

For cage maintenance in subsequent months, the maintenance cost is 

cm (t ) = v ⋅ cn(t )⋅ cm(t) / 12 + e var(t ) t = 25,26,...,180 (9) 

where cn is the number of cages in the farm, cm is the cage operating and maintenance cost in 

$/m3

/year, and evar is the variable cost of environmental compliance in $/month. 

Each month, feed and fingerlings are transported to the farm and harvest is transported 

back to shore by boat. Aggregating cage-level feed quantity [f(τ) from (5)], we have the 

farm-level monthly feed quantity (fq) in kg: 

∑

=

=

cn( t )

fq(t ) f ( ) τ 1τ (10) 

For each month, the quantity of fingerling and water transported for stocking (sq) in kg is 

sq(t) = stock ⋅sg ⋅φ (11) 

where stock [= n(0)] is the number of fingerlings in thousands, sg is the fingerling weight in 

gram/fish, and φ is the ratio of water weight to fingerling weight during transport to farm. 

For each month, the total number of round trips is calculated as either the number of 

trips necessary for transporting harvest from the farm or the number of trips needed for 

transporting feed and fingerlings to the farm, whichever is greater. 

nr(t ) = max{ x(T ) / ld ,[ fq(t ) + sq(t )] / ld } (12) 

where x(T) is the fish harvest in kg, ld is the boat payload in kg, fq is the feed quantity in kg, 

sq is the quantity of fingerlings in kg; nr is rounded to the nearest greater integer. 

Since one vessel can transport a larger volume of cargoes by making more trips in a day 

if the distance to shore is short, the number of vessels needed for a given cargo volume is 

affected by distance. To estimate the number of vessels needed for the cargo volume, we first 

estimate the time for a round-trip (h): 

l u h= 2d / spd + z + z (13) 

where d is the distance and spd is the average speed of the vessel in km per hour. The round-trip 

time is extended by adding the time for loading (zl) and unloading (zu). 

 

 The number of trips a vessel can make in a day is estimated as 

nd = hm / h (14) 

where hm is the number of hours per day the boat is operational; nd is rounded to the nearest 

lower integer. The number of trips a vessel can make in a month is 

nm= d m ⋅ nd (15) 

where dm is the number of days per month the boat is operational. Thus, the number of vessels 

required for a specific month is: 
Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

120 

bn(t )= nr(t ) / nm (16) 

where nr(t) and nm are defined in (12) and (15), respectively; bn is rounded to the nearest greater 

integer. 

The total number of boat days in a month is: 

bd(t )= nr(t ) / nd (17) 

bd is rounded to the nearest greater integer. 

For each month, boat cost (cb) is 

c (t ) bn(t ) bfix / bvar bd(t ) b = ⋅ 12 (18) + ⋅

where bfix is the vessel fixed cost in $/year, and bvar is the variable and crew cost in $/day. 

Fingerling cost (cr) is 

c (t ) stock sp r = 1000 ⋅ ⋅ (19) 

where sp is the fingerling cost in $/fish. Feed cost (cf) is 

c f (t ) = fq(t )⋅ fp (20)

where fp is the feed cost in $/kg. Shore cost (cs) is 

cs(t ) = (sh + ins) / 12 (21) 

where sh is the on-shore cost (e.g., dock, facilities, management administration, marketing 

and distribution) in $/year and ins is the insurance cost in $/year. 

From Equations (7), (9), and (18) through (21), we can calculate the total cost (C) in 

each month 

= ∑

i

i C(t ) c (t ) (22) 

Note that i = [k, m, b, r, f, s]. 

Net Revenue

As noted, our model simulates monthly cash flow for a 15-year period and t = 1, 2, ..., 

180 (month). The cages are installed sequentially in the first 24 months. From (7), we define the 

present value of total investment as: 

∑= + =

24

1 (1 /12)

( )

t

t

k c t

I

δ (23) 

where δ is the annual discount rate (monthly discount rate is δ /12). The project’s net present 

value may be computed using (6) and (22) as: 

∑

= +

− =

180

t 1 1 12 t ( / )

R(t ) C(t ) NPV

δ (24) 

Model Input Parameters 

We apply the model described above to Atlantic cod and salmon, respectively. Cod 

can be stocked and harvested year round in southern New England waters. The grow-out site 

is located 6 km from the shore station or dock used by the support vessel. The water depth is 

50 meters (m). Monthly water temperatures are shown in Table 6.1. Also included in Table 
Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

121 

6.1 are the monthly average dockside prices for cod. These prices are based primarily on 

landed value reported by NOAA Fisheries. Biological data for the analysis are from Jobling 

(1988), Best (1995), and Bjorndal (1990). For specific functional forms, we model mortality 

in (2) as a function of fish weight (w): 

m(τ ) = 0.01− 0.000001w(τ ) (25) 

The above specification is based on experience with salmon farms as reported in 

Bjordal (1990).5

 According to Jobling (1988), the monthly growth in (3) is as a function of 

fish weight and water temperature: 3 0 559 0 297 0 000538 0 37223 γ γ τ τ . . . g( ) . w( ) e − = (26) 

where g is in grams per month, w is weight in grams, and γ is the temperature in degree 

Celsius. 

Following Jobling (1988) and Best (1995), we specify FCR as a function of fish 

weight: 

s(τ ) = [1.5 − 0.00035w(τ )] /ψ (27) 

where 0.4 ≤ ψ ≤ 1.1 is an adjustment factor that allows us to change the baseline FCR (ψ = 1) 

to simulate different feeding technologies. 

Table 6.2 summarizes other model input parameters for cod describing the cage 

system, stocking, feed cost, boat, etc. These data are based on personal communications with 

cage manufacturers, industry experts, and Bjorndal (1990). As shown in the table, the cage 

capacity per cohort is 5,000 m3

. With a total of 24 cohorts and annual output of over 2,000 

metric tons (mt), our simulated cage farm is larger than typical existing farms.6

 The baseline 

fixed cost for the grow-out support vessel, which stocks the cages, carries feed to the cages, 

supports maintenance, and carries out harvesting, is $100,000/year. Operating costs are 

$1,500 a day for fuel and other consumables, and personnel costs for a crew of four are 

another $1,500 per day. The vessel has an operating speed of 15 km/h and a payload capacity 

of 30 metric tons. On a typical round-trip carrying feed, it spends three hours on site. The 

maximum length of a work day is 14 hours and, due to weather constraints and maintenance 

requirements, the vessel is at sea a maximum of 25 days per month. On-shore costs include 

$30,000/year for dock use and other on-shore facilities, $70,000/year for management and 

administrative costs, and $50,000/year for marketing and distribution. The on-shore costs 

cover the salaries for one manager and two office staff. A set of high-end input values7

 is 

included in the last column for sensitivity analysis. According to Tveteras (2002a), 

production costs decline with respect to the industry scale in a regional operation (i.e., total 

employment, farm density, and output quantity). 

 

5

 In the study, salmon parameters are used where cod data are unavailable. It should be noted that the parameters 

for cod may be quite different from those for salmon. 

6 Existing studies have examined offshore farms with output ranging from 250 to 500 MT/year (Kam et al.,

2003; Tveteras, 2002a; Posadas and Bridger, 2003; Bjorndal, 1990). The average output of 568 salmon farms in 

Norway was 277 mt/year (Tveteras, 2002a). 

7

 Unit cage costs of $27/ m3 and $50/m3 have been reported by Kam et al. (2003) and Posadas and Bridger 

(2003), respectively, for cages size below 3,000 m3

. Labor cost may vary depending on both productivity 

(ranging from 30 to 500 MT fish per man-year) and wages ($30 – $60/man-year). For an assessment of labor 

productivity, see Forster (1999). 
Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

122 

Environmental compliance costs are also included in the high-end cost inputs (see 

Table 6.2). These cost data are based on EPA (USEPA, 2002) estimates of four pollution 

control measures for offshore cage aquaculture: (i) Feed Management (fmv is the cost 

associated with extra time for record keeping); (ii) Solid Control BMP Plan (scf covers the 

cost associated with developing three 5-year plans, and scv is the cost for monthly review of 

the plans); (iii) Drug and Chemical Control BMP Plan (dcf is the cost to develop three 5-year 

plans, and dcv is the cost for monthly review of the plans); and (iv) Active Feed Monitoring 

(aff is the cost of one set of underwater cameras and afv is the cost associated with feeding 

control). These pollution control measures are cumulative and designed to lower feed and 

drug inputs. Note that efix in (7) is calculated using scf, dcf, and aff, and evar in (9) is based 

on fmv, scv, dcv, and afv. 

For salmon, we consider the same production schedule and similar technology. 

Monthly growth is modeled as: 

g(τ) =141 + 0.024w(τ ) (28) 

The FCR is: 

s(τ ) = 1.5 − 0.00011w(τ ) (29) 

We specify a salmon price of $4/kg for base case simulation. Other baseline and highend input parameters are summarized in Table 6.3. Note that the number of juvenile salmon 

stocked in each cohort is much smaller (45,000) than that of cod (150,000 in Table 6.2), as the 

size of juvenile salmon is large and also more costly. 

Simulations and Results

Using the input parameters in Tables 6.1 and 6.2, we use the model8

 to simulate 

offshore cod production. For the baseline input parameters, an open-ocean cod farm requires 

an investment of $2.01 million to construct and the project’s net present value (NPV) is 

$10.62 million (Table 6.4). Once fully installed, the farm produces cod year-round with an 

average production rate of 177 metric tons per month. Using the monthly farm-level feed 

quantity (fq) from (10) we estimate the average yearly feed quantity as 2,765 metric tons per 

year. The present value of total project cost in 15 years9

 is $35.87 million, or $2.39 million 

per year. The largest cost components are feed (41%) and fingerlings (40%). For the set of 

high-end costs (last column in Table 6.2), the offshore project is not economically feasible 

(NPV = -$13.38 million < 0). Using baseline costs, we calculate the NPV for different prices. 

As depicted in Figure 6.1, offshore cod farming is not economically feasible if the price is 

below $2/kg. 

 The simulation results for salmon are presented in Table 6.5. For the baseline input 

parameters in Tables 6.3 and at a harvest price of $4/kg, an offshore salmon farm generates a 

NPV of $29.49 million. The farm produces salmon year round with an average production 

 

8

 All computer programs for the study are written in MATLAB. 

9

 Including both investment and operating costs. 
Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

123 

rate of 169 metric tons per month.10 The average yearly feed quantity is 2,619 metric tons per 

year. The 15-year total project cost is $31.32 million ($2.09 million per year). As for cod 

production, the largest cost components are feed (55%) and fingerlings (24%). For high-end 

costs, the project NPV is reduced to $14.29 million. Again, we conduct a sensitivity analysis 

with respect to fish price, using baseline costs. The results indicate that offshore salmon 

farming is also not economically feasible if the price is below $2/kg (see Figure 6.2). 

Given the importance of feed cost in offshore production, we examine the effect of 

different feed conversion ratios (FCR) on feed quantity and, in turn, on NPV for cod farming 

(see Figure 6.3).11 As shown in the upper panel of the figure, cod aquaculture is economically 

feasible (NPV > 0) when average FCR is below 2.3. Efforts have been made by the 

aquaculture industry to lower FCR. For example, in the Norwegian salmon industry, FCR 

declined from close to 3 in 1980 to just over 1 in 2000 (Tveteras, 2002b). In lab experiments, 

it has been possible to achieve FCRs as low as 0.6 (Asche et al., 1999).12

Next, using the baseline input parameters for cod, we simulate the impact of rising 

feed cost on NPV. The results are illustrated in Figure 6.4. Also shown in the figure is the 

effect of a discount rate on NPV. As the feed cost approaches $1/kg, NPVs drop into the 

neighborhood of zero. As expected, for a fixed feed cost, NPV declines with a higher 

discount rate. 

As noted, several key economic and biological variables in the model may be 

specified as stochastic. In this example, we attach a normally distributed random 

element, ~ N( , ) j j

2 ξ 0 σ , to each of the five variables: mortality rate (m), water temperature 

(γ), fish weight growth (g), fish price (p), and feed cost (fp). We run the stochastic version of 

the baseline cod model for two sets of variances, as Cases 1 and 2 shown in Table 6.6. For 

Case 1, the expected NPV is $10.81 million and the variance of project NPV is 6.37. For 

Case 2, the expected NPV is $11.83 million with a much larger variance of 33.88. The 

histograms of the random error terms attached to each of the five variables and resulting 

NPVs for Cases 1 and 2 are depicted in Figures 6.5 and 6.6, respectively. The figures show 

that for the set of smaller variances (Case 1), the NPV is always positive, while for the set of 

larger variances (Case 2), the left-side tail of the distribution clearly suggests the possibility of 

negative net returns. 

When risk and uncertainty are present, the basic investment rule should be modified. 

Generally, a greater revenue stream will be required to justify the same level of investment. 

Although individuals have different attitudes toward risk, most are either risk neutral or 

slightly risk averse (see Kumbhakar, 2002; Eggert and Martinsson, 2004). For risk-averse 

investors, the investment rule is to invest if the value of the project is at least as large as the 

investment cost plus a risk premium.13

 

10 Year-round stocking for salmon production may not be feasible in some locations (see Kite-Powell et al., 

2003). 

11 Baseline costs were used for the simulation. 

12 FCRs vary among species and production systems and geography. 

13 For a discussion of risk and aquaculture, see Jin et al. (2005). 
Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

124 

Finally, we examine the effect of distance from dock to grow-out site (distance to 

shore) on the economic feasibility of offshore aquaculture. Because most of the near-shore 

waters are heavily used for fishing and recreation, the most promising direction for 

aquaculture is far offshore, in open water relatively free of use conflicts and environmental 

contamination. Investment and production costs escalate as a cage farm is sited further 

offshore for two reasons. First, the cost of cage installation is proportional to water depth 

(Equation 8). In addition, vessel transportation costs are also positively related to distance. 

Two water depth profiles near Cape Cod are depicted in Figure 6.7. Apparently, growth in 

costs with respect to distance is greater to the north than to the south of Cape Cod, as water 

depth increases more rapidly in the north. 

Again, we use the baseline cod model to illustrate how distance to shore affects boat 

operation and related costs.14 In the study, we consider only vessel day trips and set the 

maximum distance at 25 nautical miles (46.3 km). A further increase in distance may 

significantly alter vessel operations and result in substantial cost escalations. 

As shown in the upper section of Table 6.7, one 30-ton vessel operating 14 hours a day 

is capable of meeting the transportation need of an offshore cage farm located within 25 

nautical miles. At the 5-nautical-mile location, the vessel can make two trips a day, lowering 

the total number of boat days in a month and related costs. The effect of increasing distance 

on vessel trips is more evident when vessel operation time is extended to 20 hours a day (see 

the middle section in the table). The vessel trip number declines from three per day at 5 

nautical miles to one per day at 25 nautical miles. As a result, the total number of boat days 

per month rises from 7 to 19. To highlight the effect, we reduce the vessel payload to 5 tons 

in our simulation.15 For the smaller vessel size (lower section in the table), we see an increase 

in vessel numbers from two to five as the distance to shore rises from 5 to 25 nautical miles. 

The related effect on costs is more drastic. In all three cases, the cost share for cage 

installation is relatively stable, suggesting a smaller effect of distance on investment cost than 

operating cost. 

We plot the total 15-year project costs (in Table 6.7) with respect to distance to shore 

in Figure 6.8. The investment and production costs are influenced by vessel operation 

schedules. As noted, larger vessels carry more cargo and make fewer trips than smaller 

vessels. Longer vessel operation hours enable more trips in a day. Thus, the case with 5-ton 

vessels is more costly than that with a 30-ton vessel. For the same vessel (i.e., 30-ton), the 

total cost is lower if the vessel operation time is extended from 14 to 20 hour per day. 

Conclusions 

Open-ocean aquaculture is an emerging industry. Some technical, biological, and 

regulatory uncertainties surrounding open-ocean grow-out systems are now being resolved 

through publicly-sponsored demonstration projects and private sector start-ups. In this 

chapter, we develop a quantitative assessment of the economic feasibility of offshore 

aquaculture. The analytical framework is based on a firm-level investment-production model 

 

14 Water depth profile north of Cape Cod was used in the simulations. 

15 Boat costs were kept unchanged in the simulation, leading to a higher unit cost ($/payload ton). 
Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

125 

that simulates individual grow-out projects and estimates the project’s investment, cost shares, 

and NPV. We develop simulations of offshore aquaculture of Atlantic cod and salmon, 

respectively. The simulated production technologies are large offshore cage farms with 

annual output over 2,000 metric tons. 

Both cod and salmon farming in offshore waters are shown to be economically 

feasible based on our baseline cost and revenue parameters. Offshore aquaculture may not be 

profitable if the price of fish is below $2/kg ($0.91/lb), feed cost is higher than $1/kg, or the 

feed conversion ratio (FCR) is greater than 2. Costs of feed and juvenile fish account for over 

70% of the total investment and operating costs. In the case of salmon, the share of feed cost 

is about 50%. 

Offshore aquaculture may only be economically feasible in waters within 25 nautical 

miles. Further increases in offshore distance will significantly alter the vessel operation 

schedule and result in a substantial cost increase. Operating under risk and uncertainty, 

greater project revenues are needed to justify the elevated total cost of investment (for 

example, a firm’s risk premium). 

References 

Allen, P.G., L.W. Botsford, A.M. Schuur and W.E. Johnson. 1984. Bioeconomics of 

Aquaculture. New York: Elsevier. 

Arnason, R. 1992. Optimal feeding schedules and harvesting time in aquaculture. Marine 

Resource Economics 7(1):15-35. 

Asche, F., A.G. Guttormsen and R. Tveteras. 1999. Environmental problems, productivity and 

innovations in Norwegian salmon aquaculture. Aquaculture Economics and Management

3:19-29. 

Best, N.A. 1995. Preliminary Design of a Recirculating Aquaculture System in Boston 

Harbor. MS thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

Beveridge, M. 2004. Cage Aquaculture, 3rd ed. Ames, IA: Blackwell Publishing. 

Bjorndal, T. 1990. The Economics of Salmon Aquaculture. Boston: Blackwell Scientific 

Publications. 

Eggert, H. and Martinsson, P. 2004. Are commercial fishers risk-lovers? Land Economics

80(4):550-560. 

Forster, J. 1999. Halibut Farming: Its Development and Likely Impact on the Market for Wild 

Alaska Halibut. Report to Alaska Department of Commerce and Economic Development. 

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Jin, D., H.L. Kite-Powell and P. Hoagland. 2005. Risk assessment in open-ocean aquaculture: 

a firm-level investment-production model. Aquaculture Economics and Management

9(3):369-387. 
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Jobling, M. 1998. A Review of the physiological and nutritional energetics of cod, Gadus 

morhua L., with particular reference to growth under farmed conditions. Aquaculture 70:1-19. 

Kam, L.E., P.S. Leung and A.C. Ostrowski. 2003. Economics of offshore aquaculture of 

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Aquaculture Society, pp. 319-324. 

Kumbhakar, S.C. 2002. Risk preferences and technology: a joint analysis. Marine Resource 

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317. 

Ricker, W.E. 1975. Computation and Interpretation of Biological Statistics of Fish 

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Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

127 

Table 6.1. Monthly average temperatures and cod price by size. 

Water 

Temperature 

Cod Price 

($/kg) 

Month 

C0

 Small Medium Large 

Jan 2 2.70 3.14 3.57 

Feb 2 2.64 3.14 3.48 

Mar 3 2.59 3.09 3.43 

Apr 5 2.21 2.63 2.91 

May 10 2.31 2.75 3.05 

Jun 17 2.31 2.75 3.05 

Jul 21 2.23 2.65 2.94 

Aug 22 2.55 3.04 3.37 

Sept 22 2.49 2.96 3.29 

Oct 18 2.54 3.03 3.36 

Nov 10 2.33 2.78 3.08 

Dec 5 2.60 3.10 3.44 

Note: Cod size categories are: small (750 grams ≤ w < 1,130 grams); medium (1,130 grams ≤ w < 2,270 grams); 

and large (w ≥ 2270 grams). For w < 750 grams, the assumed price is zero. 
Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

128 

Table 6.2. Model input parameters: cod.

Parameter Description Unit Baseline 

Value 

High-end 

Value 

v cage volume per cohort m3

 5,000 5,000

acq cage purchase cost a

 $/m3 15.00 25

inst cage mooring and 

installation cost 

$/m3 3.00 3.00

cm cage operating and 

maintenance cost b

$/m3

/year 1.00 6

stock number of fingerlings 

stocked per cohort 

1,000 fish 150 150 

sg stocking weight gram/fish 50 50

φ ratio of water weight to 

fingerling weight during 

transport to farm 

 5 5

sp fingerling cost $/fish 0.85 1.50

fp feed cost $/kg 0.60 0.73

bfix vessel fixed cost $/year 100,000 150,000

bvar vessel variable and crew 

cost c

$day 3,000 3,000

ld vessel payload MT 30 30

trip round trips per day 3 3

sh on shore cost d

 $/year 150,000 250,000

ins insurance cost e

 $/year 50,000 300,000

fmv feed management variable 

cost 

$/cohort/month 0 33.32

scf solid control BMP plan 

fixed cost 

$/farm 0 1615.20

scv solid control BMP plan 

variable cost 

$/month 0 21.15

dcf drug and chemical control 

BMP plan fixed cost 

$/farm 0 1615.20

dcv drug and chemical control 

BMP plan variable cost 

$/month 0 21.15

aff active feed monitoring 

fixed cost 

$/farm 0 10,000

afv active feed monitoring 

fixed cost 

$/cohort/month 0 33.32

δ annual discount rate 0.07 0.07

Notes: 

a. Including feeder and other equipment 

b. Including fuel, utilities, diving, repair, etc. 

c. Including 4 crews (average $25/hour) 

d. Including salaries for 1 manager and 2 office staff 

e. Insurance covers fish and other capital 
Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

129 

Table 6.3. Model input parameters: salmon.

Parameter Description Unit Baseline 

Value 

Highe-end 

Value 

v cage volume per cohort m3

 5,000 5,000

acq cage purchase cost $/m3

 15.00 25

inst cage mooring and 

installation cost a

$/m3

 3.00 3.00

cm cage operating and 

maintenance cost b

$/m3

/year 1.00 6

stock number of fingerlings 

stocked per cohort 

1,000 fish 45 45 

sg stocking weight gram/fish 150 150 

φ ratio of water weight to 

fingerling weight during 

transport to farm 

 5 5

sp fingerling cost $/fish 1.50 1.75

fp feed cost $/kg 0.73 0.9

bfix vessel fixed cost $/year 100,000 150,000

bvar vessel variable and crew 

cost c

$day 3,000 3,000

ld vessel payload MT 30 30

trip round trips per day 3 3

sh on shore cost d $/year 150,000 250,000

ins insurance cost e $/year 50,000 300,000

fmv feed management variable 

cost 

$/cohort/month 0 33.32

scf solid control BMP plan 

fixed cost 

$/farm 0 1615.20

scv solid control BMP plan 

variable cost 

$/month 0 21.15

dcf drug and chemical control 

BMP plan fixed cost 

$/farm 0 1615.20

dcv drug and chemical control 

BMP plan variable cost 

$/month 0 21.15

aff active feed monitoring 

fixed cost 

$/farm 0 10,000

afv active feed monitoring 

fixed cost 

$/cohort/month 0 33.32

δ annual discount rate 0.07 0.07

Notes: 

a. Including feeder and other equipments 

b. Including fuel, utilities, diving, repair, etc. 

c. Including 4 crews (average $25/hour) 

d. Including salaries for 1 manager and 2 office staff 

e. Insurance covers fish and other capital 
Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

130 

Tables 6.4. Model results: cod. 

Output 

Variable 

Description Unit Baseline 

Value 

High-end 

Value 

NPV net present value $ million 10.620 -13.375

I investment $ million 2.010 3.139

X(T) average fish harvest metric ton/month 177 177

N(T) average number of fish 

harvested 

fish/month 120,535 120,535

W(T) average harvest fish size kg 1.47 1.47

12⋅E[fq(t)] average feed quantity metric ton/year 2,765 2,765

 

total cost $ million 35.871 59.867

average annual cost $ million 2.391 3.991

Project Cost 

 

cage installation % 5.6 5.2

cage maintenance % 2.8 10.2

boat and crew % 6.0 4.4

fingerlings % 39.5 41.8

feed % 40.9 29.8

onshore and other % 5.2 8.5

Cost Share 

total % 100 100

Tables 6.5. Model results: salmon. 

Output 

Variable 

Description Unit Baseline 

Value 

High-end 

Value 

NPV net present value $ million 29.486 14.289

I investment $ million 2.010 3.139

x(T) average fish harvest metric ton/month 169 169

n(T) average number of fish 

harvested 

fish/month 37,446 37,446

w(T) average harvest fish size kg 4.52 4.52

12⋅E[fq(t)] average feed quantity metric ton/year 2,619 2,619

 

total cost $ million 31.315 46.512

average annual cost $ million 2.088 3.101

Project Cost 

 

cage installation % 6.4 6.7

cage maintenance % 3.2 13.2

boat and crew % 6.0 5.0

fingerlings % 24.0 18.8

feed % 54.5 45.3

onshore and other % 5.9 11.0

Cost Share 

total % 100 100
Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

131 

Table 6.6. Stochastic variable specifications. 

Variables Stochastic 

Variables 

Error 

Distributions 

Case 1 Case 2 

mortality rate 

(m) 

m exp(ξm) ~ N( , ) m m

2 ξ 0 σ 001 2 . σm = 0051 2 . σm =

temperature (γ ) γ + ξγ ~ N( , ) 2 0 ξγ σ γ 01 2 = . σγ 05 2 = . σγ

fish growth (g) g exp(ξg) ~ N( , ) g g

2 ξ 0 σ 001 2 . σg = 005 2 . σg =

fish price (p) p + ξp ~ N( , ) p p

2 ξ 0 σ 01 2 . σp = 05 2 . σp =

feed cost (fp) fp + ξfp ~ N( , ) fp fp

2 ξ 0 σ 001 2 . σfp = 005 2 . σfp =
Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

132 

Table 6.7. Distance to shore, vessel operations, and costs (cod) a. 

Distance to shore 

nautical miles (km) 5 (9.26) 10 (18.52) 15 (27.78) 20 (37.04) 25 (46.3)

Water depth (m) 22.86 45.72 76.20 106.68 152.4

Vessel operation: 14 hours per day; vessel payload: 30 ton 

Vessel number 1 1 1 1 1

Boat trip/day 2 1 1 1 1

Boat days/month b 10 19 19 19 19

NPV ($ million) 10.206 8.682 8.656 8.630 8.604

Total cost ($ million) 36.286 37.81 37.836 37.862 37.887

Cage installation (%) 5.30 5.37 5.45 5.52 5.59

Boat and crew (%) 7.32 10.99 10.98 10.98 10.97

Vessel operation: 20 hours per day; vessel payload: 30 ton 

Vessel number 1 1 1 1 1

Boat trip/day 3 2 2 2 1

Boat days/month b 7 10 10 10 19

NPV ($ million) 10.706 10.180 10.155 10.129 8.604

Total cost ($ million) 35.785 36.311 36.337 36.363 37.887

Cage installation (%) 5.38 5.45 5.52 5.59 5.66

Boat and crew (%) 6.03 7.32 7.31 7.31 10.97

Vessel operation: 20 hours per day; vessel payload: 5 ton 

Vessel number 2 3 3 3 5 

Boat trip/day 3 2 2 2 1 

Boat days/month b 38 57 57 57 114 

NPV ($ million) 5.403 2.140 2.114 2.089 -8.175 

Total cost ($ million) 41.089 44.352 44.377 44.403 54.667 

Cage installation (%) 4.68 4.75 4.81 4.87 4.93 

Boat and crew (%) 18.16 24.12 24.11 24.09 38.30 

Notes: 

a. Loading time = 2 hours/vessel; Unloading time = 3 hours/vessel; Vessel speed = 15 km/hour; and Maximum 

boat days per month = 25 days 

b. Total number of days of all vessels
Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

133 

Figure 6.1. NPV by price: cod. 
Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

134 

Figure 6.2. NPV by price: salmon.
Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

135 

Figure 6.3. NPV and feed quantity by FCR (cod).
Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

136 

 

Figure 6.4. NPV by feed cost and discount rate (cod). 
Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

137 

Figure 6.5. Histograms of NPV and errors associated with key parameters (case 1). 

Notes: As specified in Table 6.4, the error distributions shown above are exp(ξm) for mortality, ξγ for 

temperature, exp(ξg) for fish weight growth, ξp for fish price, and ξfp for feed cost. Number of iterations = 5,000. 
Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

138 

Figure 6.6. Histograms of NPV and errors associated with key parameters (case 2). 

Notes: As specified in Table 6.4, the error distributions shown above are exp(ξm) for mortality, ξγ for 

temperature, exp(ξg) for fish weight growth, ξp for fish price, and ξfp for feed cost. Number of iterations = 5,000.
Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

139 

Figure 6.7. Water depth by distance to shore. 

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

distance (nautical mile)

water depth (m)

north of Cape Cod south of Cape Cod
Chapter 6: Economic Models of Potential U.S. Offshore Aquaculture Operations 

140 

Figure 6.8. Total cost by distance to shore (cod).

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

5 10 15 20 25

distance (nautical mile)

$ million

14 hr & 30 ton 20hr & 30 ton 20 hr & 5 ton
141 

CHAPTER 7 

The Potential Economic Ramifications of Offshore Aquaculture 

James Kirkley 

This chapter provides a broad overview of the economic feasibility and potential contributions to 

the U.S. economy of offshore aquaculture. 

Introduction 

Development and promotion of offshore aquaculture has been proposed as one approach 

for satisfying an increasing domestic demand for seafood and promoting community 

maintenance and development. In particular, considering the stable status of wild harvests, as 

regulatory strategies become increasingly restrictive and thus reduce the domestic, wild caught 

seafood supply, it will become increasingly difficult to satisfy rising domestic demand due to 

both population growth and more healthy food claims, even with expanding imports. In 2005, 

the U.S. total supply of edible fishery products equaled 11.8 billion pounds; domestic landings of 

edible product equaled 8 billion pounds; imports equaled 10.2 billion pounds; and exports 

equaled 6.4 billion pounds. Between 1995 and 2005, imports increased from 3.1 to 10.2 billion 

pounds, or by 7.1 billion pounds. Domestic landings decreased from 9.8 to 8 billion pounds 

during this same period. In contrast, during the same period between 1995 and 2005, production 

of domestic aquacultured products in the U.S. increased from 690.4 to 788.7 million pounds 

(NMFS, 1996, 1997 and 2007). There is, thus, substantial evidence to believe that aquaculture 

can succeed and help satisfy a growing domestic demand for seafood. 

Successful development and promotion of offshore aquaculture, however, is not without 

substantial perils or problems. Potential problems exist, such as the accidental release of nonindigenous species (if such species are permitted), large-scale mortalities, lack of adequate 

infrastructure, immature technology, and inadequate economic incentives due to higher 

investment and production costs. These are all extremely important potential limitations, which 

will need to be addressed to successfully stimulate and develop offshore aquaculture, but there is 

an even more basic issue. Simply put: Is offshore aquaculture economically viable or feasible, 

and if so, what are the economic ramifications in terms of contributions to the U.S. economy? 

This chapter provides a broad overview of the economic feasibility and potential 

contributions to the U.S. economy of offshore aquaculture. For the purpose of assessing 

economic feasibility, a series of bio-economic models (based on engineering type models and 

information) are initially developed.1

 The bio-economic and engineering models and 

information, however, are also used to assess initial stocking densities, growth and survivability, 

time required to reach marketable size, and subsequently, net returns. Five species or broad 

aggregates are considered: (1) Atlantic cod, (2) salmon, (3) winter flounder, (4) blue mussel, and 

(5) sea scallops. They represent, thus, three species of finfish and two species of shellfish. 

 

1

 Chapter 6 provides a comprehensive discussion of the economic feasibility analysis and the corresponding models 

and assumptions. 
Chapter 7: The Potential Economic Ramifications of Offshore Aquaculture 

142 

For the finfish species, the finfish production technologies considered in this chapter 

involve large, offshore cage farms employing a high level of automation. Two different 

technologies are considered for mollusks: a longline system for grow-out is considered for the 

blue mussel, and a seabed seeding technology is considered for scallop grow-out. Subsequent to 

assessing economic feasibility, an input/output (I/O) model is used to determine the potential 

economic contributions of offshore aquaculture for the five selected species or products.2 

Economic impacts are expressed in terms of sales or output, income, and employment. All dollar 

values are expressed in terms of year 2005 constant dollar values. Impacts are assessed relative 

to direct, indirect, and induced impacts. Direct impacts reflect the economic impacts directly 

generated by the producing sector. Indirect effects reflect the economic impacts of economic 

activity supporting the producing sector (fuel dealers who sell the fuel necessary to power 

vessels used by aquaculture producers must also purchase fuel and other goods and services from 

other businesses, for example). Induced impacts reflect the economic activity generated by 

expenditures of wages and salaries received by individuals in all producing and support sectors 

(Kirkley et al., 2005). 

The input/output model facilitates estimation and assessment of the economic 

contributions of the various aquaculture operations in terms of sales (or output), income, and 

employment generated. The I/O models developed for the assessment of the economic impacts 

consider the producers (for example, an aquaculture operation), wholesalers, grocery stores and 

fish markets, and restaurants—or, final consumer sector. In actuality, however, grocers and 

restaurants represent separate industries, and the associated economic impacts of these two 

sectors should really be attributed to these sectors independently. They could easily substitute 

other products for aquacultured products. They are, nevertheless included to illustrate the 

potential magnitude of how offshore aquaculture could contribute to the economy of the United 

States. 

In this part, it is necessary to mention that shellfish aquaculture differs from finfish 

aquaculture because it does not need feed. Therefore, for shellfish aquaculture, indirect effects do 

not need to consider the feed industry, while for finfish aquaculture, they do. In addition, set-up 

and processing costs will differ. It might be helpful to compare some differences between them 

before making a detailed calculation. 

The Economic Feasibility and Contributions of Shellfish Aquaculture 

Initially provided are an assessment and potential impacts for the shellfish species, blue 

mussels and sea scallops. Mussels will be grown on ropes suspended vertically from longline 

harness sets. Each harvest consists of a 120-meter-long horizontal longline held in place about 

seven meters below the surface by submerged flotation spheres and anchored to the bottom. 

Approximately 200 culture ropes are suspended from each longline to a depth of five meters 

above the seafloor. At full-scale operation, which is projected to be realized in three years, an 

offshore aquaculture plant will operate 120 longlines. Scallops will be grown using a seabed 

seeding technology. Scallops are to be seeded over a 143-acre site. The mussel operation is 

assessed over a 10-year period, and the scallop operation is assessed over a 20-year period. 

 

2

 A description of the I/O model is presented in chapter 13, Kirkley et al. (2005), “A Users Guide to the U.S. 

National Offshore Aquaculture Model for Assessing Economic Impacts. 
Chapter 7: The Potential Economic Ramifications of Offshore Aquaculture 

143 

Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis)

 The growth of blue mussels, as well as the growth of scallops and finfish, is estimated 

based on a discrete time version of the Beverton-Holt (1957) model, which relates growth to 

number of animals and weight of animals. The time period considered for the economic 

feasibility of producing blue mussels via offshore aquaculture was determined by the useful life 

of longlines, which is ten years. The bio-economic assessment considers longline installation, 

spat collection, socking operation, maintenance, and harvesting. The assessment also includes 

purchase of a used vessel, which will be employed during the first three years, and then the 

purchase of a new vessel in the fourth year of the operation, which is the approximate time 

required to bring the operation up to full scale. All production activities are assumed to be 

equivalent to constant returns to scale; that is, a constant proportionate increase in all factors of 

production generates the same proportionate increase in outputs, or the production of mussels.3

 

The up front investment cost for a mussel operation is approximately $1.1 million. This 

includes the purchase and installation of longlines, a used vessel, and other items essential to 

production. Additional costs include expendable supplies, vessel and equipment maintenance, 

and support for shore-side activities (Table 7.1). The total constant dollar cost of the operation 

over the 10-year period equals $4.62 million.4 Over the 10-year period, it is projected that the 

mussel operation will generate, after deducting costs, a net present value of approximately $2.7 

million (Table 7.2). The average annual harvest will be approximately 892 metric tons, or 1.97 

million pounds per year. Average annual revenue will approximate $1.2 million per year, with a 

product price of approximately $0.60 per pound. The break-even price is $0.35 per pound; that 

is, if prices received for scallops fall below $0.35 per pound, it will not long be financially 

feasible to operate the mussel operation, based on assumptions above. 

One problem with the initial feasibility analysis is the assumption of constant returns to 

scale. It is, thus, not feasible to assess the potential economic impacts of mussel operations if 

expanded. There is no information to indicate the potential number of mussel operations, and 

thus, our assessment of the potential economic contributions can only be made in terms of either 

gross sales for a single plant, or on a per-$1-million-of-sales for mussel aquaculture basis. 

Based on the national aquaculture input/output model, it is estimated that an annual gross 

revenue of $1.2 million will generate a total of $6.49 million in total sales or output, 

$3.33 million in income, and 92 full- and part-time jobs for the U.S. economy (Table 7.3).5

 

These impacts represent the impacts over all sectors, from the aquaculture operation to retail 

sales. The largest impacts are generated in the restaurant and primary producer (aquaculture 

operation) sectors. Retail sales by grocers generate a total of $3.5 million in total sales or output, 

$2.03 million in income, and 62 full- and part-time jobs. The aquaculture-producing sector 

generates $2.67 million in total sales, $1.14 million in income, and 25 full- and part-time jobs. 

 

3

 Constant returns to scale is assumed for the production of all species. 

4

 The constant dollar cost is based on a discount rate of 7 % per year and is necessary to adjust the dollar values for 

inflation and the opportunity cost of capital. 

5

 Economic impacts, except employment, are in terms of year 2005 constant dollar values. Employment is 

expressed in terms of the number of full- and part-time jobs. 
Chapter 7: The Potential Economic Ramifications of Offshore Aquaculture 

144 

Table 7.1. Basic production and cost requirements, blue mussels. 

Description Unit Value 

longlines at full capacity number/farm 120

longline installation cost a $/longline 10,000

expendable supplies b $/longline/year 1,700 

used vessel acquisition $/vessel 70,000

used vessel maintenance $/vessel/year 10,000 

used vessel upgrade & equipment c $/vessel 25,000

equipment maintenance $/year 5,000

used vessel variable and crew cost $/day 1,500

new custom vessel construction $ 800,000

new custom vessel maintenance $/year 30,000

new vessel variable and crew cost $/day 1,000

on shore cost d $/year 173,000

annual discount rate 0.07

Notes: 

a. Including 2 anchors ($2,000), 2 corner buoys ($2,000), rope and chain ($2,000), flotation ($2,000), and 

assembly and deployment ($2,000) 

b. Including spat collectors, grow out ropes, socking material, bag, etc. 

c. Including stripper/declumper/grader and continuous socking machine 

d. Including CEO/captain salary ($100,000/year) and vessel dockage, etc. ($20,000) 

Table 7.2. Estimated net present value, investment, harvest, and cost, blue mussels. 

Description Unit Value 

net present value $ million 2.659

Investment a $ million 1.114

average fish harvest b metric ton/year 892

 

total cost $ million 4.624

Cost Share 

longline installation % 24.1

expendable supplies % 15.5

vessel acquisition & maintenance % 19.5

vessel variable cost (fuel, crew, etc.) % 13.4

onshore and other % 27.5

total % 100

Notes: 

a. Longline system only 

b. At full capacity annual output is 1,200 metric tons 
Chapter 7: The Potential Economic Ramifications of Offshore Aquaculture 

145 

Table 7.3. Economic contributions of single blue mussel operation, $1.2 million in sales. 

Impacts of Aquaculture Blue Mussels Offshore Shipments – Producers 

Direct 

Impacts

Indirect 

Impacts

Induced 

Impacts 

Total 

Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.50 0.18 0.45 1.14

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.73 0.58 1.36 2.67

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 9.87 3.75 11.86 25.48

Impacts of Aquaculture Blue Mussels Offshore Shipments – Wholesalers 

Direct 

Impacts

Indirect 

Impacts

Induced 

Impacts 

Total 

Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.03 0.01 0.02 0.06

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.03 0.02 0.07 0.12

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 0.54 0.11 0.60 1.25

Impacts of Aquaculture Blue Mussels Offshore Shipments – Grocers 

Direct 

Impacts

Indirect 

Impacts

Induced 

Impacts 

Total 

Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.06 0.01 0.05 0.11

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.04 0.01 0.15 0.20

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 2.12 0.11 1.26 3.49

Impacts of Aquaculture Blue Mussels Offshore Shipments – Restaurants 

Direct 

Impacts

Indirect 

Impacts

Induced 

Impacts 

Total 

Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 1.06 0.10 0.87 2.03

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.60 0.28 2.63 3.50

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 37.04 2.24 22.76 62.04

Impacts of Aquaculture Blue Mussels Offshore Shipments – All Sectors 

Direct 

Impacts

Indirect 

Impacts

Induced 

Impacts 

Total 

Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 1.64 0.30 1.40 3.33

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 1.40 0.89 4.21 6.49

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 49.57 6.22 36.48 92.27

Sea Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) 

 The economic feasibility of using aquaculture to produce sea scallops is based on a 20-

year life cycle. A 20-year cycle permits ten, two-year cycles of harvesting and marketing 

scallops. The farming operation is scaled to produce 100,000 pounds of scallop meat every two 

years. Baseline production assumptions include the following: 1) the farming site is two hours 

by boat from port; 2) the site is surrounded by markers with annual maintenance requirements of 

three hours of boat time; 3) the juvenile scallop collecting/depositing time per cycle is 142 days; 

4) the farm area seeded is 143 acres; 5) scallops are sold at dockside for $7 per pound of meat; 6) 
Chapter 7: The Potential Economic Ramifications of Offshore Aquaculture 

146 

the work day is 12 hours; and, 7) vessels are capable of capturing and bringing to the farming 

site an average of 40,000 juvenile scallops in one day. 

Although a two-year production cycle is assumed, the equivalent annual production is 

22.7 metric tons, or 50 thousand pounds per year. At $7 per pound, the plant or production 

facility is projected to gross $350.3 thousand per year. The input requirements (such as the 

number of buoys and moorings per farm, seeding density, etc.) are summarized in Table 7.4. 

The up front investment is $52.7 thousand (Table 7.5). The expected net present value, or net 

return over the 20-year cycle, equals $1.72 million. The total cost for one scallop operation over 

the 20-year period is $2.11 million. 

The annual economic contributions of the single scallop production facility equal $1.98 

million in sales or output, $1.15 million in income, and 31 full- and part-time jobs. The 

production facility, itself, generates sales or output of $730 thousand, $430 thousand in income, 

and approximately 9 full- and part-time jobs. The largest contributions are generated by the 

restaurant sector—$1.14 million in sales or output, $670 thousand in income, and 21 full- and 

part-time jobs. Expanding the number of production facilities simply scales the magnitude of the 

impacts (for example, two plants would be expected to generate $3.96 million in sales, $2.3 

million in income, and 62 full- and part-time jobs). 

Table 7.4. Basic production and cost requirements, sea scallop. 

Description Unit Value 

marker buoys & moorings number/farm 14

unit cost $/mooring set 3,000

annual mooring maintenance $/mooring set/year 150

total vessel cost $/day 2,000

seeding density 1,000 scallops/acre 40

mortality/loss rate to harvest % 50

average size at harvest lbs (meat) 0.035

onshore cost * $/year 20,000

annual discount rate 0.07

 Note: * Management and administration. 
Chapter 7: The Potential Economic Ramifications of Offshore Aquaculture 

147 

Table 7.5. Estimated net present value, investment, harvest, and cost, sea scallop. 

Description Unit Value 

Cost 

net present value $ million 1.723 

investment a $ 52,675 

average scallop harvest b metric ton/year 22.7 

Total cost $ million 2.110 

 

Cost Share 

marker buoys & moorings % 2.5% 

annual mooring maintenance c % 1.0% 

mooring maintenance d % 5.4% 

collecting/depositing cost d % 78.9% 

harvest cost d % 1.6% 

onshore cost % 10.7% 

Total % 100% 

 Notes: 

 a. Marker buoys and moorings 

 b. Scallops are harvested every other year 

 c. Fix maintenance cost per year 

 d. Cost associated with vessel usage 

The Economic Feasibility and Contributions of Finfish Aquaculture 

Estimation and assessment of the economic feasibility and potential economic 

contributions of finfish aquaculture is considerably more complicated. A Beverton-Holt model 

is used to project growth, numbers (abundance), and weight (biomass) of fish. In addition, 

various feed conversion ratios were used to help estimate the cost of feed for various finfish 

species. Revenues were estimated using price times quantity on a monthly basis, and 

subsequently aggregated to an annual basis. Costs and required investment levels were obtained 

from a wide variety of sources, which are detailed in Chapter 6 of this report. Details of the 

various bio-economic models used to conduct the assessments are also presented in Chapter 6. 

The economic feasibility and contributions of using aquaculture to produce the three 

species of finfish are examined in this report. The production technologies for all three finfish 

species involve large offshore cage farms utilizing high levels of automation. In addition, 

production of all three species relies upon purchasing fingerlings and subsequently stocking and 

growing them to marketable size. Except for salmon, the purchase of fingerlings accounts for 

the largest cost share—41.8 % of the total cost of producing cod, and 55.1% of the total cost of 

producing winter flounder. The purchase of salmon fingerlings accounts for 18.8 % of the total 

cost of producing salmon. 
Chapter 7: The Potential Economic Ramifications of Offshore Aquaculture 

148 

Table 7.6. Economic contributions of sea scallop operation, $350,300 in sales. 

Impacts of Aquaculture Sea Scallops Offshore Shipments – Producers 

 Direct 

Impacts 

Indirect 

Impacts 

Induced 

Impacts 

 Total 

Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.22 0.02 0.19 0.43

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.09 0.07 0.57 0.73

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 3.51 0.41 4.95 8.87

Impacts of Aquaculture Sea Scallops Offshore Shipments -- Wholesalers 

 Direct 

Impacts 

Indirect 

Impacts 

Induced 

Impacts 

 Total 

Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.02

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.02 0.00 0.02 0.05

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 0.16 0.03 0.17 0.36

Impacts of Aquaculture Sea Scallops Offshore Shipments -- Grocers 

 Direct 

Impacts 

Indirect 

Impacts 

Induced 

Impacts 

 Total 

Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.02 0.00 0.01 0.03

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.01 0.00 0.04 0.06

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 0.62 0.03 0.37 1.03

Impacts of Aquaculture Sea Scallops Offshore Shipments -- Restaurants 

 Direct 

Impacts 

Indirect 

Impacts 

Induced 

Impacts 

 Total 

Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.35 0.03 0.29 0.67

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.18 0.08 0.88 1.14

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 12.57 0.65 7.62 20.85

Impacts of Aquaculture Sea Scallops Offshore Shipments – All Sectors 

 Direct 

Impacts 

Indirect 

Impacts 

Induced 

Impacts 

 Total 

Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.60 0.05 0.50 1.15

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.30 0.16 1.51 1.98

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 16.86 1.13 13.12 31.11
Chapter 7: The Potential Economic Ramifications of Offshore Aquaculture 

149 

Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua)

Cod aquaculture assumes that stocking and harvesting will be done on a year-round basis. 

Although the actual economic assessment is based on monthly activity, the average annual price 

equaled $2.92 per pound. A 15-year period is used as the baseline assessment period. The 

baseline fixed cost per year is $100 thousand. Operating costs are $1,500 per day for fuel and 

other consumables, and personnel costs for a crew of four represent another $1,500 per day. 

Annual production cost equals $2.09/pound per year. Input requirements and associated costs 

involve purchasing cages, buying and installing moorings, acquiring fingerlings, supporting best 

management practices, and acquiring additional fixed and variable inputs (Table 7.7). 

The up front investment cost ranges between $2 and $3.1 million (Table 7.8). The total 

cost of the project is between $35.9 and $59.9 million over the 15-year period. The variation is 

due to the possible production of baseline and high-end valued products. Expected production 

equals 177 metric tons, or 390.2 thousand pounds per month for a total of 4.7 million pounds per 

year. Gross revenue for the year is projected to equal $13.7 million per year. The net present 

value over the 15-year period equals $10.6 million for the baseline product, but appears to be 

negative (-$13.4 million) for the high-end product. If the price falls below $0.91 per pound, the 

baseline farm is no longer economically viable. 

Revenues of $13.7 million received by the farm generate total sales for the producing 

sector of $38.8 million (Table 7.9). Of that total, the wholesale sector generates $2.23 million in 

totals sales; the grocery sector generates $2.96 million in total sales; and the restaurant sector 

generates $32.2 million in total sales. Total output generated by all sectors equals $76.3 million; 

total income equals $33.7 million; and total employment generated across all sectors equals 

1,013 full- and part-time jobs. The largest levels of impact occur in the restaurant and producing 

sectors. Total employment generated in the restaurant sector equals 571 full- and part-time jobs, 

and total employment generated in the producing sector equals 367 full- and part-time jobs. 

Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)

Atlantic salmon is already successfully cultured in the northeast United States, and Maine 

has several producers. Cage culture is the primary method for culturing of salmon. Analysis of 

the economic feasibility of salmon culture is based on a 15-year cycle. The farm is assumed to 

produce salmon on a year-round basis. The expected harvest of salmon is 169 metric tons per 

month, or 4.5 million pounds per year. The assessment is based on a price of $1.81 per pound. 

It is anticipated that the salmon farm will generate revenues of $8.1 million per year. Both a 

baseline and a high-end product are considered in the assessment. 

The total cost over the 15-year period is between $31.3 (baseline product) and $46.5 

million (high-end product). Up front investment equals $3.1 million. The input and cost 

requirements are summarized in Table 7.10; the economic performance and returns are 

summarized in Table 7.11. Overall, a salmon farm producing 4.5 million pounds per year is 

expected to yield a net return between $29.5 million (baseline) and $14.3 million (high-end). 

The analysis also indicates that if the price falls below $0.91 per pound, the farm is not 

profitable. 
Chapter 7: The Potential Economic Ramifications of Offshore Aquaculture 

150 

Table 7.7. Basic production and cost requirements, Atlantic cod. 

Parameter Description Unit Baseline Value High-end 

Value 

V cage volume per cohort m3

 5,000 5,000

acq cage purchase cost a

 $/m3 15.00 25

inst cage mooring and 

installation cost 

$/m3

 3.00 3.00

cm cage operating and 

maintenance cost b

$/m3/year 1.00 6

stock number of fingerlings 

stocked per cohort 

1,000 fish 150 150 

Sg stocking weight gram/fish 50 50

φ ratio of water weight to 

fingerling weight during 

transport to farm 

 5 5

Sp fingerling cost $/fish 0.85 1.50

Fp feed cost $/kg 0.60 0.73

bfix vessel fixed cost $/year 100,000 150,000

bvar vessel variable and crew 

cost c

$day 3,000 3,000

Ld vessel payload MT 30 30

trip round trips per day 3 3

Sh on shore cost d

 $/year 150,000 250,000

ins insurance cost e

 $/year 50,000 300,000

fmv feed management variable 

cost 

$/cohort/month 0 33.32

scf solid control BMP plan 

fixed cost 

$/farm 0 1615.20

scv solid control BMP plan 

variable cost 

$/month 0 21.15

dcf drug and chemical control 

BMP plan fixed cost 

$/farm 0 1615.20

dcv drug and chemical control 

BMP plan variable cost 

$/month 0 21.15

Aff active feed monitoring 

fixed cost 

$/farm 0 10,000

afv active feed monitoring 

fixed cost 

$/cohort/month 0 33.32

δ annual discount rate 0.07 0.07

Notes: 

a. Including feeder and other equipments 

b. Including fuel, utilities, diving, repair, etc. 

c. Including 4 crews (average $25/hour) 

d. Including salaries for 1 manager and 2 office staff 

e. Insurance covers fish and other capital 
Chapter 7: The Potential Economic Ramifications of Offshore Aquaculture 

151 

Table 7.8. Estimated net present value, investment, harvest, and cost, Atlantic cod.

Output 

Variable 

Description Unit Baseline 

Value 

High-end 

Value 

NPV 

net present value $ million 10.620 -13.375

I investment $ million 2.010 3.139

X(T) average fish harvest metric ton/month 177 177

N(T) average number of fish 

harvested 

fish/month 120,535 120,535

W(T) average harvest fish size Kg 1.47 1.47

12⋅E[fq(t)] average feed quantity metric ton/year 2,765 2,765

 

Project Cost total cost $ million 35.871 59.867

 

cage installation % 5.6 5.2

cage maintenance % 2.8 10.2

boat and crew % 6.0 4.4

fingerlings % 39.5 41.8

feed % 40.9 29.8

onshore and other % 5.2 8.5

Cost Share 

total % 100 100

The potential economic impacts of one offshore salmon farm are quite significant. The 

producing sector generates $18.7 million in total sales or output, $8.2 million in income, and 

approximately 189 full- and part-time jobs relative to producing sector activities (Table 7.12). 

Restaurant sales generate the second highest level of total output—at $17.2 million. The sale of 

salmon by restaurants, however, generates the highest level of income—approximately $10 

million. The number of full- and part-time jobs generated by restaurant activity equals 304. 

Total sales (or output), income, and employment of all sectors equal, respectively: $38.7 million, 

$19.6 million, and 534 full- and part-time jobs. 

Winter Flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus)

Winter flounder is a highly valued flounder by New England and mid-Atlantic 

consumers. Domestic landings of winter flounder, however, have substantially declined over 

time. In the 1970s and 1980s, annual landings were typically between 25 and 40 million pounds. 

Between 1994 and 2004, annual total landings have ranged between 8 and 13 million pounds. 

Given its highly desirable characteristics, winter flounder is an excellent candidate for offshore 

aquaculture. 

The economic feasibility of producing winter flounder is based on a cage operation and a 

15-year period. Expected production is 125 metric tons per month, or 3.3 million pounds per 

year. The feasibility analysis assumes an average annual price of $4.60 per pound, which is 

considerably higher than previously observed ex-vessel prices for domestic wild product. The 

assessment is based on a monthly analysis and then aggregated up to an annual basis; then 

assessed relative to a 15-year production cycle. 
Chapter 7: The Potential Economic Ramifications of Offshore Aquaculture 

152 

Table 7.9. Economic contributions of cod operation, $13.7 million in annual sales. 

Impacts of Aquaculture Cod Offshore Shipments – Producers 

Direct 

 Impacts

Indirect 

Impacts 

Induced 

 Impacts 

Total 

 Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 4.00 3.71 4.54 12.25

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 11.69 13.50 13.64 38.83

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 148.61 99.04 118.99 366.65

Impacts of Aquaculture Cod Offshore Shipments – Wholesalers 

Direct 

 Impacts

Indirect 

Impacts 

Induced 

 Impacts 

Total 

 Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.55 0.10 0.44 1.09

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.62 0.30 1.32 2.23

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 10.30 2.18 11.45 23.93

Impacts of Aquaculture Cod Offshore Shipments – Grocers 

Direct 

 Impacts

Indirect 

Impacts 

Induced 

 Impacts 

Total 

 Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.90 0.08 0.72 1.70

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.56 0.22 2.18 2.96

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 31.85 1.67 18.91 52.43

Impacts of Aquaculture Cod Offshore Shipments – Restaurants 

Direct 

 Impacts

Indirect 

Impacts 

Induced 

 Impacts 

Total 

 Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 9.72 0.92 8.02 18.66

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 5.54 2.53 24.16 32.23

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 340.59 20.61 209.33 570.53

Impacts of Aquaculture Cod Offshore Shipments – All Sectors 

Direct 

 Impacts

Indirect 

Impacts 

Induced 

 Impacts 

Total 

 Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 15.18 4.81 13.72 33.70

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 18.41 16.54 41.30 76.25

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 531.36 123.51 358.68 1,013.54
Chapter 7: The Potential Economic Ramifications of Offshore Aquaculture 

153 

Table 7.10. Basic production and cost requirements, Atlantic salmon. 

Parameter Description Unit Baseline Value High-end 

Value 

v cage volume per cohort m3

 5,000 5,000

acq cage purchase cost $/m3

 15.00 25

inst cage mooring and 

installation cost a

$/m3

 3.00 3.00

cm cage operating and 

maintenance cost b

$/m3/year 1.00 6

stock number of fingerlings 

stocked per cohort 

1,000 fish 45 45 

sg stocking weight gram/fish 150 150 

φ ratio of water weight to 

fingerling weight during 

transport to farm 

 5 5

sp fingerling cost $/fish 1.50 1.75

fp feed cost $/kg 0.73 0.9

bfix vessel fixed cost $/year 100,000 150,000

bvar vessel variable and crew 

cost c

$day 3,000 3,000

ld vessel payload MT 30 30

trip round trips per day 3 3

sh on shore cost d $/year 150,000 250,000

ins insurance cost e $/year 50,000 300,000

fmv feed management variable 

cost 

$/cohort/month 0 33.32

scf solid control BMP plan 

fixed cost 

$/farm 0 1615.20

scv solid control BMP plan 

variable cost 

$/month 0 21.15

dcf drug and chemical control 

BMP plan fixed cost 

$/farm 0 1615.20

dcv drug and chemical control 

BMP plan variable cost 

$/month 0 21.15

aff active feed monitoring 

fixed cost 

$/farm 0 10,000

afv active feed monitoring 

fixed cost 

$/cohort/month 0 33.32

δ annual discount rate 0.07 0.07

Notes: 

a. Including feeder and other equipments 

b. Including fuel, utilities, diving, repair, etc. 

c. Including 4 crews (average $25/hour) 

d. Including salaries for 1 manager and 2 office staff 

e. Insurance covers fish and other capital 
Chapter 7: The Potential Economic Ramifications of Offshore Aquaculture 

154 

Table 7.11. Estimated net present value, investment, harvest, and cost, Atlantic salmon. 

Output 

Variable 

Description Unit Baseline 

Value 

High-end 

Value 

NPV 

net present value $ million 29.486 14.289

I investment $ million 2.010 3.139

x(T) average fish harvest metric 

ton/month 

169 169

n(T) average number of fish 

harvested 

fish/month 37,446 37,446

w(T) average harvest fish size kg 4.52 4.52

12⋅E[fq(t)] average feed quantity metric 

ton/year 

2,619 2,619

 

Project Cost total cost $ million 31.315 46.512

 

cage installation % 6.4 6.7

cage maintenance % 3.2 13.2

boat and crew % 6.0 5.0

fingerlings % 24.0 18.8

feed % 54.5 45.3

onshore and other % 5.9 11.0

Cost Share 

total % 100 100

Although the basic technology requires cages, actual production technology differs 

slightly for winter flounder than for cod and salmon. Stocking and harvesting are restricted to 

two-month periods per year; stocking occurs between March and April and harvesting occurs 

between November and December. Input and cost requirements are summarized in Table 7.13. 

The total cost of the operation over the 15-year period varies between $7.31 million (baseline 

product) and $8.8 million (high-end product). (See Table 7.14.) The estimated net present value 

for the baseline product is $1.23 million over the 15-year period. The net present value for the 

high-end product is negative and equals -$0.3 million. Additional analysis indicates that the 

operation is no longer economically feasible if the price received falls below $1.59 per pound. 

The farm operation is projected to produce 3.3 million pounds of flounder per year, while 

receiving approximately $15.2 million is gross sales. The economic activity which might be 

generated from a flounder aquaculture operation is therefore quite significant. Total sales or 

output over all sectors is projected to be $81.8 million; total income is projected to be $37.9 

million; and total employment is project to equal 1154.7 full- and part-time jobs (Table 7.15). 

The primary producing sector generates the highest level of sales or outputs, but the restaurant 

sector generates the highest levels of both income and employment. 
Chapter 7: The Potential Economic Ramifications of Offshore Aquaculture 

155 

Table 7.12. Economic contributions of salmon operation, $8.1 million in annual sales. 

Impacts of Aquaculture Salmon Shipments – Producers 

Direct 

Impacts

Indirect 

Impacts

Induced 

Impacts 

Total 

Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 3.71 1.16 3.31 8.18

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 4.71 4.05 9.96 18.72

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 72.11 30.16 86.54 188.81

Impacts of Aquaculture Salmon Shipments – Wholesalers 

Direct 

Impacts

Indirect 

Impacts

Induced 

Impacts 

Total 

Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.29 0.05 0.23 0.58

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.33 0.16 0.70 1.19

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 5.49 1.16 6.10 12.75

Impacts of Aquaculture Salmon Shipments – Grocers 

Direct 

Impacts

Indirect 

Impacts

Induced 

Impacts 

 Total 

Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.48 0.04 0.39 0.91

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.30 0.12 1.16 1.58

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 16.99 0.89 10.08 27.96

Impacts of Aquaculture Salmon Shipments – Restaurants 

Direct 

Impacts

Indirect 

Impacts

Induced 

Impacts 

Total 

Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 5.18 0.49 4.27 9.95

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 2.95 1.35 12.88 17.18

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 181.58 10.99 111.60 304.16

Impacts of Aquaculture Salmon Shipments – All Sectors 

Direct 

Impacts

Indirect 

Impacts

Induced 

Impacts 

Total 

Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 9.67 1.74 8.20 19.62

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 8.29 5.68 24.71 38.67

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 276.16 43.20 214.32 533.68
Chapter 7: The Potential Economic Ramifications of Offshore Aquaculture 

156 

Table 7.13. Basic production and cost requirements, winter flounder. 

Parameter Description Unit Baseline 

Value 

High-end 

Value 

V cage volume per cohort m3

 5,000 5,000

acq cage purchase cost $/m3

 15.00 25

inst cage mooring and 

installation cost a

$/m3

 3.00 3.00

cm cage operating and 

maintenance cost b

$/m3/year 1.00 6

stock number of fingerlings 

stocked per cohort 

1,000 fish 130 130

Sg stocking weight gram/fish 500 500 

φ ratio of water weight to 

fingerling weight during 

transport to farm 

 5 5

Sp fingerling cost $/fish 2.00 2.00

Sp feed cost $/kg 0.65 0.73

bfix vessel fixed cost $/year 20,000 30,000

bvar vessel variable and crew 

cost c

$day 3,000 3,000

ld vessel payload MT 30 30

trip round trips per day 3 3

sh on shore cost d $/year 40,000 70,000

ins insurance cost e $/year 10,000 60,000

fmv feed management variable 

cost 

$/cohort/month 0 33.32

scf solid control BMP plan 

fixed cost 

$/farm 0 1615.20

scv solid control BMP plan 

variable cost 

$/month 0 21.15

dcf drug and chemical control 

BMP plan fixed cost 

$/farm 0 1615.20

dcv drug and chemical control 

BMP plan variable cost 

$/month 0 21.15

aff active feed monitoring 

fixed cost 

$/farm 0 10,000

afv active feed monitoring 

fixed cost 

$/cohort/month 0 33.32

δ annual discount rate 0.07 0.07

Notes: 

a. Including feeder and other equipments 

b. Including fuel, utilities, diving, repair, etc. 

c. Including 4 crews (average $25/hour) 

d. Including salaries for 1 manager and 2 office staff 

e. Insurance covers fish and other capital 
Chapter 7: The Potential Economic Ramifications of Offshore Aquaculture 

157 

Table 7.14. Estimated net present value, investment, harvest, and cost, winter flounder. 

Output 

Variable 

Description Unit Baseline 

Value 

High-end 

Value 

NPV 

net present value $ million 1.234 -0.303

I investment $ million 0.175 0.286

x(T) average fish harvest* metric ton/month 125 125

n(T) average number of fish 

harvested* 

fish/month 121,791 121,791

w(T) average harvest fish size kg 1.03 1.03

12⋅E[fq(t)] average feed quantity metric ton/year 175 175

 

Project Cost total cost $ million 7.307 8.844

 

cage installation % 2.4 3.2

cage maintenance % 1.2 6.3

boat and crew % 9.0 8.5

fingerlings % 66.7 55.1

feed % 14.3 13.3

onshore and other % 6.3 13.6

Cost Share 

total % 100 100

Note: * There are only two cohorts in a year (harvested in Nov. and Dec., respectively). Average annual harvest is 

the monthly figure times two. 

Summary and Conclusions 

Despite apparent evidence that offshore aquaculture is not only economically feasible but 

also capable of generating substantial contributions to the U.S. economy, there remain many 

obstacles which may hinder its development and adoption. In this study, it was demonstrated 

that production of five species popular with U.S. consumers is economically feasible, provided 

certain conditions prevailed. Foremost among these conditions is that prices received will hold 

at certain levels. Given the increasing level of imports, it is quite possible that prices received 

for the primary products will decrease. Also, if resource conditions do improve in the future, the 

landings of wild-caught cod and winter flounder would likely expand. The sea scallop resource 

is already at a high level of biomass. In addition, all of the species can be produced near-shore 

as opposed to offshore, and there are likely to be cost savings for inshore or near-shore 

operations. 

There remain many other concerns which may limit the development of offshore 

aquaculture outlined in other chapters in this report. There are potential uncertainties about 

obtaining loans, which will be necessary for satisfying up front investment costs. In all 

instances, these investment costs are quite high and will likely deter individuals or firms from 

investing in offshore aquaculture. There is considerable uncertainty about what constitutes best 

management practices (BMPs) for various operations. Present analysis does, however, support 

the development of offshore aquaculture in waters within 25 nautical miles of shore. Finally, it 
Chapter 7: The Potential Economic Ramifications of Offshore Aquaculture 

158 

is concluded that operations farther offshore will require larger projects, or farms, and higher 

levels of investment. 

Table 7.15. Economic contributions of flounder operation, $8.1 million in annual sales. 

Impacts of Aquaculture Winter Flounder Offshore Shipments – Producers 

Direct 

Impacts

Indirect 

Impacts 

Induced 

Impacts 

Total 

Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 5.34 3.50 5.20 14.03

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 13.20 11.37 15.60 40.17

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 219.29 80.04 136.10 435.44

Impacts of Aquaculture Winter Flounder Offshore Shipments – Wholesalers 

Direct 

Impacts

Indirect 

Impacts 

Induced 

Impacts 

Total 

Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.61 0.11 0.49 1.21

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.69 0.33 1.47 2.48

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 11.46 2.42 12.73 26.61

Impacts of Aquaculture Winter Flounder Offshore Shipments – Grocers 

Direct 

Impacts

Indirect 

Impacts 

Induced 

Impacts 

Total 

Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 1.00 0.09 0.81 1.89

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 0.62 0.24 2.42 3.29

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 35.41 1.86 21.02 58.30

Impacts of Aquaculture Winter Flounder Offshore Shipments – Restaurants 

Direct 

Impacts

Indirect 

Impacts 

Induced 

Impacts 

Total 

Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 10.81 1.03 8.92 20.75

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 6.16 2.81 26.86 35.83

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 378.70 22.92 232.75 634.37

Impacts of Aquaculture Winter Flounder Offshore Shipments – All Sectors 

Direct 

Impacts

Indirect 

Impacts 

Induced 

Impacts 

Total 

Impacts 

 Labor Income Impacts (millions of dollars) 17.76 4.72 15.40 37.89

 Output Impacts (millions of dollars) 20.67 14.76 46.35 81.78

 Employment Impacts (full-time and part-time jobs) 644.87 107.24 402.61 1154.72
Chapter 7: The Potential Economic Ramifications of Offshore Aquaculture 

159 

References 

Kirkley, J., J. Duberg, and J. Ward. (2005). A User’s Guide to the U.S. National Offshore 

Aquaculture Model for Assessing Economic Impacts, prepared for NOAA Fisheries. 

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 1996. Fisheries of the United States 1995. U.S. 

Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine 

Fisheries Service, Office of Science and Technology, Fisheries Statistics Division. 

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 1997. Fisheries of the United States 1996. U.S. 

Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine 

Fisheries Service, Office of Science and Technology, Fisheries Statistics Division. 

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 2007. Fisheries of the United States 2005. U.S. 

Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine 

Fisheries Service, Office of Science and Technology, Fisheries Statistics Division. 
160 

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161 

CHAPTER 8 

Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

Gunnar Knapp 

In this chapter, we discuss two types of potential economic impacts of U.S. offshore aquaculture: 

• Employment and Income Impacts: Potential employment and income which might be 

created, directly and indirectly, from U.S. offshore aquaculture. 

• Market-Driven Impacts: Potential impacts of U.S. offshore aquaculture on prices and 

production volumes of U.S. wild and farmed fish, and market-driven changes in net 

economic benefits to U.S. fishermen, fish farmers and consumers. 

Our focus is on describing the general nature of these types of economic impacts, and the 

factors that may affect their potential magnitude.1

Challenges in Assessing Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture

There are several major challenges in assessing potential economic impacts of United 

States offshore aquaculture, which are similar to the challenges in assessing economic potential 

for U.S. offshore aquaculture which we noted in Chapter 2. 

First, potential United States offshore aquaculture is very diverse. The United States has 

a very large exclusive economic zone with waters ranging from arctic to tropical. There are 

many different species which could be farmed in the U.S. EEZ, using many different types of 

technologies. The economic impacts of offshore aquaculture may vary widely for different 

regions, species, and technologies. 

Second, the economic impacts of United States offshore aquaculture will depend on how 

it is regulated. Regulations for offshore aquaculture will directly affect what technologies may 

be used, where aquaculture might develop, what species might be farmed, the scale of potential 

projects, how long it takes for projects to be permitted and developed, costs of taxation, costs of 

environmental monitoring, the extent of local hire and control, and so forth. Thus part of the 

answer to the question to “what kind of economic impacts will offshore aquaculture have?” 

depends on the answer to the question “what kind of economic impacts do we want offshore 

aquaculture to have?” 

A third challenge is that the U.S. offshore aquaculture industry is still in its infancy. 

Although we can speculate about what future U.S. offshore aquaculture may look like, we do not 

yet know what technologies may evolve, which species and regions will have the most economic 

 

1

 Note that this chapter does not address economic impacts associated with potential environmental “externalities” of 

offshore aquaculture, which are addressed in other chapters of this report. Note also that the discussion of economic 

impacts in this chapter should be distinguished from cost-benefit analysis, or formal comparison of costs and 

benefits of offshore aquaculture. 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

162 

potential, what inputs the evolving U.S. offshore aquaculture industry may purchase, what the 

markets for its products will be, or what prices those products may command. 

Perhaps most importantly we do not know what the scale of future U.S. offshore 

aquaculture may be, or how fast it will grow to achieve that scale. Most (although not all) 

economic impacts of offshore aquaculture would be roughly proportional to the scale of 

production. Depending on the scale of production, the economic impacts of offshore aquaculture 

could be very small—or very large. 

Employment and Income Impacts of Offshore Aquaculture 

Figure 8.1 provides a simple categorization of industries associated with fish farming—

those industries which depend in some way on fish farming. We may group these industries into 

six categories: 

Figure 8.1. Industries associated with fish farming. 

Fish Farms

Industries supplying 

“downstream” industries:

Examples:

Packaging 

Truck manufacture

Utilities

Industries supplying

“upstream” industries:

Examples:

Agriculture

Commercial fishing

Electronics parts

Industries supported 

by household 

spending

of income earned in 

other industries 

associated with fish 

farming

Food

Housing

Entertainment

Clothing

Etc. Downstream” industries 

supplied by fish farms

Processing

Transportation

Wholesaling

Retail

Food Service

“Upstream” industries 

supplying fish farms

Hatcheries

Feed manufacturing

Cage manufacturing

Equipment manufacturing

Veterinary services

Arrows 

indicate 

direction of 

spending 

flows

• Fish farms. These are aquaculture operations growing fish or shellfish. 

• “Upstream industries” supplying fish farms. These are industries from which the fish 

farms purchase direct inputs. Among the industries which account for the greatest share 

of fish farm purchases are hatcheries, feed manufacturing, and cage and equipment 

manufacturing. 

• “Downstream” industries supplied by fish farms. These are industries in the distribution 

chain from fish farms to consumers, including processing, transportation, wholesaling, 

retail and food service. 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

163 

• Industries supplying upstream industries. These are industries from which the 

“upstream” industries purchase inputs. For example, the feed manufacturing industry 

purchases raw material for making fish feed from both the agriculture and the 

commercial fishing industries. 

• Industries supplying downstream industries. These are industries from which the 

“downstream industries purchase inputs. For example, the processing industry purchases 

boxes from the packaging industry. 

• Industries supported by household spending. These are industries throughout the entire 

economy that are supported by spending of household income earned in the other 

industries. 

Clearly the nature and degree of association with fish farming varies widely among these 

different categories of industries. There are only a few industries which would disappear entirely 

without fish farming, such as cage manufacture. However, there are many industries, across 

many sectors of the economy—which benefit in some way from fish farming. 

Figure 8.1 helps to illustrate two simple but important points. First, the economic 

impacts of fish farming are larger—potentially much larger—than those which occur at fish 

farms. We cannot count the employment created by aquaculture simply by adding up the jobs at 

aquaculture companies. 

Second, the economic impacts of fish farming are spread over a far greater geographic 

area than the communities where fish farms are located or from which they are supported. While 

the hatchery supplying a fish farm may be located relatively near the farm, the company 

manufacturing the cage or the restaurant selling the fish may be located thousands of miles away. 

One indicator of the relative significance of “upstream industries” in aquaculture 

production is the share of purchased product inputs in gross output value. As shown in Table 8.2, 

purchased inputs accounted for 69% of total gross output value of Canadian aquaculture in 2005, 

and feed purchases alone accounted for 31%. The shares of different inputs varied between 

provinces, reflecting different mixes of species in total production. 

Viewed in a different way, gross value added in Canadian aquaculture was only 31% of 

gross output in 2005. Thus more than two-thirds of gross output value was generated in other 

“upstream” industries. 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

164 

Table 8.1. Estimated share of selected expenditures in gross output value of Canadian 

aquaculture, by province, in 2005. 

Newfoundland

Prince 

Edward 

Island

Nova 

Scotia

New 

Brunswick Quebec Ontario

British 

Columbia

CANADA 

TOTAL

Purchased product inputs 59% 24% 47% 75% 40% 43% 74% 69%

Feed 28% 24% 29% 24% 38% 31%

Eggs and fish for growout 7% 8% 7% 10% 2% 5% 3% 6%

Processing services 4% 2% 0% 4% 0% 10% 6%

Goods transportation & storage 4% 1% 2% 2% 1% 1% 7% 4%

Energy 2% 2% 2% 1% 8% 3% 2% 2%

Maintenance & repairs 2% 3% 1% 3% 1% 3% 3%

Insurance premiums 0% 1% 2% 1% 0% 2% 2%

Rental & leasing expenseses 1% 2% 0% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%

Professional services 2% 1% 1% 1% 2% 1% 1% 1%

Therapeutants 2% 1% 2% 2%

Gross value added (factor cost) 33% 76% 53% 25% 59% 57% 27% 31%

Salaries & wages 11% 37% 17% 12% 19% 17% 11% 13%

Finfish share of production volume 61% 0% 64% 94% 25% 100% 87% 75%

Source: Calculated from value-added account data in Statistics Canada, Aquaculture Statistics 2005 , Catalogue no. 23-222-XIE. Estimates 

were based on taxation data and a sample of 148 establishments. Blank cells indicate estimates were not available. 

Estimating Total Employment and Income Impacts of Fish Farming 

Adding up how many people work on fish farms and what they earn is a relatively 

straightforward process. Speculating about how many people might work on future offshore fish 

farms is also relatively straightforward (although highly uncertain given uncertainty about the 

future scale and characteristics of the industry). It is far less straightforward to measure the full 

economic impacts, across all industries, of existing fish farms--or to project the potential full 

economic impacts of future fish farms. 

The standard technique for estimating economic impacts of an industry is input-output 

analysis, which calculates economic impacts using assumptions about inter-industry purchases 

per dollar of output of an industry. These are then used to caculate three types of economic 

impacts: “direct,” “indirect,” and “induced.” Applied to fish farming, “direct impacts” are those 

occurring within the fish farming industry; “indirect” impacts are those driven by purchases of 

the fish farming industry from other industries, and “induced impacts” are those driven by 

household spending of income created by direct and indirect impacts. . Each of these types of 

impacts is typically measured in three ways: annual average employment, wage and salary 

income, and sales or “output.” 

Input-Output analysis typically measures only the impacts of an industry and its 

associated upstream activities. If we wish to measure the impacts of the “downstream” activities 

of processing and distributing farmed fish, we may apply the same approach to estimating the 

direct, indirect and induced impacts of these industries (net of those associated with fish 

production). 

A significant challenge for input-output analysis is that it requires extensive data on interindustry purchases. This is particularly a challenge for marine aquaculture, partly because it 

relies heavily on purchases from other industries, and partly because it is a relatively new 

industry for which relatively little data are available. 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

165 

Figure 8.2. Types of economic impacts of fish farming estimated by economic impact 

modeling. 

DIRECT IMPACTS OF

FISH FARMS

Fish Farms

INDIRECT IMPACTS OF

DOWNSTREAM INDUSTRIES

Industries supplying “downstream” industries

INDIRECT IMPACTS

OF FISH FARMS

“Upstream” industries supplying fish farms

Industries supplying “upstream” industries

INDUCED IMPACTS OF 

FISH FARMS

Industries supported by 

household spending

of income earned in fish 

farming and upstream 

industries

DIRECT IMPACTS OF DOWNSTREAM 

INDUSTRIES

Downstream” industries supplied by fish farms

INDUCED IMPACTS OF 

DOWNSTREAM 

INDUSTRIES

Industries supported by 

household spending

of income earned in 

“downstream” activities

The National Offshore Aquaculture Model is an input-output model which was 

developed for the specific purpose of estimating potential economic impacts of offshore 

aquaculture. Chapter 7 of this report uses this model to estimate economic impacts for 

hypothetical offshore farming operations for five different species. For each species, the model 

required specific assumptions about the scale of the operation and different kinds of expenditures 

such as farm installation costs, vessel maintenance, feed costs, etc. The model then calculates 

direct, indirect and induced impacts generated by the farming operation as well as “downstream” 

activities. 

Details of the model’s economic impact calculations are presented in Chapter 7. The 

purpose of our brief discussion here is to contrast the relative scales of different kinds of 

projected impacts, and of impacts from different kinds of farming. 

As shown in the first row of Table 8.2, the direct employment impacts of fish farming 

account for between only 11% and 19% of the projected total employment impacts of farming 

from all upstream and downstream activities as well as induced activity in the rest of the 

economy. As shown in the fourth row, the total impacts attributable to farming (as opposed to 

downstream activities) represent only 27% to 38% of total impacts. 

These estimates serve to emphasize the point made above: the potential total economic 

impacts of offshore fish farming are much larger than those which would occur at the farming 

operations alone—potentially five to ten times larger. Put differently, simply adding up jobs and 

wages at the farms would greatly underestimate the total economic impacts created by offshore 

farming. 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

166 

Table 8.2. Share of estimated employment impacts of potential offshore aquaculture 

operations. 

 

Blue 

mussel 

Sea 

scallop Cod 

Atlantic 

salmon 

Winter 

flounder 

Farming direct 11% 11% 15% 14% 19% 

Farming indirect 4% 1% 10% 6% 7% 

Farming induced 13% 16% 12% 16% 12% 

Farming total 27% 29% 36% 35% 38% 

Downstream direct 43% 43% 38% 38% 37% 

Downstream indirect 3% 2% 2% 2% 2% 

Downstream induced 26% 26% 24% 24% 23% 

Downstream total 73% 71% 64% 65% 62% 

Combined direct 53% 54% 52% 52% 56% 

Combined indirect 7% 4% 12% 8% 9% 

Combined induced 39% 42% 35% 40% 35% 

Combined total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 

Source: Full-time and part-time employment impacts estimated for different types of offshore 

aquaculture operations using the National Offshore Aquaculture Model, presented in Chapter 7. 

Note however that the total economic impacts depend on the extent to which offshore 

aquaculture would increase total U.S. fish consumption, as opposed to offsetting fish imports. If 

production from U.S. offshore aquaculture replaces an equivalent amount of imports, then some 

of the model’s projected downstream impacts--particularly those deriving from retail and food 

service--should be excluded, because these activities would occur regardless of whether future 

U.S. consumption is from U.S. farms or imported fish. 

Table 8.3 shows the model’s projections of employment impacts per thousand metric tons 

of annual production for each species.2

 The important point we wish to emphasize here is not the 

specific impacts projected for any particular species, but rather the fact that there is wide 

variation between species in the scale of potential economic impacts associated with a given 

production volume. This is to be expected, given the fact that technologies of fish farming vary 

widely depending upon what species is being farmed and how it is being farmed. 

Estimates of Fish Faming Employment 

Table 8.4 shows estimates of annual average employment in aquaculture per thousand 

metric tons of production, for various regions and species, from a number of different sources. 

The estimates are for inshore marine aquaculture and onshore aquaculture, which likely differ in 

their employment impacts from those of potential future U.S. offshore farms. The definitions of 

“employment” and the methodologies used to derive the estimates of employment vary 

considerably between sources. 

The employment estimates are only for direct employment in fish farming. As discussed 

above, total employment created by aquaculture in these regions, after accounting for indirect 

 

2

 Note that these projections depend upon the specific assumptions used in the model about the scale and technology 

of each farming operation. 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

167 

and induced upstream impacts of upstream and downstream activities, is likely much larger—

potentially five to ten times as great. 

Table 8.3. Estimated employment per thousand metric tons of annual production in 

potential offshore aquaculture operations. 

 

Blue 

mussel 

Sea 

scallop Cod 

Atlantic 

salmon 

Winter 

flounder 

Farming direct 11 155 70 36 146 

Farming indirect 4 18 47 15 53 

Farming induced 13 218 56 43 91 

Farming total 29 391 173 93 290 

Downstream direct 45 588 180 101 284 

Downstream indirect 3 32 12 6 18 

Downstream induced 28 360 113 63 178 

Downstream total 76 980 305 170 480 

Combined direct 56 743 250 136 430 

Combined indirect 7 50 58 21 71 

Combined induced 41 578 169 106 268 

Combined total 104 1370 477 263 770 

Source: Full-time and part-time employment impacts estimated for different types of offshore 

aquaculture operations using the National Offshore Aquaculture Model, presented in Chapter 7. 

The employment impacts associated with a given volume of aquaculture production vary 

widely depending upon the species, region, and technology and scale of production. In general, 

labor productivity is much higher in large-scale salmon farming, resulting in the creation of 

fewer direct farming jobs per thousand metric tons of production than smaller-scale farming of 

other species. 

Norwegian salmon and trout farming—probably the most labor-efficient large-scale 

aquaculture in the world—creates about 5 direct farming jobs per thousand metric tons of 

production. In contrast, aquaculture in general, reflecting smaller-scale production of a mix of 

finfish and shellfish species, tends to create between 20 and 50 direct farming jobs per thousand 

metric tons of production. 

Detailed cost and employment data compiled annually for the Norwegian aquaculture 

industry help to illustrate the basic point that the number of jobs created by fish farming depend 

upon scale, technology and economics. Between 1992 and 2003, Norwegian salmon and trout 

production more than quadrupled while total employment in Norwegian salmon and trout 

farming declined (Figure 8.3). As a result, employment per thousand metric tons of salmon and 

trout production fell from 24.4 to 5.7 (Figure 8.4)—reflecting a dramatic increase in labor 

productivity as the scale of the industry increased. 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

168 

Table 8.4. Selected estimates of aquaculture employment, various species and regions. 

Species Region Year 

Source 

& 

Notes 

Live weight 

(metric tons) 

Estimated 

employment 

Estimated 

employment

per thousand 

metric tons 

Newfoundland 8,163 200 25 

Prince Edward 

Island 18,921 620 33 

Nova Scotia 8,917 250 28 

New Brunswick 37,657 1,250 33 

Quebec 1,215 155 128 

Ontario 4,000 150 38 

British Columbia 73,195 1,275 17 

All aquaculture 

CANADA TOTAL 

2005 1 

152,068 3,900 26 

Austria 4,274 379 89 

Belgium 1,471 112 76 

Denmark 38,250 698 18 

Finland 16,365 809 49 

France 211,205 10,342 49 

Germany 59,069 3,193 54 

Greece 54,947 2,711 49 

Ireland 35,101 1,275 36 

Italy 211,919 4,923 23 

Netherlands 97,640 564 6 

Portugal 8,781 1,452 165 

Spain 233,693 7,851 34 

Sweden 6,523 480 74 

United Kingdom 128,525 2,705 21 

All aquaculture 

EU TOTAL 

1997 2 

1,107,763 54,029 49 

All aquaculture Europe 1998 3 1,315,000 57,000 43 

Salmon N. Brunswick 2000 4 29,100 1,683 58 

Salmon Maine 2002 5 6,695 240 36 

Salmon Scotland 1997 6 99,197 1,647 17 

Salmon Scotland 2002 7 143,000 1,552 11 

2000 488,839 3,631 7 Salmon & trout Norway 2005 

8 

645,387 3,054 5 

Species other 2000 1,439 400 278 

than salmon & 

trout 

Norway 2005 8 

11,507 606 53 

Catfish Mississippi 2001 7 172,789 3,000 17 

See following page for sources & 

notes. 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

169 

Table 8.4. (continued). 

(1) Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 2006. Canadian Aquaculture Industry, 2004-2005: Key Figures. www.dfompo.gc.ca/Aquaculture/ref/kf0405_e.htm.

(8) Statistics Norway. 2007. Fish Farming 2005. www.ssb.no/nos_fiskeoppdrett. Note: Includes employment in 

hatcheries.

Selected Estimates of Aquaculture Employment, Various Species and Regions: Sources & Notes

(2) MacAlister Elliott and Partners, Ltd. 1999. Forward Study of Community Aquaculture: Summary Report. 

Prepared for European Commission Fisheries Directorate General. Note: Species mix varies widely between EU 

countries. Employment estimates are for full-time-employment in production.

(6) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and The Scottish Office. 1998. The Economic Impact of Salmon Farming, Final 

Report. Prepared by Public and Corporate Economic Consultants (PACEC) and Stirling Aquaculture. 124 p. 

Employment is estimated FTE employment in smolt production and salmon production. The study estimated that 

additional FTE employment of 4777 is created in "processing, supplier & induced."

(7) Scottish Executive, 2004. Scottish Economic Report: March 2004. Scottish Salmon Farming. 

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/finance/ser04-16.asp. Note: Estimates are for FTE employment of 1552 in 

smolt and salmon farming. Additional FTE employment of 4728 for salmon farming, 1024 for farming suppliers, and 

520 for processing suppliers. 

(3) Commission of the European Communities. 2002. A Strategy for the Sustainable Development of European 

Aquaculture. Brussels 19.9.2002, COM(2002) 511 final. Note: Reported production volume is for 2000. Estimated 

1998 employment was "at least 80,000 full or part-time workers, equivalent to 57,000 full-time jobs" (page 4).

(4) Stewart, Len (Aquaculture Strategies, Inc.) 2001. Salmon Aquaculture in New Brunswick: Natural Development 

of Our Marine Heritage. Prepared for New Brunswick Salmon Growers Association Aquaculture Strategies. Note: 

Estimated person-years emplyment includes 157 in hatcheries, 624 in growout, 537 in processing, 240 in direct 

services, and 125 in "selling, administration & other." 77.3% of jobs were full-time, 9.6% were part-time, and 13.1% 

were seasonal." 

(5) O'Hara, Frank, Charles Lawton and Matthew York (Planning Decisions, Inc.). 2003. Economic Impact of 

Aquaculture in Maine . Prepared for the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center. Note: Includes employment at three 

companies producing 15 million pounds of salmon annually of "over 240 full-time workers" in "freshwater and ocean 

farming operations, processing plants, and administrative and sales positions."

(9) Hanson, Terrill, Stuart Dean, and Stan Spurlock. Economic Impact of the Farm-Raised Catfish Industry on the 

Mississippi State Economy. Department of Agricultural Economics, Mississippi State University. Note: Includes 

only employment in catfish production. Additional employment of 3671 was reported in catfish processing. 

Production of 172,789 metric tons is volume of catfish processed in Mississippi.

General notes: To the extent possible, employment data are estimates of full-time-equivalent employment in fish 

farming (excluding upstream or downstream impacts, including processing). The kind of employment data collected 

and/or estimated varies between studies. See notes for individual sources for additional details.
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

170 

Figure 8.3. Norwegian salmon and trout aquaculture: total production and total 

employment. 

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

5,000

19921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005

Calculated from data in Statistics Norway, Fish Farming 2005

employment per thousand metric tons

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

Production

production (metric tons)

Employment

Figure 8.4. Norwegian salmon and trout aquaculture: employment per thousand metric 

tons of production. 

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

19921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005

Calculated from data in Statistics Norway, Fish Farming 2005

Employment per thousand metric tons

Norwegian aquaculture data also help to illustrate that even farming of the same species 

in the same country may have different job impacts in different locations—likely reflecting 

differences in industry scale. As shown in Figure 8.5, there were significant differences between 

Norwegian counties in the employment per thousand metric tons of production in 2003. 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

171 

Figure 8.5. Norwegian salmon and trout aquaculture: Employment per thousand metric 

tons of production, by county. 

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 70,000 80,000 90,000 100,000

Total production (thousand metric tons)

Calculated from data in Statistics Norway, Fish Farming 2003

Employment per thousand metric tons

Note: each point represents a different 

Norwegian county in 2003. The horizonal 

axis shows total farmed salmon & trout 

production in the county, and the vertical 

axis shows employment per thousand 

metric tons of production.

In general, because of the more difficult working conditions offshore, and the higher cost 

of transporting workers to offshore facilities, offshore fish farms are likely to be more 

mechanized and have fewer people working on the farm sites per metric ton of production than 

inshore farms growing the same species. Put differently, where it is possible to replace offshore 

workers with machines, offshore farm operators are likely to try to do so. This effect will be 

amplified to the extent that offshore farms are larger scale than inshore farms.3

However, some parts of offshore fish farming operations may employ more labor than 

inshore operations producing comparable species and volumes. For example, because of longer 

distances from shore facilities to farms, offshore farms may create relatively more jobs in 

transporting fish, feed, equipment and people to and from farms.4

Potential Total Employment Created by U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

Clearly the employment created by U.S. offshore aquaculture would depend upon the 

volume of offshore aquaculture production, the mix of species which are farmed, and the scale 

and technology of individual farming operations. However, given observed levels of 

employment in existing aquaculture, is possible to make reasonable estimates about the potential 

scale of total U.S. employment which might be created by U.S. offshore aquaculture. 

 

3

 As discussed in other chapters, not all offshore farming operations would necessarily be large-scale or capital 

intensive. 

4

 Note, however, that locating a farm farther offshore does not necessarily imply a greater transportation distance 

from shore facilities. Depending on terrain and infrastructure development, the distance from a shore facility 

straight out to an offshore farm may be shorter than the distance along the coast to a suitable inshore farming site. 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

172 

Table 8.5. Potential employment created by U.S. offshore aquaculture implied by different 

combinations of assumptions. 

Assumed Annual Offshore Production 

(metric tons) 

 

Assumed direct 

farming 

employment per 

thousand metric 

tons 50,000 100,000 500,000 

5 250 500 2,500 

20 1,000 2,000 10,000 

Direct farming 

employment 

only 50 2,500 5,000 25,000 

5 500 1,000 5,000 

20 2,000 4,000 20,000 

Assuming 2 

total jobs per 

direct farming 

job 50 5,000 10,000 50,000 

5 1,250 2,500 12,500 

20 5,000 10,000 50,000 

Assuming 5 

total jobs per 

direct farming 

job 50 12,500 25,000 125,000 

5 2,500 5,000 25,000 

20 10,000 20,000 100,000 

Assuming 10 

total jobs per 

direct farming 

job 50 25,000 50,000 250,000 

Note: Relatively more likely combinations of assumptions are shown in bold. 

Table 8.5 shows the potential total employment implied by different combinations of 

three assumptions: 

• Total annual production. The table shows implications of annual production from 50,000 

to 500,000 metric tons. 

• Direct farming employment per thousand metric tons. The table shows implications of 

direct employment ranging from 5 jobs per thousand metric tons (large-scale highly 

efficient Norwegian salmon and trout farming) to 50 jobs per thousand metric tons 

(averages across all aquaculture in some regions). 

• Ratio of total employment to direct farming employment. The table shows implications 

of between 2 and 10 total jobs per direct farming jobs. Note that the lower assumption 

would exclude “downstream” employment created in transportation, wholesaling, retail 

and food service, on the assumption that in the absence of U.S. offshore aquaculture these 

jobs would be created by fish imports. 

As can be seen in the table, these different assumptions imply a very wide range of 

potential total employment. However, we may make some reasonable inferences about the 

relative likelihood of different combinations of assumptions. First, employment would grow 

over time as the scale of total production increases. Thus the estimates in the left-hand column 

are more likely to represent employment created over the first ten years, while estimates in the 

right hand column become more likely over a longer period. 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

173 

Second, as the total volume of offshore aquaculture production increases it is likely that 

labor efficiency would increase, resulting in fewer (perhaps 5-20) direct farming jobs per 

thousand metric tons of production. 

Third, as the total volume of offshore aquaculture production increases it is increasingly 

likely that U.S. offshore production would be displacing imports rather than increasing U.S. 

consumption. Thus the total net increase in jobs created per direct farming jobs might tend to 

decline as the scale of production increases. 

Given this reasoning, the figures shown in bold in the table represent relatively more 

likely combinations of assumptions. In general, it seems reasonable to conclude that if the 

United States produced 500,000 metric tons of fish annually in offshore aquaculture, this would 

increase total U.S. employment by between 5,000 and 50,000 jobs. 

Comparing Employment in Wild Fisheries and Aquaculture 

Table 8.6 provides similar estimates of average annual employment per thousand metric 

tons in several wild fisheries. As in aquaculture, there is wide variation between species in how 

much employment is created in harvesting a given volume of fish. For any given species, 

employment created in by fish harvesting also varies from year to year, reflecting differences in 

total harvest volumes. In general, the ranges of average annual employment per thousand metric 

tons in these wild fisheries are comparable to those for aquaculture shown in Table 8.4. 

An important difference between aquaculture and wild fisheries is that employment in 

wild fisheries is more seasonal. For example, peak monthly employment in Alaska salmon 

fisheries, which occur primarily in the summer, is more than four times as high as average annual 

employment. This means that wild fisheries tend to provide jobs for relatively more workers, 

working relatively less of the year, to produce a given volume of fish. 

In comparing wild fisheries and aquaculture, such as comparing the employment 

estimates in Tables 8.6 and 8.4, it is important to keep in mind that the policy choice faced by the 

United States is not between harvesting fish in wild fisheries or growing fish in farms. With 

most United States wild fisheries fully exploited, is not an option for the United States to 

produce significantly more fish in wild fisheries. Rather, the policy choice is how much fish the 

United States will grow in fish farms. Even if commercial fishing tended to employ far more 

workers than aquaculture—which available data suggest is not the case—we would not have the 

option of creating more jobs by increasing commercial fish harvests. In contrast, aquaculture 

does provide an opportunity to create more jobs in fish production. 

What Kinds of Jobs Will Offshore Aquaculture Create? 

On average, the jobs created in offshore aquaculture are likely to be higher-skilled and 

higher-paying than the jobs in onshore and inshore aquaculture for similar species. These jobs 

will include, for example, operation and maintenance of vessels and remote monitoring and 

feeding facilities and fish nutrition and fish health specialists. 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

174 

Table 8.6. Estimated average annual employment per thousand metric tons of harvest, 

selected wild fisheries.

Area Species Year 

Harvest 

(thousands of 

metric tons) 

Estimated 

average annual 

employment 

Estimated 

employment 

per thousand 

metric tons 

Ratio, 

maximum to 

average annual 

employment 

2000 322 4,295 13 4.5 

2001 349 3,761 11 4.5 

2002 282 3,073 11 4.4 

2003 333 3,424 10 4.4 

2004 363 3,526 10 4.4 

Alaska Salmon 

2005 434 3,817 9 4.3 

2000 33 1,413 43 1.9 

2001 34 1,383 41 1.8 

2002 35 1,356 38 2.0 

2003 35 1,327 38 1.9 

2004 35 1,279 37 1.9 

Alaska Halibut 

2005 34 1,132 34 2.1 

2000 16 453 28 2.3 

2001 14 466 33 2.0 

2002 15 437 30 2.1 

2003 16 463 29 1.8 

2004 18 450 25 2.0 

Alaska Sablefish 

2005 17 449 27 2.0 

British 2000 146 4600 32 N/A 

Columbia 

All 

species 2001 192 5400 28 N/A 

Sources: Alaska employment data : Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Research 

and Analysis Division (almis.labor.state.ak.us). Alaska salmon harvests: Alaska Commercial Fisheries 

Entry Commission (www.cfec.state.ak.us). Alaska sablefish and halibut harvests: National Marine 

Fisheries Service, Annual Commercial Landings Statistics 

(http://www.st.nmfs.gov/st1/commercial/landings/annual_landings.html). British Columbia harvests: 

Ministry of Agriculture and Lands (http://www.al.gov.bc.ca/fish_stats/statistics.htm); British Columbia 

employment: British Columbia Ministry of Management Services, British Columbia's Fisheries & 

Aquaculture Sector, September 2002. 

As with other higher-skilled and higher paying jobs, not all of the new jobs created by 

U.S. offshore aquaculture will necessarily be taken by current residents of those communities 

nearest offshore aquaculture facilities. The industry is likely to seek the most qualified 

employees it can find from a broader regional or national pool of workers with the requisite skills. 

However, local communities may be able to influence local hiring through training programs or 

tax incentives. Local training or hiring requirements could potentially be incorporated in 

enabling regulations for offshore aquaculture. 

Commercial fishermen would be well-skilled for and could potentially work in many of 

the jobs that might be created by offshore aquaculture, particularly those that involve vessel 

operations, maintenance of offshore operations, and transportation of fish. However, some (but 

not all) kinds of offshore aquaculture—particularly large-scale corporate farms--may involve a 

very different working environment than the small-scale, family owned business that 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

175 

characterize much (but not all) of the United States commercial fishing industry. Jobs in 

offshore aquaculture are likely to have similar advantages (stable year-round employment, 

health-care benefits, opportunities for training and advancement) and disadvantages (non-local 

ownership and management, company bureaucracy) typically associated with larger companies 

operating in remote areas. Some but not all fishermen and other coastal community residents 

would welcome these job opportunities. 

In considering the types of jobs created by offshore aquaculture, it is important to keep in 

mind the point--emphasized earlier in this chapter--that most of these jobs will not be working on 

offshore farms or working for offshore aquaculture companies. Rather, most of the jobs will be 

in a wide variety of upstream and downstream activities ranging from hatcheries, feed 

manufacturing, fish processing and distribution (more obvious examples) to soybean farming. 

Market-Driven Impacts of Offshore Aquaculture 

We next review potential “market-driven impacts” of U.S. offshore aquaculture on prices 

and production volumes of U.S. wild and farmed fish, how these might affect net economic 

benefits of fishing and aquaculture to U.S. fishermen, fish farmers and consumers. 

Clearly, aquaculture can have dramatic impacts on markets for wild fisheries. As we 

discuss in more detail below, prices paid to United States wild salmon fishermen and processors 

fell dramatically as world farmed salmon production expanded during the 1990s--causing 

significant economic difficulties for Alaska salmon fishermen, processors and fishing 

communities (Knapp et al, 2007). U.S. shrimp fishermen have experienced similar effects of 

competition from farmed fish. 

Given this experience, it is not surprising that many commercial fishermen oppose fish 

farming. But the public policy considerations relevant to market-driven impacts of U.S. offshore 

aquaculture go beyond how competition from farmed fish affects prices of wild fish. They also 

include the benefits to consumers of lower fish prices, the long-term impacts of aquaculture on 

demand for fish (including wild fish), and the benefits to wild fisheries and consumers deriving 

from changes in wild fisheries driven by competition. Perhaps most importantly, they include 

the fact that aquaculture production will continue to expand globally—and most market driven 

impacts of aquaculture will occur—regardless of whether the United States rejects or embraces 

offshore aquaculture. 

Theoretical Framework for Analysis of Market-Driven Impacts 

Basic supply and demand analysis provides a useful theoretical framework for thinking 

about how aquaculture may affect prices and net benefits to fishermen, fish farmers, and 

consumers. Below we first discuss potential short-run effects resulting from the effects of 

aquaculture on fish supply. We then discuss potential longer-run effects resulting from the 

effects of aquaculture on fish demand. Finally, we discuss the relative extent to which these 

effects are experienced by U.S. or foreign groups, and the extent to which U.S. aquaculture 

policy is able to influence the effects of aquaculture on prices and benefits to different groups. 

Our discussion applies to the effects of all aquaculture, not just to offshore aquaculture. 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

176 

Short-Run Market-Driven Impacts of Aquaculture

Suppose that prior to the development of aquaculture all fish supply is from a wild 

fishery. The supply curve for fish shows the total volume of fish offered for sale at any given 

price (Figure 8.6). The supply curve is initially upward sloping, and becomes vertical at the 

maximum annual quantity available from the wild fishery (which we assume is limited by 

regulation).5

The intersection of the wild supply curve with the demand curve determines the 

equilibrium price P1 and the equilibrium quantity sold Q2. At this price, the area of the graph 

labeled A shows “consumer surplus,” or the difference between what consumers would have 

been willing to pay for fish (as shown by the demand curve) minus the price P1 that they actually 

pay. Together, areas B and C show “producer surplus,” or the difference between the price 

received by wild fish producers and the price for which they would have been willing to supply 

the fish. 

Consumer surplus is a measure of net benefits to consumers from the fishery. Producer 

surplus is a measure of net benefits to fishermen from the fishery. Total benefits to society from 

the fishery are represented by areas A + B + C. 

Figure 8.6. Supply and demand curves for fish. 

A

D

C

B

E

Wild 

supply 

curve Total wild 

and farmed 

supply 

curve

Demand 

curve

P1

P2

Q1 Q2 Quantity of fish 

supplied & consumed

Price 

of 

fish

Now suppose that aquaculture provides a new source of fish supply.6

 The effect of the 

development of aquaculture is to shift the supply curve to the right, to the new “total wild and 

farmed supply curve.” This new total supply curve is the horizontal sum of the wild supply 

curve and an upward sloping farmed supply curve (which is not shown in the graph). 

 

5

 To simplify the discussion we assume that prices do not affect fish supply by affecting fish stocks, which can result 

in a backward-bending supply curve such as that depicted for an equilibrium common-property fishery in Chapter 8. 6

 To simplify the discussion we assume initially that wild fish and farmed fish are identical products and sell for the 

same price. 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

177 

As supply shifts from the old “wild supply curve” to the new “total wild and farmed 

supply curve,”, the equilibrium price falls from P1 to P2, and the equilibrium quantity supplied 

and consumed increases from Q1 to Q2. At the new lower price there is a slight decline in the 

volume of wild fish supplied. 

At the new equilibrium, consumer surplus is now represented by the sum of areas A, B 

and D, while producer surplus is now represented by the sum of areas C and E. 

How are different groups been affected by the introduction of aquaculture in the short 

run? 

• Fishermen are harmed. Their producer surplus declines from areas B + C to only area C, 

or by an amount represented by area B. 

• Fish farmers benefit. They earn producer surplus represented by area E. 

• Consumers benefit. Their consumer surplus increases from area A to areas A + B + C. 

Total benefits to society increase from areas A + B + C to areas A + B + C + D + E. 

Areas D + E represent an increase in net benefits to society from aquaculture, which are 

respectively the consumer surplus and producer surplus from aquaculture. However, there is a 

redistribution of the benefits of the wild fishery from fishermen to consumers by an amount 

represented by area B. Put simply, in the short run, if aquaculture depresses the price of wild 

fish, fishermen lose and consumers gain by an equivalent total amount. Note that the relative 

scale of these effects on fishermen, consumers and fish farmers depend upon the assumptions we 

make about the shape of the supply and demand curves. 

Because there are far fewer fishermen than consumers, the effects upon individual 

fishermen are far greater than the effects on individual consumers. As the price falls, an 

individual fisherman may see a very large drop in his income. An individual consumer will 

experience a correspondingly large drop in the price of the fish she buys--but this will not be 

anywhere as significant for her overall welfare as the loss of income is for the fisherman. 

Long-Run Market-Driven Impacts of Aquaculture

The preceding analysis assumes that the demand for fish is unchanged by the introduction 

of aquaculture. However, over time introducing new supply from aquaculture is likely to 

increase demand for fish, shifting the demand curve out. 

There are several reasons for which new supply from aquaculture is likely to increase fish 

demand over time. First, at any given time, demand for fish reflects consumers’ tastes and 

preferences, which in turn reflect their past consumption experiences. If a particular fish species 

is expensive, consumers who have not eaten it in the past are less likely to buy it in a store or 

order it in a restaurant. However, if the price falls and consumption increases (as depicted by the 

increase in consumption from Q1 to Q2 in Figure 8.6), new consumers may try the fish. If they 

enjoy eating it and develop a taste for it, over time they may be willing to pay a higher price for 

it than they would have previously. 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

178 

Second, consumer demand for fish is limited by its availability in stores and restaurants. 

Even if consumers like a fish and are willing to pay a high price for it, they won’t buy it if it is 

not in their local stores or on their local menus. As aquaculture supply expands, fish are offered 

for sale in more geographic locations, at more kinds of stores and restaurants, and at more times 

of the year—thus increasing the total demand at any given price. 

Third, fish farmers engage in marketing in a systematic effort to increase demand. They 

recognize that their economic success depends critically on growing the market for their products. 

Marketing by fish farmers is not just advertising to consumers. Rather, it is a systematic 

approach to understanding and responding to the needs of both consumers and store and 

restaurant buyers, reflected in (for example) product forms, quality standards, packaging, and 

timing and volume of fish deliveries, long-term contracts, supply guarantees, payment terms, etc. 

Without competition from aquaculture, fishermen have far less incentive to engage in marketing, 

particularly when prices are high, because they are limited by nature in the volume of fish that 

they can supply. 

Figure 8.7 illustrates potential effects of an increase in fish demand due to aquaculture. 

The equilibrium price increases from P2 to P3, and the quantity of fish supplied and consumed 

increases from Q2 to Q3. 

Figure 8.7. Potential effects of increased fish demand due to aquaculture. 

A

D**

C

B**

E

Wild 

supply 

curve Total wild 

and farmed 

supply 

curve

Original 

demand 

curve

P1

P2

Q1 Q2 Quantity of fish 

supplied & consumed

Price 

of 

fish

P3

Q3

B* D*

F

G

H

New 

demand 

curve

How does an increase in fish demand affect how different groups are affected by the 

introduction of aquaculture? 

• Fishermen are not harmed as much. Their producer surplus declines by an amount 

represented by area B*, rather than by the combined areas B* + B**. 

• Fish farmers benefit more. Their producer surplus increases by an amount represented by 

the combined areas E + D** + F, rather than by only area B. 

• Some consumers lose but others benefit. As the price rises from P2 to P3, those 

consumers whose demand was represented by the original demand curve experience a 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

179 

loss of consumer surplus represented by areas B** + D**. However, new consumers (as 

well as former consumers who enjoy fish more) experience an increase in consumer 

surplus represented by areas H + G. 

Higher demand increases total benefits to society by an amount represented by areas H 

+G + F, which includes both new consumer surplus (areas H + G) as well as new producer 

surplus for fish farmers (area F). Higher demand also reduces the extent to which aquaculture 

results in a shift of net benefits from fishermen to consumers. Note that if aquaculture results in 

a sufficiently great increase in demand, there may be no long-term effect on the price and 

fishermen may not be harmed at all. 

Another potential change in demand over time may be a differentiation in consumer 

demand between wild and farmed fish. Some consumers may perceive wild fish as superior to 

farmed fish, and be willing to pay a higher “premium” price for wild fish than for farmed fish. 

To the extent that such a wild demand “premium” emerges, it would further mitigate the longterm effects of aquaculture on wild fishermen. 

Market-Driven Impacts of Aquaculture on Americans

The preceding analysis has considered the effects of aquaculture on fishermen, fish 

farmers and consumers without regard to the question of whether these groups are American or 

foreign. Suppose however that fish are traded freely, and we are interested in how aquaculture 

may specifically affect American fishermen, fish farmers, and fish consumers, and overall net 

benefits to Americans. 

Consider first, for purposes of illustration, the eight “either/or” scenarios, shown in Table 

8.7, in which fishermen, fish farmers, and consumers are either all Americans or all foreigners. 

Fishermen stand to “lose” from aquaculture (due to lower prices) while fish farmers and 

consumers stand to gain.7 

The economic effects of fish farming on Americans clearly depend on whether fishermen, 

fish farmers, and consumers are Americans: 

• Scenarios 1-3: If no American fishermen are catching a particular fish species , then 

aquaculture clearly benefits Americans, by providing economic opportunity for American 

fish farmers, reducing prices and expanding supply for American consumers, or both. 

• Scenario 4: If fishermen, fish farmers and consumers are all Americans, aquaculture 

increases net benefits to Americans by providing economic opportunities to American 

fish farmers. As discussed above for Figure 8.4, American fishermen lose and American 

consumers gain by an equivalent amount from the decline in prices. 

 

7

For purposes of illustration, in this section we ignore the possibility that aquaculture may expand fish demand, thus 

partially or even fully offsetting negative effects of aquaculture on prices and on fishermen. 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

180 

Table 8.7. Potential implications of aquaculture for Americans. 

Who Producers & Consumers are How Americans are affected* 

Scenario Fishermen Farmers Consumers Fishermen Farmers Consumers 

Change in 

net benefits 

to 

Americans 

Area of Figure X 

representing 

change in net 

benefits to 

Americans 

1 Foreign US US No effect Gain Gain Increase B+D+E 

2 Foreign US Foreign No effect Gain No effect Increase E 

3 Foreign Foreign US No effect 

No 

effect Gain Increase B+D 

4 US US US Lose Gain Gain Increase D+E 

5 US Foreign US Lose 

No 

effect Gain 

No net 

change 

6 US Foreign Foreign Lose 

No 

effect No effect Decrease -B 

7 US US Foreign Lose Gain No effect Uncertain E-B 

8 Foreign Foreign Foreign No effect 

No 

effect No effect No effect 

*Table assumes that aquaculture harms fishermen by lowering prices, benefits consumers by reducing prices and expanding 

supply, and benefits farrmers. Note that if aquaculture expands demand sufficiently, prices will not necessarily fall. 

• Scenario 5: If foreign fish farmers reduce prices paid by American consumers to U.S. 

fishermen, there is no change in net benefits to Americans. Again, American fishermen 

lose and American consumers gain by an equivalent amount from the decline in prices. 

• Scenario 6: The worst situation for Americans occurs if the fishermen (who stand to 

lose) are Americans while the fish farmers and consumers (who stand to gain) are 

foreigners. 

• Scenario 7: If both American fishermen and American fish farmers export fish to a 

foreign market, then the effect on net benefits to Americans is uncertain: it depends on 

the relative magnitudes of fishermen’s loss from lower prices and farmers’ gain from 

increased economic opportunity. 

Table 8.7 depicts “either/or” situations in which fishermen, fish farmers and consumers 

are either all American or all foreign. However, the situation most relevant to discussion of U.S. 

offshore aquaculture is one in which consumers may include both foreigners and Americans, and 

fish farmers may include both foreigners and Americans. The relevant policy issue for 

discussion of U.S. offshore aquaculture is how U.S. production may affect Americans, given that 

foreign aquaculture production is likely to grow—with major effects on world seafood 

markets—regardless of the extent of U.S. production. 

Figure 8.8 depicts a situation in which the United States is the only producer of wild fish, 

but fish are consumed by both foreigners and Americans, and farmed fish may be produced by 

both foreigners and Americans. Even if there is no U.S. fish farming, the effect of foreign fish 

farming on Americans is to depress the price paid to U.S. fishermen from P to P* and to reduce 

prices and increase consumption by American consumers. The effect of U.S. fish farming would 

be to shift the world supply curve further to the right, depressing the price further from P* to P**. 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

181 

The effects on Americans include a further decrease in U.S. fishermen’s producer surplus, a 

further increase in U.S. consumer surplus, and producer surplus for U.S. fish farmers. 

Figure 8.8. Comparison based on the presence/absence of U.S. fish farming. 

U.S. wild 

supply 

curve

World demand 

curve

Quantity of fish 

supplied & consumed

Price 

of 

fish

World supply 

curve without 

US farming

World supply 

curve with

US farming

Foreign 

demand curve

Increase in 

U.S. consumer 

surplus

Producer 

surplus of

U.S. farmers

Decrease

in U.S. 

fishermen’s 

producer 

surplus P*

P**

P

The relative scale of these effects depends on the shapes of the U.S. and foreign demand 

and supply curves, and in particular on the price sensitivity (“elasticity”) of world demand and 

supply. Suppose, as depicted in Figure 8.9, that as prices decline and consumption increases 

world demand becomes relatively more price-sensitive (elastic). At high prices and low 

consumption the demand curve is relatively more vertical; at low prices and high consumption 

the demand curve becomes relatively more horizontal. 

If there is no U.S. fish farming, foreign fish farming still results in a large increase in 

supply over wild production, which significantly depresses the price received by U.S. fishermen 

from P to P*. However, if American fish farmers now increase world supply further, there will 

be only a limited further effect on prices. Thus, in this situation, American fish farming would 

have relatively little effect on U.S. fishermen, while providing significant benefits for U.S. 

farmers. 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

182 

Figure 8.9. The potential effect of U.S. fish farming on fish prices. 

U.S. wild 

supply 

curve

World demand 

curve

Quantity of fish 

supplied & consumed

Price 

of 

fish

World supply 

curve without 

US farming

World supply 

curve with

US farming

Foreign 

demand curve

Producer 

surplus of

U.S. farmers

Decrease

in U.S. 

fishermen’s 

producer 

surplus P*P**

P

Summary: Theoretical Market-Driven Impacts of Aquaculture

We may summarize the foregoing theoretical discussion of market-driven effects of 

aquaculture as follows: 

• In the short run, aquaculture tends to lower fish prices by increasing the supply of fish, 

harming fishermen but benefiting consumers. 

• Over the longer run, aquaculture tends to increase the demand for fish as consumers 

become more familiar with fish; as fish become available in more locations, at more 

times, and in more product forms; and as fish farmers engage in systematic marketing to 

expand demand. Increasing demand tends to offset the effects of higher supply, resulting 

in less of a decline in fish prices. 

• How American fishermen and consumers would be affected by U.S. offshore farming of 

a particular species depends upon their relative shares of world supply and demand for 

that species (and closely competing species), and the price-sensitivity (“elasticity”) of 

world fish demand and supply for that species (and closely competing species). Net 

benefits to Americans from U.S. aquaculture will tend to be higher, the greater the extent 

to which consumers are Americans and completing wild and farmed producers are 

foreigners. 

• Even if foreign fish farming significantly depresses prices for U.S. fishermen, that does 

not necessarily mean that U.S. fish farming would result in further significant effects on 

fish prices and U.S. fishermen. If demand becomes more price-responsive (“elastic” at 

lower prices and higher consumption volumes, the effect of U.S. farmed production on 

U.S. fishermen may be relatively small. 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

183 

Market-Driven Impacts of Salmon Aquaculture 

In considering potential market-driven impacts of U.S. offshore aquaculture, it is useful 

to consider what the market-driven impacts of salmon aquaculture have been for the United 

States. As shown in Figure 8.10, in the early 1980s, world salmon production was almost 

entirely from wild fisheries. Between 1980 and 1985, United States wild salmon accounted for 

46% of total world salmon supply. Over the next twenty-five years, world farmed salmon 

production8

 grew very rapidly, resulting in a dramatic increase in total world supply and a 

decline in the share of U.S. wild salmon in world supply to 17% for the years 2000-2005. 

Almost all of the farmed salmon production occurred outside the United States, which 

has never accounted for more than 3% of farmed salmon production since the 1980s (and only 

1% since 2002). The fact that the United States is not a significant producer of farmed salmon is 

not due to absence of potential farming sites or other technical or economic constraints. Rather, 

it primarily reflects policy choices, including a ban on finfish farming in Alaska and regulatory 

constraints in other states. Our purpose in the subsequent discussion is not to argue for or against 

these policy choices, but rather to examine the market-driven impacts of salmon aquaculture on 

U.S. fishermen and consumers.9

Figure 8.10. World salmon supply: U.S. & Foreign. 

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005

Thousand metric tons

U.S.

farmed

salmon

Foreign

farmed

salmon

Foreign

wild

salmon

U.S.

wild

salmon

Sources: 

Alaska data 

from Alaska 

Commercial 

Fisheries Entry 

Commission; 

other data from 

FAO Fishstat+ 

database. 

After peaking in the late 1980s, “ex-vessel” prices paid to Alaska fishermen for all five 

species of salmon fell dramatically over a 14-year period ending in 2002 (Figure 8.11). The 

most important cause of the decline in prices was competition from farmed salmon in the 

 

8

With farmed salmon we include trout farmed in marine pens, a product very similar to farmed salmon which 

competes directly with farmed and wild salmon. 

9

 The following discussion is based on analysis in Knapp et al, The Great Salmon Run: Competition Between Wild 

and Farmed Salmon (2007). 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

184 

Japanese, American and European markets for frozen and fresh salmon. Note however that 

farmed salmon was not the only cause of the decline in prices. Numerous other factors, 

including large wild salmon harvests, a recession in Japan, and declining consumer demand for 

canned salmon, also played a role. . 

Figure 8.11. Indexes of real Alaska salmon ex-vessel prices, 1980-2006. 

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

140%

160%

180%

200%

19801982198419861988199019921994199619982000200220042006

Source: Alaska Department of Fish & Game. 1988 price indexes 

peaked well above 200% for most species.

Real price as % of 1980-2006 average

Chinook

Coho

Sockeye

Pink

Chum

The decline in wild salmon prices, combined with a drop in returns of sockeye salmon 

(the most valuable species) caused an economic crisis in the wild salmon industry and great 

hardship for thousands of salmon fishermen and fishing communities. Fishermen’s revenues 

declined dramatically while their costs continued to rise. Values of salmon fishing permits and 

boats declined dramatically, and many fishermen quit fishing. Many Alaska salmon processing 

plants closed. 

It is difficult to estimate precisely how much income U.S. salmon fishermen may have 

lost because of salmon aquaculture, partly because other factors have also affected salmon prices, 

and partly because lower harvests also contributed to the decline in income. Nevertheless, it is 

clear that U.S. salmon fishermen were significantly harmed by salmon aquaculture, as predicted 

by the above theoretical discussion. 

But it is also clear that the cause of the decline in U.S. salmon fishermen’s income was 

not U.S. salmon farming, but rather salmon farming in foreign countries. The effects of salmon 

farming on U.S. fishermen’s prices occurred despite the fact that U.S. farmed salmon production 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

185 

was only a tiny share of world production. Policy choices which restricted U.S. farmed salmon 

production did not protect U.S. fishermen from the market-drive effects of farmed salmon. 

Nor is it likely that any U.S. policies could have protected U.S. salmon fishermen from 

the market-drive effects of salmon aquaculture. The most important fresh and frozen markets for 

Alaska salmon were in foreign countries—particularly Japan—rather than the United States 

(Table 8.8). Even if the United States had banned imports of farmed salmon, it would not have 

prevented the competition which Alaska sockeye salmon encountered in the Japanese salmon 

market from farmed Chilean and Norwegian salmon and trout. In a globalized seafood industry 

in which U.S. fishermen are heavily dependent upon export markets, it is impossible for U.S. 

fishermen to escape competition from farmed fish—regardless of U.S. policy towards 

aquaculture. 

Table 8.8. Estimated end-market shares for U.S. wild salmon production, 2000-2004. 

Species Sockeye Pink Chum Coho Chinook TOTAL 

Average annual harvest value ($ millions) $123 $40 $36 $18 $14 $232 

% of average annual harvest value 53% 17% 16% 8% 6% 100% 

US fresh & frozen markets 12% 4% 41% 41% 87% 17% 

Export fresh & frozen markets 53% 26% 52% 50% 13% 42% 

Canned markets 35% 70% 7% 9% 1% 40% 

Estimated 

end-market 

shares 

Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 

Farmers competing with U.S. fishermen Mostly 

foreign 

Mostly 

foreign 

Mostly 

foreign 

Mostly 

foreign 

Mostly 

foreign 

Mostly 

foreign 

Consumers of U.S. fresh and frozen salmon 

competing with farmed salmon 

Mostly 

foreign 

Mostly 

foreign 

US & 

foreign 

US & 

foreign 

Mostly 

US 

US & 

foreign 

Source: Knapp et al (2007). 

The dramatic growth in world salmon supply during the 1990s was reflected in a 

corresponding growth in U.S. consumption of salmon (Figure 8.12). Almost all of this growth in 

consumption was farmed salmon, almost all of which was imported, primarily from Canada and 

Chile. 

In the years prior to 2002, the increase in U.S. salmon consumption was accompanied 

and encouraged by a decline in U.S. prices for both farmed and wild salmon, as shown in Figures 

8.13 and 8.14 for wholesale prices of farmed Atlantic salmon, wild chum salmon and wild 

chinook salmon. (Data showing long-term trends in retail prices are not available, partly because 

of the wide variation in retail products and retail stores). 

United States consumers benefited from lower prices and from the availability of much 

larger volumes of salmon in the U.S. market. The rapid growth in consumption demonstrates 

that farmed salmon—which made salmon available to U.S. consumers in more places, over more 

of the year, and in convenient new product forms--was embraced by U.S. consumers. 
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

186 

Figure 8.12. Estimated U.S. fresh and frozen salmon consumption: wild & farmed. 

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004

Source: Knapp et al, The Great Salmon Run: Competition Between Wild and Farmed 

Salmon (2007).

Metric tons (production and import weight basis)

Domestic wild

Imported wild

Domestic farmed

Imported farmed

Figure 8.13. U.S. wholesale prices for farmed Atlantic salmon and wild chum salmon. 

$0.00

$0.50

$1.00

$1.50

$2.00

$2.50

$3.00

$3.50

$4.00

Jan-91Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06

Source: Urner Barry Publications, Inc., Seafood Price Current. Prices are low list prices for Chilean 2-3 lb fillets, FOB Miami; 6-8 lb 

Atlantics, FOB Northeast; 4-6 lb gillnet head-off fresh chum, FOB Seattle; 6-9 lb H&G frozen chum, FOB Seattle.

$/lb

Fresh Atlantic, whole fish Fresh Chum Frozen Chum, semi-brite
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

187 

Falling wild salmon prices prior to 2002 illustrate the predicted “short run” negative 

effects of fish farming for fishermen discussed above. Note, however, that after 2002 U.S. 

wholesale prices for both farmed and wild salmon were rising (Figures 8.13 and 8.14). Similarly, 

“ex-vessel” prices paid to Alaska salmon fishermen were rising (Figure 8.11). Wholesale 

salmon prices also increased in the European Union, the world’s largest salmon market. 

The fact that salmon prices rose after 2002 despite continued growth in world salmon 

supply during this period is a clear indicator that world demand for salmon was rising, consistent 

with the predicted “long run” effects of fish farming on demand discussed above. 

Figure 8.14 also clearly demonstrates a growing price premium over farmed salmon for 

wild troll-caught chinook salmon, reflecting growing consumer differentiation between wild and 

farmed salmon. For this particularly high-quality species and product (which represents only a 

small share of total wild salmon supply), prices rebounded to levels of the 1980s. While this has 

not been the case for other salmon species, the increase in prices experienced since 2002 shows 

that the long-run effects of salmon aquaculture on wild salmon prices may not be as significant 

as the initial effects. 

Figure 8.14. U.S. Wholesale prices for farmed Atlantic salmon and wild chinook salmon. 

$0.00

$1.00

$2.00

$3.00

$4.00

$5.00

$6.00

$7.00

$8.00

$9.00

Jan-91Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06

Source: Urner Barry Publications, Inc., Seafood Price Current. Prices are low list prices for Chilean 2-3 lb fillets, FOB Miami; 6-8 lb 

Atlantics, FOB Northeast; and 7-11 lb and 11-18 lb troll-caught head-on chinook salmon.

$/lb

Fresh troll-caught chinook, 7-11 lbs Fresh troll-caught chinook, 11-18 lbs Fresh Atlantic, whole fish
Chapter 8: Potential Economic Impacts of U.S. Offshore Aquaculture 

188 

The strengthening of wild salmon prices since 2002 also reflects an improvement in both 

quality and marketing, as the wild salmon industry worked to compete more effectively with 

farmed salmon. This suggests that another effect of fish farming may be changes within wild 

fisheries to better address the demands of consumers. In effect, aquaculture brings competition 

to wild fisheries which had previously, like a monopoly, faced no competition. Just as 

competition for a monopoly tends to benefit consumers not only by lowering prices but also 

making the monopoly industry more responsive to consumers’ demands, competition for wild 

fisheries may bring about changes which, although painful for fishermen, benefit not only 

consumers but ultimately the wild fishery as well. 

References 

Knapp, G., C. Roheim and J. Anderson. 2007. The Great Salmon Run: Competition Between 

Wild and Farmed Salmon. Traffic North America. Washington D.C.: World Wildlife Fund. 

Statistics Canada. 2005. Aquaculture Statistics 2005. Catalogue no. 23-222-XIE. 

Statistics Norway. 2005. Fish Farming 2003. www.ssb.no/nos_fiskeoppdrett. 

Statistics Norway. 2007. Fish Farming 2005. www.ssb.no/nos_fiskeoppdrett. 
189 

CHAPTER 9 

Interactions Between Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture 

Diego Valderrama and James Anderson 

The study of interactions between aquaculture and capture fisheries is important as they drive 

many of the changes that are currently transforming the seafood sector. A better understanding 

of these interactions brings important lessons for the improved management of wild fishery 

resources. This chapter explores in some detail the nature of these interactions and examines 

their implications for the future of both wild and farmed seafood sectors. 

Introduction 

As activities that take place in aquatic environments and rely upon aquatic resources, 

aquaculture and capture fisheries interact at many different levels. Some of these interactions are 

antagonistic, but in many cases synergistic relationships have also emerged. Interactions are 

determined to a large extent by both technological and institutional differences between the two 

sectors. Aquaculture normally involves an acceptance of ownership of products and production 

facilities, while capture fisheries exploit common property (De Silva et al., 2003). Capture 

fisheries typically utilize regulated open-access resources with human intervention occurring 

primarily at the harvesting stage. Aquaculture, in contrast, involves systems in which the grower 

has a large degree of control over both the cultured organism and the culturing environment. 

Practices such as culture-based or enhanced fisheries draw elements from both activities. 

The largest influence of aquaculture on wild fisheries has probably occurred through 

international trade and the market. Aquaculture has: a) influenced prices negatively through 

increased supply and positively through the development of new markets (e.g., salmon and 

catfish); b) changed consumer behavior; c) accelerated globalization of the industry; d) increased 

concentration and vertical integration in the seafood sector; e) resulted in the introduction of new 

product forms; and f) significantly changed the way seafood providers conduct business. 

The growth of aquaculture has stimulated the traditional wild fisheries sector to improve 

product quality in terms of freshness, consistency, handling, and processing. In some cases, 

aquaculture has provided incentives for fisheries management to become more efficient. This 

growth has also created a backlash of criticism from the wild fisheries sector (and environmental 

groups) through the media and, in several cases, has been met with increasingly restrictive 

international trade barriers (e.g., salmon, shrimp and catfish). 

A second group of interactions is concerned with the flow of environmental impacts 

between the two sectors. These impacts, in turn, may have economic consequences for both 

aquaculture and wild capture fisheries. At this level, aquaculture has: a) directly influenced fish 

stocks through its use of wild fish stocks for inputs, such as feed; b) influenced fish stocks 

through intentional releases (salmon stock enhancement) or through unintentional escapes; c) 

displaced wild fish through its use of habitat and, in some cases, enhanced fisheries habitat (e.g., 

some oyster operations); and d) influenced and been influenced by wild fish stocks through 

transmission of diseases and parasites. 
Chapter 9: Interactions Between Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture 

190 

The study of interactions between aquaculture and capture fisheries is important as they 

drive many of the changes that are currently transforming the seafood sector. A better 

understanding of these interactions brings important lessons for the improved management of 

wild fishery resources. This chapter explores in some detail the nature of these interactions and 

examines their implications for the future of both wild and farmed seafood sectors. 

Aquaculture, fisheries, markets and trade 

Whether aquaculture and fisheries behave as competitive or complementary activities is a 

research question that has received attention in recent times. Judgments regarding the positive or 

negative nature of these interrelations are likely to be influenced by the perspective of the 

different stakeholders: aquaculturists, fishermen, fisheries managers, traders, consumers, or 

environmentalists. It must be recognized, nevertheless, that aquacultural development has been 

stimulated by the overfishing of wild stocks, which has resulted in the inability of the wild sector 

to meet the growing demand for wholesome seafood products. Salmon farming emerged in the 

1980s as wild stocks of Coho and Chinook salmon in North America dwindled and Atlantic 

salmon stocks were threatened in both America and Europe due to overfishing and loss of 

habitat. Growth in catfish and tilapia aquaculture has satisfied market demand in the whitefish 

complex as harvests of the wild product have decreased considerably. Falling supplies of wild 

groundfish have also stimulated commercial production of farm-raised cod in Norway. In each 

of these cases, the aquaculture sector has emerged to increase fish supplies, minimize 

environmental shocks, control fish stocks and growth rates, and manage to meet the demands of 

the market. Aquaculturists want to take control of production and marketing. They tend to do 

this through ownership, information and technology (Anderson, 2002). 

The emerging aquaculture sector tends to be more forward looking, faster-growing, 

innovative, international, and control-oriented. It is shaping the future seafood sector through 

market, trade, and product interactions. Over the last few decades, aquaculture has: 

• influenced prices through increased supply; 

• changed consumer behavior resulting in the development of new markets; 

• accelerated globalization of the industry; 

• increased concentration and vertical integration in the seafood sector; 

• resulted in the introduction of new product forms and improved quality and consistency; 

• influenced the sector to become more forward-thinking and market driven; 

• reduced price uncertainty and risk. 

Some of these interactions are discussed more thoroughly in the following sections. 

Price Interactions

The economic impacts of aquaculture on capture fisheries are more evident in the case of 

species such as shrimp and salmon, where markets for wild species were well established prior to 

the emergence of the global aquaculture sectors. The most visible impact concerns declines in 

the prices of wild-caught fish brought about in part by increased supplies of farmed fish, because 

farmed and wild products interact as close substitutes (Figures 9.1 and 9.2). 
Chapter 9: Interactions Between Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture 

191 

Figure 9.1 illustrates the evolution of real ex-vessel prices for Alaskan sockeye salmon 

during the last 20 years. Real prices consistently rose during the early and mid-1980s, but 

declined precipitously in 1989 and subsequent years. The fall in prices was closely related to 

record landings in the Alaska fisheries throughout the 1990s, as well as increased supplies from 

an emerging salmon aquaculture industry. The ex-vessel price in 2005 (in 2000 U.S. dollars) 

was only $0.65/lb, equivalent to only 65% of the prevailing price in 1995, and barely 19% of the 

1988 price. 

Figure 9.1. Comparison of world salmon aquaculture production and real ex-vessel price 

of Alaskan sockeye salmon.

0.0

0.3

0.6

0.9

1.2

1.5

1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005

Million MT

-

0.80

1.60

2.40

3.20

4.00

2000 US$/lb

World Aquaculture Production of Salmon and Sea Trout

Real Ex-Vessel Price of Alaskan Sockeye 

Sources: FAO, 2007; ADF&G, 2007 

Increasing shrimp imports to the U.S. market have had a similar impact on the ex-vessel 

prices of wild shrimp caught by the domestic fleet (Figure 9.2). Most of imported shrimp 

(around 70-80%) is produced in farms on the tropical regions of Asia and Latin America. The 

average ex-vessel price (2000 U.S. dollars) of the three most important domestic wild species 

(white, brown, and pink) oscillated around $2.40/lb during the late 1980s and the 1990s. 

However, prices have fallen sharply since 2001. By 2006, the average real ex-vessel price was 

$1.22/lb, around $1.15 less than the real price in 2000. Domestic fishermen blamed increased 

imports of farmed shrimp for the faltering prices. Seeking relief from allegedly unfair trade 

practices, the U.S. fishing industry filed an antidumping suit against the six most important 

suppliers of shrimp to the U.S. market (Thailand, China, Vietnam, India, Brazil, and Ecuador) in 

December, 2003. In its final determination, the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled in 

favor of the domestic industry, and antidumping duties of various magnitudes were levied 

against the six subject countries (USITC, 2005). 
Chapter 9: Interactions Between Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture 

192 

Figure 9.2. Comparison of U.S. shrimp imports and real ex-vessel price of domestic Gulf of 

Mexico (brown, pink, and white) shrimp. Approximately 70-80% of the shrimp imported 

into the U.S. are farm-raised. 

0

80

160

240

320

400

480

560

640

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

Thousand MT

-

0.40

0.80

1.20

1.60

2.00

2.40

2.80

3.20

2000 US$/lb

U.S. Shrimp Imports Real Ex-Vessel Price of Gulf of Mexico Shrimp

Source: USDC/NMFS Foreign Trade Database, 2007; USDC/NMFS Commercial Fishery Landings Database, 2007. 

It should be noted that aquaculture production of salmon and shrimp has been increasing 

steadily, even in the face of declining prices. Guttormsen (2002) explains that such a 

phenomenon is evidence of productivity gains in the aquaculture sector, meaning that expansion 

has been possible due to the ability of farmers to substantially lower production costs. The 

difference in the structure of costs between aquaculture and wild fisheries has important 

implications. In the traditional fisheries, the primary costs are labor, fuel and fleet maintenance. 

In the aquaculture sector, the primary costs are feed and fingerlings. This distinction is 

important, as aquaculture has immense opportunities to reduce costs through genetics research 

and feed substitutions. In contrast, fisheries have less room for cost improvement unless a move 

is made towards more efficient management; e.g., rights-based fishing (Anderson, 2003). All of 

this comes down to a matter of better management, biotechnology and related factors. The most 

impressive achievements have been attained in salmon aquaculture, but there is still much room 

for improvement with regard to production of tilapia and other new species. This trend will 

enable aquaculture to continue recording gains in market share at the expense of wild-caught 

species. 

While negative price interactions are generally more visible, some positive price 

influences between aquaculture and wild fisheries have also been observed. Positive interactions 

emerge when the aquacultured product is introduced into new markets and creates additional 

demand for both farmed and wild species. For example, prior to the advent of salmon farming in 

the 1980s, salmon consumption in the U.S. was limited seasonally and regionally - primarily to 

the Pacific coastal areas. The growth of aquaculture in Norway, Canada, and Chile led to 

consistent supplies of fresh, high-quality salmon in the untapped South and Midwest regions. 

The increased availability resulted in new demand for both farmed and wild salmon in these 
Chapter 9: Interactions Between Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture 

193 

regions. The case of catfish is similar. Prior to modern production in farms, catfish was 

generally regarded as a low-quality wild product with consumption restricted to the poor areas of 

the rural South. The consistent delivery of a high-quality product from catfish farms turned 

around this perception over a few decades, with concomitant increases in price. Nowadays, 

catfish is routinely included in the list of Top 10 seafoods in the U.S. (NFI 2007). 

In addition to the price interactions, it has been suggested that aquaculture may contribute 

to the recovery of overexploited wild stocks, as reduced prices lead to lower fishing effort. 

These interactions were formally analyzed by Anderson (1985) and Ye and Beddington (1996). 

Anderson’s analysis showed that the entry of aquaculture reduces effort and increases total 

supply from open-access fisheries while raising natural fish stocks. Because aquaculture 

enhances efficiency in the capture fishery while increasing availability of fish to consumers, 

aquaculture development is regarded by some as a much more effective management tool 

relative to traditional measures of effort control. In a related analysis, Green and Kahn (1997) 

found similar results and used them to argue for public subsidization of aquaculture. 

Econometric Models and Time Series Analyses

 A number of studies have examined market interactions between aquaculture and 

fisheries by estimating demand equations for a specific group of commodities and testing 

whether cross-price effects occur. The general idea is to probe the existence of an underlying 

marketplace constituted by a group of commodities consisting of both farmed and wild-caught 

species. The group of commodities competes in the same market because consumers may 

substitute goods. The cross-price effects estimated from the system of demand equations provide 

a measure of the degree of substitution among competing goods. 

 In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a number of empirical analyses of the international 

salmon market estimated demand functions for both wild-caught and farmed species. Herrmann, 

Mittelhammer and Lin attempted to describe the patterns of salmon trade between North 

America, the European Community (EC), Japan, and Norway through several econometric 

models (Herrmann, 1993; Herrmann et al., 1993; Lin et al., 1989; Herrmann and Lin, 1988; Lin 

and Herrmann, 1988). In general, these studies reported large income and own-price elasticities, 

consistent with the notion of salmon as a luxury food item previous to the revolution brought 

upon by salmon aquaculture. The cross-price elasticities between farmed Atlantic and wild 

Pacific species revealed a significant substitute relationship; however, the degree of these 

interactions varied widely among studies. The most recent of these analyses (Herrmann, 1993) 

reported an own-price elasticity of -1.76 for Norwegian farmed Atlantic salmon in the U.S. 

market, with an income elasticity of 1.69. The cross-price elasticity with respect to North 

American Pacific high-valued salmon (Chinook, Coho, and Sockeye) was estimated to be 0.72. 

This study was based on data from the period 1982-1991. 

Although the econometric models of Herrmann and his collaborators established a 

connection between farmed and wild salmon in the world markets, they failed to capture the full 

extent of changes caused by the rapid development of aquaculture. Wessells and Anderson 

(1992) indicated that the demand curves estimated in these studies are actually capturing a series 

of demand shifts of a growing market. Because the supply of Norwegian farmed salmon grew at 

such a rapid pace during the 1980s, demand for the product expanded from exclusive, up-scale 
Chapter 9: Interactions Between Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture 

194 

restaurants to other restaurants and supermarkets. The aggregate elasticities estimated by 

Herrmann do not account for the fact that different sectors (retailing, restaurants) may have 

different demand elasticities, which were evolving during the study period due to demand shift 

and expansion into new markets. 

With regard to shrimp, Keithly et al. (1993) conducted a comprehensive econometric 

analysis of trade flows in the world market using annual data from 1965 through 1989. Their 

analysis was based on an examination of the U.S. and Japanese shrimp imports markets in a 

simultaneous-equations framework. The model consisted of five structural equations: two of the 

equations defined import demand relationships for the U.S. and Japan; another two equations 

defined export supplies to the U.S. and Japan; and a fifth equation defined demand for U.S. 

warmwater shrimp, caught by the domestic fishing industry. The U.S. warmwater shrimp 

demand equation in the model specified the real U.S. dockside shrimp price to be negatively 

related to U.S. warmwater catch, U.S. beginning-of-the-year inventories, and U.S. imports. The 

level of U.S. imports (consisting primarily of aquacultured product) was determined 

endogenously in the model. Results indicated that U.S. warmwater catch and imports have 

similar impacts on dockside price because of their high degree of substitutability. A 10-million 

pound increase in imports was found to lead to a $0.084 decline in real dockside shrimp price, 

with all other factors held constant. 

Given the expected increase in world supply of farmed shrimp during the 1990s, Keithly 

et al. (1993) correctly anticipated that expanding imports of aquacultured shrimp would 

contribute to lower dockside and farm-gate prices of U.S. warmwater shrimp (wild and cultured). 

The authors also predicted that the U.S. fishing industry would respond to an increasing flow of 

imports by lobbying in favor of restrictive trade measures such as tariffs or quotas, in an attempt 

to increase prices. Keithly argued against such measures, as the common property nature of the 

Southeast shrimp fishery suggested that any increase in price would be followed by an expansion 

in shrimping effort. This expansion would drive industry profits, excluding opportunity costs, 

back toward zero. 

In addition to estimating demand functions and cross-price elasticities, substitution 

relationships among two and more products can also be tested by examining the properties of the 

respective price-time series through cointegration techniques. The general idea is that, provided 

the products are substitutes for each other, prices will be integrated and will tend to move 

together. Thus, if the supply curve for farmed fish shifts out (meaning that the price of farmed 

fish falls) and there is a substitution effect between farmed and wild products, the demand 

schedule for wild fish shifts and the price will change in the same direction as the price of farmed 

fish. At most, the price of wild fish can shift by the same percentage as the price of farmed fish, 

making the relative price constant. When this occurs, it is said that the “Hypothesis of One 

Price” holds (Asche et al., 2001). 

Most cointegration-analysis studies examining the price interactions between wild and 

farmed species have been conducted with respect to salmon. Results of these studies are 

consistent with previous demand analyses and indicate that different salmon species and product 

forms are close substitutes (e.g., Asche et al., 1999; Clayton and Gordon, 1999; Gordon et al., 

1993). An important conclusion is that increased production of farmed salmon has had a 
Chapter 9: Interactions Between Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture 

195 

substantial impact on the markets and prices for wild Pacific salmon. Asche et al. (1999) 

attributed declining prices in the world salmon market throughout the 1990s to the remarkable 

increases in productivity in the farmed salmon industry. Similarly, Clayton and Gordon (1999) 

supported the existence of an equilibrium price system in the U.S. market for farmed Atlantic 

and wild Chinook and Coho salmon. 

There is little evidence that farmed salmon competes with species other than wild salmon. 

In their analysis of the Spanish seafood market, Jaffry et al. (2000) concluded that salmon is at 

best only a weak substitute for tuna, hake, and whiting. In general, salmon does not seem to 

compete with the species constituting the global whitefish market (Asche et al., 2001). However, 

other emerging aquaculture species such as tilapia and catfish have made significant inroads in 

the whitefish market (Picchietti, 1996; Barnett, 1990). 

Similar analyses have also been conducted to examine price interactions between farmed 

and wild-caught shrimp. Béné et al. (2000) conducted a series of cointegration tests with data 

from the French market and concluded that the price series of the (farmed) black tiger shrimp 

and the (wild-caught) French Guyana (FG) brown shrimp were cointegrated, with the black tiger 

shrimp acting as a market leader for the FG shrimp product. Despite its perceived lower culinary 

quality, farmed shrimp emerged as the “leader” product in the French market over the last 15 

years due to its consistent supply and year-round availability. The authors suggested that the 

only way for local FG exporters to eliminate the exogenous influence of the black tiger shrimp 

would be to “cut” the relationship that links the price of the FG product to that of the farmed 

shrimp. This could possibly be achieved by taking advantage of the superior culinary quality of 

the brown shrimp to create a niche market where the FG product could be supplied without 

having to compete against the farm-raised shrimp. 

More recently, Vinuya (2007) used cointegration analysis to examine the degree of 

market integration in world shrimp markets. His results indicated a strong linkage among the 

Japanese, U.S., and European markets. The analysis concluded that the recent antidumping 

tariffs levied against the six major exporters to the U.S. market will have little long-term effect 

on domestic shrimp prices, as exporters not targeted by the antidumping tariffs realign their 

supplies from the other marketplaces (E.U. and Japan) towards the U.S. Recent empirical 

evidence confirm these findings. 

Changes in the Patterns of Seafood Consumption in the U.S.

An examination of seafood consumption in the U.S. illustrates the influence of the 

aquaculture sector on seafood availability, changes in consumer behavior, and increasing 

concentration on fewer species. First, per-capita consumption of aquaculture species has 

increased remarkably over the last two decades (Table 9.1). In 1987, three “aquaculture” 

species—shrimp, catfish, and salmon—accounted for only 21% of U.S. consumption of seafood 

products. Per-capita consumption of wild-caught species such as cod, Alaskan pollock, and 

flatfish exceeded consumption of either catfish or salmon. By 2006, the ranking of the “Top Ten 

Seafoods” had shifted remarkably toward species of aquaculture origin. Shrimp, salmon, catfish, 

and tilapia accounted for 50% of the U.S. consumption of seafood. Salmon, in particular, 

recorded impressive gains: per-capita consumption rose by nearly 360% between 1987 and 2006, 

exceeding consumption of more traditional capture species such as cod, pollock, and flounder. 
Chapter 9: Interactions Between Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture 

196 

Tilapia has also made notable gains. Practically unknown in the U.S. market until the late 1990s, 

it became widely available in the last few years. By 2006, it was the fifth most consumed 

species, displacing competing species in the whitefish market segment such as cod and 

groundfish. 

Another important trend is that seafood consumption in the U.S. is becoming 

concentrated on fewer species. The top five species accounted for 72% of consumption in 2006; 

in comparison, they accounted for only 56% of consumption just two decades ago. The top ten 

species comprised 71% of consumption in 1987; they now represent 90%. 

The trends of falling prices and increasing concentration of consumption are explained by 

the fact that growing markets and growing trade will be secured by those who can consistently 

deliver a high-quality product at stable or declining costs. In the seafood sector, this is what 

aquaculture producers have been doing for the past few decades. It can also be argued that sector 

diversity in the future is going to come from the “sauce” (i.e.; the value-added component of the 

fish) and from image issues such as ecolabeling, rather than being created through the production 

of a large number of species (Anderson and Valderrama 2007). Thus, despite the fact that 

hundreds of different species are harvested - and will continue to be harvested - around the 

planet, in proportional terms more and more of the supply is going to be concentrated in fewer 

and fewer species. Likewise, more and more of the diversity is going to come from the 

marketers because, as they take control of and manage the fish, they can market it better and start 

selling additional attributes. By contrast, the traditional fisheries sector is going to experience 

many more difficulties in this category. Aquaculture operations tend to be managed for 

production and marketing control. Conversely, the wild sector is managed towards restricting 

access and harvesting the ‘right’ amount to meet conservation goals. However, they are still 

failing to manage for quality and the market; yet, it is clear that the sector that manages for these 

two factors will attain greater market success. 

The specific cases of salmon and tilapia exemplify the points made earlier. Farmed 

salmon production already accounts for over 70% of world supply, while the capture sector’s 

harvest has remained relatively stable (Knapp et al., 2007). Regarding U.S. salmon imports, 

most of the growth in recent years has come in the form of boneless, skinless fillets produced 

primarily in nations with significant aquaculture industries. A natural consequence of having an 

industry where production systems are more highly controlled is that more value-added 

processing activities can occur. The industry is currently dominated by portion-control, valueadded products. The recent negative media campaigns against salmon aquaculture appear to 

have had some limited impact on demand (an analysis of these developments is beyond the scope 

of this chapter). For the purposes of this discussion, the point that must be emphasized is that 

salmon aquaculture has moved forward and gained market share despite the negative media; yet 

there is still room for wild salmon in both the low-end (pink and chum salmon) and the 

specialty/premium (chinook, coho and sockeye) segments. 

Tilapia also supports strong aquaculture industries in developing countries (Egypt, 

Philippines, Indonesia, and China). As observed previously with salmon, U.S. imports of tilapia 

are experiencing a shift from whole to processed forms. Tilapia is seen as a substitute for 
Chapter 9: Interactions Between Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture 

197 

flounder, snapper and all types of whitefish. In addition, tilapia is seen favorably by many 

environmental groups. 

Table 9.1. Per Capita Consumption of Seafood Species in the U.S. Species for which a Vast 

Majority of Supply Comes from Aquaculture are Shown in Bold Font. 

Ranking 1987 Pounds 2006 Pounds Percent 

Change 

1 Tuna 3.51 Shrimp 4.40 +92% 

2 Shrimp 2.29 Canned tuna 2.90 -17% 

3 Cod 1.68 Salmon 2.03 +359% 

4 AK 

Pollock 0.88 Pollock 1.64 +86% 

5 Flatfish 0.73 Tilapia 1.00 N/A 

6 Clams 0.66 Catfish 0.97 +63% 

7 Catfish 0.60 Crab 0.66 +101% 

8 Salmon 0.44 Cod 0.51 -70% 

9 Crab 0.33 Clams 0.44 -33% 

10 Scallops 0.33 Scallops 0.31 -8% 

Other 4.76 Other 1.68 -65% 

Total 16.20 16.50 +2% 

Source: NFI (2007). 

Aquaculture and fisheries interactions through the environment 

Aquaculture and fisheries interact in several ways in the aquatic ecosystem. For 

example: 

• aquaculture can influence fish stocks through its use of wild fish stocks for inputs, such 

as feed, broodstock or juveniles; 

• aquaculture and wild fish stocks can influence each other through disease transmission 

and other related interactions; 

• aquaculture can influence wild fish stocks through intentional releases (e.g., salmon 

enhancement) or through unintentional escapes; 
Chapter 9: Interactions Between Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture 

198 

• aquaculture can displace wild fish through its use of habitat or, in some cases, it can 

enhance fisheries habitat (e.g, the infrastructure of oyster farms create oyster reefs). 

A few examples will be mentioned to illustrate each of these interactions individually. 

Use of Wild Fish Stocks as Inputs

Aquaculture can influence fish stocks through its use of wild fish stocks for inputs. One 

of the most controversial examples concerns the use of small pelagic fishes for fishmeal and fish 

oil. The growth of aquaculture, in particular the farming of carnivorous fishes, has had a direct 

impact on the demand for fishmeal and fish oil. Fishmeal prices have traditionally traded in a 

range of two to three times the price of soymeal; however, fishmeal has traded recently at levels 

more than six times the price of soymeal. The traditional relationship between fishmeal and 

soymeal has changed substantially. Empirical evidence indicates that the increased relative price 

of fishmeal and fish oil represents an important structural shift (Kristofferson and Anderson, 

2006). If fisheries are well managed, this implies an opportunity for the wild fisheries sector to 

increase net revenue. On the other hand, if fisheries are poorly managed, this implies increased 

risk of overfishing. In either case, the increased relative price for fishmeal and fish oil presents 

an incentive for innovation. In the specific case of salmon aquaculture, this phenomenon has led 

to the rapid development of new feed formulations and declining feed conversion ratios. 

Another way aquaculture uses wild fish stocks for inputs is when it utilizes wild juveniles 

for growout. For example, tuna farmers in Australia, Mexico and the Mediterranean capture 

wild juveniles to be fattened in aquaculture cage systems. At its beginnings, the modern farmed 

shrimp industry was heavily dependent on broodstock and post-larval shrimp from the wild 

fisheries. The farmed oyster and mussel industries depend heavily on wild seed. If not managed 

correctly, the extraction of inputs could have negative effects on wild fish stocks. However, 

positive effects are also possible: the use of wild seeds for oyster and mussel farming may 

actually help increase the stock of oysters and mussels by increasing survivability. 

Issues Regarding Invasive Species and Two-way Transmission of Parasites and Diseases 

Aquaculture and wild fisheries have influenced each other through the transmission of 

diseases and parasites. In addition, many cases of introduction of nonnative species have 

involved aquacultured organisms. Oysters provide a useful example in this regard (NRC 2004). 

In the U.S. East Coast, the oyster disease MSX was introduced from Asia (by means of a carrier 

agent not yet conclusively determined) and it contributed significantly to the decline of oysters, 

especially in Chesapeake Bay. Another oyster disease, Bonamiosis, was introduced into France 

by oysters imported from North America. This introduction contributed considerably to the 

rapid decline of the French oyster farming industry in the 1970s. In both cases, part of the 

solution involved the introduction of oysters from Asia which were naturally resistant to the 

disease. Today the French industry is dependent upon Crassostrea gigas, an oyster from Asia, 

and U.S. officials are considering introducing the farmed Asian oyster, C. ariakensis, into the 

Chesapeake Bay. In both cases, the unfortunate invasions of introduced diseases have resulted in 

the use of farmed nonnative organisms to mitigate the problem. 

Despite media attention to concerns related to the introduction of nonnative species, this 

type of introduction is common. White shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) from South America have 
Chapter 9: Interactions Between Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture 

199 

been introduced into Asia because they are resistant to the White Spot disease and they are easier 

to grow than the native black tiger shrimp. Salmon have been introduced into Chile, New 

Zealand and Australia, and this introduction has resulted in substantial industries in these 

countries. The U.S. has introduced channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) into China. Tilapia, 

originally from Africa, has been introduced into nearly all tropical regions in the world. 

Release of Individuals from Aquaculture Facilities

Aquaculture has also been used to replenish or enhance fisheries through purposeful 

release of juvenile or adult fish. For example, the Japanese chum salmon fishery is almost 

exclusively dependent upon hatchery-based salmon. In Alaska, approximately 40 percent of the 

state's salmon harvest is dependent upon hatchery-based fisheries (Knapp at al., 2007). 

However, although hatchery (aquaculture)-based capture fisheries may result in increased 

harvest, they also may facilitate inefficient harvest practices and create problems with genetic 

diversity and the integrity of truly wild stocks (Hilborn 1992). 

Influences on Habitat

Aquaculture practices have had some extensive influence on habitat. For example, 

pioneering shrimp farms negatively impacted mangrove forests in tropical countries. In some 

locations, excessive finfish cage culture has resulted in the destruction of benthic habitat and 

created pollution. But there are also examples of positive aquaculture influence on habitat. The 

relocation of shrimp farms to zones above mangrove forests has paralleled increases in mangrove 

cover areas (Fast and Menasveta, 2003; Lutz, 2001). Oyster culture has contributed positively to 

reef development, which increases the diversity of fish in the area. Net pens also create habitat 

for marine species and act as fish aggregating devices. In a recent study, Rensel and Foster 

(2007) quantified the types and volumes of biocolonization at a commercial net-pen fish farm 

site in North Puget Sound in Washington State. The study showed that a typical fish pen system 

is populated by a diverse group of over 100 species of seaweeds or invertebrates, providing a 

locally important component of the food web. 

Many of the conflicts concerning habitat use, siting of aquaculture facilities, and other 

environmental interactions can be addressed through integrated ecosystem-based management 

approaches to aquaculture development. McVey et al. (2006) and other authors (Dumbauld et 

al., 2006; Bridger, 2004; Cicin-Sain et al., 2001) offer valuable insights on how this could be 

achieved. 

Competition for ocean space 

Space-related conflicts between aquaculture and commercial fisheries have been reported 

in several locations around the world. For example, in the early 1990s, local fishermen from the 

west coast of Ireland perceived that the expansion of salmon farms resulted in an increasing 

number of restricted areas for fishing (Steins, 1997). The fishermen safeguarded access to their 

historical fishing grounds by forming a shellfish cooperative to secure aquaculture licenses. 

Similar conflicts have also been reported in Norway between aquaculture and commercial 

herring fisheries (Doksroed, 1996). In the U.S., the siting of an experimental aquaculture growout facility for sea scallops off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, found strong 
Chapter 9: Interactions Between Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture 

200 

opposition from local commercial fishermen who argued that the proposed location would 

hamper lobster fishery activities (WSC, 1998). 

Despite the potential for conflicts, adequate coastal zoning management can lead to the 

development of synergies between aquaculture and traditional fisheries. In areas with declining 

wild catches and increasingly restrictive fishery regulations, aquaculture production may help 

keep waterfronts, docks, processing facilities, and cold storage units operating. One of the most 

successful cases of integration has been reported in Florida, where inshore fishermen forced out 

of business through legislative action entered into hard clam aquaculture with relative success 

(Barnaby and Leavitt, 2001). Open-ocean aquaculture may also provide unique opportunities for 

commercial fishermen either as a new occupation or a business that could complement their 

fishing practices since they already own vessels and have the maritime skills and knowledge of 

local oceanic and weather conditions. In fact, the pioneering offshore operations in the U.S. (in 

Hawaii and Puerto Rico) were started by individuals with commercial fishing backgrounds 

(Rubino 2007). 

Conclusions 

This major ideas presented in this chapter are summarized below. 

• One of the most important incentives for aquaculture development came from the failure 

of wild fisheries to meet market demands. 

• Aquaculture development has led to changes in fisheries: 

o through competition (supply). 

o by developing new technology (hatchery-based fisheries). 

o by example (quality control). 

o by creating new demand – both for inputs (fishmeal) and outputs (seafood). 

• There will be increases in per-capita seafood consumption; however, consumption will be 

concentrated on fewer species, with diversity coming in the “sauce” and with labeling 

issues, such as organic production and ecolabeling. 

• The growth of aquaculture parallels a shift in the market towards value-added products. 

Technology, innovations, better nutrition, and disease management will continue to 

reduce costs in aquaculture. Lower production costs will increase supply from 

aquaculture and hold prices down for all fish. The trend towards value-added creation 

will drive processing to countries where labor costs are low. 

• The potential constraints for aquaculture development, in particular fishmeal usage, will 

largely be circumvented by new technology and substitution. 

• Aquaculture will dominate the commodity markets, but there will be increasing 

opportunities for wild market products in the upper-end segments, especially the niche 

markets. 
Chapter 9: Interactions Between Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture 

201 

• In the long run, all significant commercial seafood supplies will come from one of three 

sources: 

o Fish farms/aquaculture; 

o Aquaculture-enhanced fisheries; 

o Fisheries that adopt efficient management systems. These systems should clearly 

define rights and responsibilities and be market and product-quality driven. 

• Many of the space and habitat-related impacts of aquaculture development on traditional 

fisheries can be reduced or eliminated altogether through adequate siting and zoning of 

aquaculture areas. The principles of ecosystem-based management and Best 

Management Practices (BMPs) offer useful guidelines for future aquaculture 

development. 

• As fishery regulations become overly restrictive in certain areas, reducing fishing times 

and employment in the fishing sector, a major challenge for fishermen is to figure out 

how to use aquaculture as a complement to their wild catch and/or income. There have 

been a few success stories of fishermen transitioning into the aquaculture sector. These 

stories can be used as case studies to help other fishing communities adjust to the 

changing regulatory and market conditions. Given the set of skills they already possess, 

some fishermen may be well positioned to participate in the emerging open-ocean 

aquaculture sector. 

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207 

CHAPTER 10 

Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

John Forster and Colin Nash 

This chapter outlines the current variety of species, technologies, methods, and places associated 

with aquaculture in the United States. The chapter focuses on six major species groups (catfish, 

salmon, shellfish, trout, tilapia, and public sector stocking) to illustrate the breadth of 

aquaculture activities. 

U.S. aquaculture scope and diversity 

Private sector aquaculture in the United States is diverse, vibrant, and technically 

innovative, though production falls far short of what is needed by the Nation’s markets. Aquatic 

farmers grow a wide variety of fish and shellfish species in fresh and salt water and do so in all 

regions of the country. This is illustrated in Figures 10.1 to 10.4 and Table 10.1 below. 

Figure 10.1. Aquaculture farm count by type. 

Source: United States Department of Agriculture
Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

208 

Figure 10.2. Value of aquaculture products sold by type in 2005. 

Source: United States Department of Agriculture

Figure 10.3. U.S. Aquaculture sales in 2005. 

Source: United States Department of Agriculture
Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

209 

Table 10.1. Aquaculture Statistics to show the weight of production of different categories 

in 2005. 

 Thousand Metric Thousand 

Species pounds tons dollars 

Finfish 

Baitfish NA NA 38,018

Catfish 607,933 275,757 429,245

Salmon 20,726 9,401 37,439

Striped bass 10,970 4,976 27,655

Tilapia 17,203 7,803 29,620

Trout 60,636 27,504 65,469

Shellfish: 

Clams 12,564 5,699 72,783

Crawfish 35,933 16,299 21,143

Mussels 962 436 4,990

Oysters 13,711 6,219 92,602

Shrimp 8,037 3,646 18,684

Miscellaneous NA NA 254,738

 

Totals 788,675 357,741 1,092,386

Source NMFS, 2007 

Figure 10.4. Growth of the U.S. aquaculture industry.

Source: NMFS, 2007 

Aquaculture for food is by far the dominant sector of the industry. If production of those 

products sold for food, namely food fish, mollusks and crustaceans are added together, their total 

value in 2005 was $929 million, 85% of all private sector aquaculture. This does not imply that 

other sectors are not important. Ornamental fish aquaculture, for example, provides the added 

value of relieving pressure on natural fish populations that might otherwise be targeted for this 

trade. The economic multiplier that might be applied to a kilo of sport fish for recreational 

US Aquaculture Production (All Species)

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Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

210 

stocking is almost certainly higher than that applicable to a kilo of food fish; and this industry 

also helps to relieve pressure on natural populations. In fact, conservation aquaculture for 

replenishment and restoration of wild fish populations is a branch of the business that may see 

substantial expansion in the years ahead. 

However, there is another part of the national aquaculture effort that is not represented in 

these figures. This is public sector hatchery production, which includes federal, state, tribal and 

private non profit hatcheries for species such as salmon, trout, bass, crappie and other 

recreational fish and which are to be found in all parts of the country. These hatcheries produce 

juveniles for stocking public fresh and marine waters contributing substantially to the Nation’s 

commercial and recreational seafood harvest and representing a large investment in aquaculture 

facilities. For example, there are almost 400 salmon hatcheries on the West Coast that release 

about 1.7 billion juvenile salmon per year into the Pacific Ocean,1

 which, once they return as 

adults, support commercial and recreational fisheries throughout the region. 

In this respect, aquaculture is different from most other business activities in the U.S. in 

that there is a large public as well as a private sector. Statistics on the overall scope, production 

and value of this public sector have not been the subject of a census as they have in private 

aquaculture, but this does not mean that public aquaculture is not important or that it should be 

omitted from a general overview of the US aquaculture industry. Hatcheries use exactly the same 

methods as are used in private aquaculture and, importantly, also use resources of water and land 

that might otherwise be available for private aquaculture development. Thus, details about their 

scope and contribution to the national aquaculture effort are included in section 6 below. 

Farming of the principal species and species groups in the United States 

To provide an overview of the breadth and diversity of methods used in aquaculture, 

descriptions are given below of the farming of each of the top species or species groups in the 

U.S. Each of them uses different methods of production and therefore these descriptions provide 

a good general overview of the nature and scope of the entire industry. They include: 

1. Channel catfish – farmed in ponds 

2. Atlantic salmon – farmed in floating net pens 

3. Bivalve shellfish (oysters, clams and mussels) – mostly farmed in littoral or shallow 

sub-littoral areas 

4. Rainbow trout – farmed in flowing fresh water in raceways or tanks 

5. Tilapia – farmed in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) 

6. Public sector aquaculture 

1. Pond farming of Channel catfish 

Catfish are farmed almost entirely in structured ponds filled by water pumped from 

aquifers or by natural runoff. Several other species such as shrimp, crawfish and baitfish are also 

farmed in the same way but catfish production is by far the dominant activity in the United States 

and is therefore the focus of this description. 

 

1

 White (2005 gives a figure of 1.4 billion for Alaska. Bartlett (2006) gives a figure of 300,000 for hatcheries in 

Washington. Oregon and California. 
Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

211 

 Almost all catfish production in the United States is located in southern states, where the 

climate provides adequate water temperatures for growth, and where the soil and elevation are 

suitable for pond construction (Figure 10.6). Harvey (2006) reported over 170,000 acres of 

ponds were operating in the country in March 2006. Much of this area was farmland, converted 

when landowners and farmers decided that catfish production would be more profitable than 

traditional agricultural crops. According to Tucker et al. (2004), this combination of climate, 

soils, available farmland, willing farmers, and the availability of a species of fish well-suited to 

farming represents a complex of conditions not easily replicated. 

Channel catfish farming developed rapidly from 1980 to 2003 (Figure 10.5) and has 

become the largest sector of the national aquaculture industry. The basis for this growth 

involved complex interactions between biology, sociology, and economics, which all came 

together in the South Central and Southeast part of the US (Tucker et al., 2004). 

Figure 10.5. U.S. farmed catfish production and value. 

Source: NMFS, 2007 

U.S. Aquaculture Production: Catfish

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Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

212 

Figure 10.6. Major U.S. catfish farming areas. 

Source: Tucker et al., 2004

Catfish farming has had a major economic impact on those areas in which it is practiced 

(Box 10.1). With capital investment of $642 million, the catfish farming industry in Mississippi 

employs over 7,000 people in jobs directly related to production (Dean and Hanson 2003). 

Further, by using locally produced agricultural raw materials as ingredients in feed, catfish 

farmers add value to national agricultural commodities in the same way that producers of 

poultry, hogs, and beef add value. Catfish production has declined substantially during the past 

four years due to increased production costs (feed and fuel) and competition from catfish 

substitute species from Asia. 2008 U.S. catfish production is projected to be between 470 - 480 

million pounds, down from a high of 630 million pounds in 2004 (NMFS 2007, Haley, 2008). 

In recent years U.S. catfish farmers have experienced fierce competition from overseas 

fish farmers that produce fish similar to catfish, mostly “basa”, farmed in Vietnam and Tilapia, 

which is farmed in many tropical and sub-tropical countries. According to Harvey (2006), pond 

acreages have declined for four years in a row and, although there is potential to increase 

capacity, imports of competing products have held prices in check, while the cost of production 

has increased steadily with inflation and rising costs of feed. Recent trends in catfish processing 

volumes and prices are shown in Figure 10.7 while historical trends in production cost versus 

price are shown in Figure 10.8. 
Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

213 

Catfish Facts 

• Mississippi farmers sold 381 million pounds of farm-raised catfish to processing 

plants in 2001. This was around 64 percent of the total farm-raised catfish processed 

in the United States. 

• There are more than 111,000 acres of catfish ponds in Mississippi. This is 177 square 

miles of ponds. If this were one pond, it would be a mile wide, and stretch along I-20 

from the Alabama-Mississippi border to the Mississippi River. 

• Mississippi catfish were fed more than 950 million pounds of feed in 2001. This could 

be hauled in a train of 4,950 96-ton hopper cars or a caravan of 19,800 18-wheel 24-

ton feed trucks. At least 4 acres of grain crops are needed to support one foodsize fish 

acre. 

• As shown in the table below, the Mississippi catfish industry employs more than 

3,000 people on catfish farms, more than 3,600 workers in processing plants, and 330 

in feed mills. Total payroll exceeds$102 million, and total industry investments 

exceed $600 million. 

• The modern catfish industry originated in the Mississippi Delta in the late 1960’s and 

early 1970’s by farmers who were seeking an alternative to low-priced tow crops on 

clay-based soils. 

• Mississippi’s farm-raised catfish industry is a model world-class commercial 

aquaculture industry that is profitable, sustainable, and environmentally sound. 

Direct Impact of the Catfish Industry in Mississippi 

Sector Number of jobs Payroll 

$(Millions) 

Sector Revenues* 

$(Millions) 

Investments 

$(Millions) 

Feed 330 8 150 95

Farming 3,000 37 260 397

Processing 3,671 57 435 200

Total 7,001 102 845 642

* includes payroll from payroll column. 

Box 10.1. Summary of catfish industry facts. 

Source: Dean and Hanson, 2003 
Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

214 

Figure 10.7. Amount processed and average grower price of catfish in the United States, 

2005-2007. 

Source: NASS, 2008. 

Figure 10.8. Cost of production and farm gate price for catfish to illustrate the cyclical 

nature of the industry. 

Source: Tucker et al., 2004
Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

215 

2. Net pen farming of Atlantic salmon

 Salmon are farmed commercially in only two areas of the U.S.: Maine and Washington. 

The industries in these states represent less than 2% of a much larger global business that has 

developed quickly in the last 20 years. Global production of farmed Atlantic salmon in 2007 is 

estimated to have been 1.4 million mt of which the US imported about 300,000 mt (Seafood 

Intelligence, 2008). 

Salmon are farmed in a two-stage process. First is the production of juvenile salmon, 

called ‘smolts’, in fresh water hatcheries. Second is the grow-out of these fish to market size in 

seawater cages or net pens. The freshwater stage is similar in many respects to the farming of 

rainbow trout and production of salmon juveniles for enhancement (Section 6 of this chapter). 

The hatcheries employ a flowing water culture method using raceways, or circular tanks, to raise 

newly hatched salmon ‘alevins’ through the early part of their life until they are ready as smolts 

to go to saltwater. The source of water can be a lake, stream, spring, or well with typical flows 

required being in the order of two to five million gallons per day. 

The operating principle of net-pen farming is that net-pen containers, or cages, are 

suspended from floating collars and held in shape by weights attached to the bottom of the net 

(Figure 10.9). Water exchange then occurs within the net pen due to tide and wind driven water 

currents. The principle can be applied to many species of marine fish and other species that are 

grown in net pens in the United States, but on a much lesser scale than Atlantic salmon, 

including Pacific threadfin, white sea bass and yellowtail jack. 

Figure 10.9. Diagram of a simple net pen that can be used for salmon and many other fish 

species. 
Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

216 

 Atlantic salmon have been farmed in Maine and Washington since the mid-1980s after 

attempts to farm Pacific Coho salmon in Washington during the 1970s and early 1980s came to 

an end. At that time, it was realized that Atlantic salmon were more suitable for farming because 

they are relatively easy to handle, grow well under culture conditions, have a relatively high 

commercial value and adapt well to farming conditions outside their native range (Knapp et al, 

2007). 

In 2005 (see Table 10.2), total US production of Atlantic salmon was 9,401 metric tons, 

with a value of $37.4 million. However, as shown in Table 10.2 and Figure 10.10, both 

production and value were higher in previous years. These changes are due in part to globally 

driven swings in farmed salmon prices, 2002 being a particularly difficult year (Table 10.2), and 

in part to the fact that the industry in Maine suffered from the disease Infectious Salmon Anemia 

(ISA) between 2001 -2003. Even though ISA is now largely controlled, it still limits overall 

production volume. 

Table 10.2. Production and sales of US farmed salmon 2000 – 2005. 

Year MT produced (x1,000) Sales Av price per kg 

2000 22,395 99,208 $4.43 

2001 20,769 72,019 $3.47 

2002 12,734 27,756 $2.18 

2003 16,315 54,706 $3.35 

2004 15,157 56,679 $3.74 

2005 9,401 37,439 $3.98 

Source: NMFS 2006 

Figure 10.10. U.S.-farmed salmon production. 

Source: NMFS, 1999, 2003, 2007

U.S. Aquaculture Production: Salmon 

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Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

217 

3. Oysters and Clams

Farming of bivalve mollusks in the United States is dominated by the production of 

several different species of oysters and clams (Table 10.3). Two of the most important species, 

namely Crassostrea gigas and Tapes philippinarum, are not native to the United States but came 

originally from Asia. Other cultivated shellfish include mussels, scallops, and geoducks. 

Annual data for the production of oysters and clams from 1984 to 2005 (Figure 10.11) 

show a combined production total of 26.3 million lbs. meat weight (12.6 million lbs of clams and 

13.7 million lbs of oysters) that had a first sale value of $165.4 million ($72.8 million of clams 

and $92.6 million of oysters). Thus, another feature of the successful bivalve farming industry is 

the high unit value of its products. As demonstrated here, the average value is $6.3/lb meat 

weight. 

The methods used for bivalve aquaculture differ from other forms of aquaculture because no 

food is added to the culture water during the grow-out phase. The shellfish are grown out mostly 

in protected coastal waters (see Figure 10.12) and feed by filtering large volumes of seawater 

through their gills to extract the natural phytoplankton (microscopic algae) that are in it. 

Depending on the species, size, water temperature, and other variables, the volume of water 

filtered by each animal can be 20 to 80 gallons per day. During nursery and grow-out stages, this 

demand for water (and associated phytoplankton) and physical space necessitate that it be done 

in the natural environment. It is neither practical nor economical to culture most shellfish to 

maturity, which typically takes two to five years, in land-based systems (Kramer et al., 2000). 

Table 10.3. Commercial (farmed and wild) oysters and clams of the U.S. 

Oysters

Pacific oyster 

Olympia oyster 

European oyster 

Kumomoto oyster 

Eastern oysters 

Scientific name

Crassostrea gigas 

Ostreola conchaphila 

Ostrea edulis 

Crassostrea sikamea 

Crassostrea virginica 

Clams

Quahog (hard) 

Manila (Pacific) 

Ocean quahog 

Softshell 

Surf (Atlantic) 

Geoduck 

Mercenaria mercenaria

Tapes philippinarum 

Arctica islandica 

Mya arenaria 

Spisula solidissima 

Panope abrupta 
Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

218 

Figure 10.11. U.S.-farmed oyster and clam production. 

 Source: NMFS, 1999, 2003, 2007 

This dependence on filtering natural food puts a high premium on the need for clean 

water for shellfish farming, especially for species such as oysters which are eaten raw. 

Harvesting closures, due to the presence of potentially harmful bacteria, viruses, and other 

contaminants, are quite common in shellfish farming, while the industry itself has been and 

continues to be a strong advocate for clean water. There are, in fact, many cases where the 

presence of shellfish helps to improve water quality by filtering out particulate matter. For 

example, Newell (1988) estimated that, prior to 1870; the oyster populations in the Chesapeake 

Bay were capable in the summer of filtering the entire volume of water in the estuary in three to 

six days. With reduced stocks of oysters, such filtering is now estimated to be in the order of 

300 days, and this may be a contributing factor to the degraded water quality in the Chesapeake 

Bay today. 

U.S. Aquaculture Production: Oyster

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U.S. Aquaculture Production: Clam

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Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

219 

Figure 10.12. Shellfish farms in Washington State.

Source: Bill Dewey, Taylor Shellfish Farms 

Bivalve farming occurs to a greater or lesser extent in every coastal state in the country. 

Underlying all methods of farming are the basic principles of securing and protecting a stock of 

shellfish in bodies of clean water from which they can feed, while allowing access to farmers for 

general care and harvesting. Thus, oysters can be grown on the bottom or in racks and trays, or 

in the water column using longlines (Figure 10.13), bags strung on lines, or wrapped on pilings 

(bouchout). Clams, on the other hand, because of their need to dig into the substrate, are almost 

always grown on the bottom, and are often covered with plastic mesh to protect them from 

predators. 

One difficulty of interpreting production numbers and describing the shellfish farming 

industry is that shellfish aquaculture activities vary widely. Therefore, determining what actually 
Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

220 

constitutes aquaculture is a challenge. On one side of the spectrum are managed wild fisheries 

that rely upon natural recruitment to re-seed public beds. Fishermen (and recreational 

harvesters) get licenses to harvest the wild resource. On the other side is the intensive cultivation 

of privately-owned tidelands. Beds are seeded with juveniles that began as larvae in a hatchery 

and are then reared for a period of time in an upland nursery before being planted in some sort of 

grow-out system. In between these extremes are many other situations, with varying levels of 

control over the source of the seed stock and the method by which it is grown to market size 

(Kramer et al., 2000). Difficulties with regard to definition notwithstanding, all U.S. shellfish 

production is limited by a lack of access to tidelands and coastal waters. Competition for these 

resources, and pollution in some areas, make expansion difficult. Therefore, industry growth in 

recent years has been slow, despite the fact that technologies for farming most species are well 

established and market demand for industry products is strong. 

One example of the growth that can occur when tidelands and near-shore coastal waters 

are made available is the culturing of hard clams in Florida. This began in the early 1990s, 

primarily through job re-training efforts designed for displaced workers in the commercial 

fishing industry. By 2003, there were 237 clam farms with annual combined sales of $13 million 

(Table 10.4). In turn, these farms supported the activity of hatcheries and land-based nurseries 

throughout the state while certified shellfish wholesalers in the state purchased the clams and 

distributed them throughout the nation. An analysis by Philippakos et al. (2001) assessed the 

aggregate economic impact of this industry at $34 million. However, hurricanes in 2004 and 

2005 caused severe damage to this industry so that by 2005 there were only 153 farms and sales 

fell to $9.8 billion with an average price per clam sold of 10.8 cents (Table 10.4 and NASS 

2006). There were 20 operations raising clam seed. 

Similar loss of growing capacity occurred in the Gulf States’ fisheries for oysters, clams, 

and mussels was caused by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. The Gulf Oyster Task Force 

estimated the cost to restore oyster beds and infrastructure over the entire affected area to be 

more than $400 million, while the Gulf Oyster Industry Council estimated it to be more than 

$335 million (Buck, 2005). When it occurs, restoration will most likely happen with the help of 

hatchery-produced seed to stock otherwise un-tended public oyster beds. This is an example of 

how public and /or private hatcheries can serve as an important tool in fishery management. 

 

The outlook for the national oyster and clam production is for only modest growth as has 

occurred, for example, in Washington over the past 30 years, where losses of capacity due to 

closures or downgrades in water quality have been offset by developments in farming 

technology. Growth, if it is to occur, will have to include advances in hatchery production as 

well as new, on-growing methods that both exclude predators more efficiently and facilitate 

production in areas not previously developed (Dewey, 2006). 
Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

221 

Figure 10.13. Offshore farming of mussels in New Hampshire. 

Source: University of New Hampshire Atlantic Marine Aquaculture Center 

Table 10.4 Clam farm sales and clam seed planted in Florida during 2005.

 Year Farms Farms 

With Sales 

Clams Sold

(Millions) 

Sales 

(Millions)

2003 237 192 134.0 $13.0 

2005 153 142 92.1 9.8 

Seed Planted 

2002 289,791,000 

2003 350,398,000 

2004 392,100,000 

2005 (estimated) 350,000,000 

2006 (expected plantings) 500,000,000 

Source NASS 2006 
Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

222 

However, one shellfish farming sector that might see more rapid growth is the offshore 

culture of species such as mussels and scallops that can be grown in suspended culture, i.e. on 

ropes or in special net containers suspended from floating rafts (Figure 10.13). Should these 

methods, now being developed at the University of New Hampshire, become widely practiced it 

could change the present mix of production that characterizes the nation’s shellfish farming 

industry today (Anon 2007). 

4. Rainbow trout

Hinshaw et al. (2004), in their review of farming the rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus 

mykiss) in the United States, described the industry as mature and relatively stable. Rainbow 

trout constitute the overwhelming majority of trout species produced in commercial facilities, but 

other species, such as the Eastern brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and European brown trout 

(Salmon trutta), are also produced in limited numbers. According to the 2005 Census of 

Aquaculture (NASS, 2006), the national trout industry consists of 410 farming operations located 

in 38 states. The major producing state is Idaho, with 45% of domestic production by value, 

followed by Washington, California, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Missouri. The majority 

of these operations are small, family-operated businesses, with average annual sales of about 

$193,000. The larger operations, which are only about 20% of the farms by number, account for 

over 85% of total sales (Hinshaw et al. 2004). This dichotomy in farm sizes exists within most 

states, with a few large companies or farms producing most of the fish in a respective area. 

Rainbow trout, like salmon, grow best in flowing water. Historically and typically, this is 

supplied by tapping springs or streams and diverting the water flow through ponds or raceways 

(Figure 10.14). Like salmon, rainbow trout can also be grown in net pens, and because they will 

acclimate and grow well in saltwater, there has been a substantial increase in marine production 

of trout worldwide in recent years (Figure 10.15). Most of the recent growth in global trout 

production has been in saltwater, where the fish are grown to a size larger than is typical for 

fresh water. In Europe, these saltwater-grown fish are sold as “salmon trout,” which reflects the 

fact that the flesh is red and sizes may be 2-4 kg. In the United States, such fish are sold as 

steelhead and are mostly imported from Chile, although some production of large trout occurs in 

fresh water in the states of Washington and North Carolina. Therefore, two quite distinct 

markets exist for rainbow trout nationally: one, for “portion size” fish - as are produced in most 

freshwater trout farms, and the other, for “large trout” - as are grown in net-pens. 

Production of trout in the United Sates has lagged behind the rest of the world and 

remained relatively stable for the last 20 years (Figure 10.15). This reflects the fact that most of 

the best freshwater sources for raising these fish were identified and secured years ago, 

especially in Idaho. There are few, if any, sources of freshwater today which could be tapped to 

expand the industry using typical, flowing water raceway farming. In fact, trout farmers in some 

states are under pressure to cut production in response to demands for water elsewhere and/or 

diminishing flow levels from aquifers. A minor exception is the production of larger trout from 

net pens in freshwater in Washington and North Carolina, although here too opportunities are 

limited. Meanwhile, farming of trout in saltwater in both Washington and Maine has not been 

successful compared to Atlantic salmon farming and, in any case, opportunities to expand 

saltwater net-pen farming in these states are limited. 
Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

223 

Figure 10.14. U.S. rainbow trout farms. 

The outlook for U.S. trout farming is continued stability (Figure 10.16). Diminishing 

water supplies and pressure to reduce water consumption will most likely be countered by even 

more efficient farming, but the prospects for any possible expansion using traditional flowing 

water methods seem negligible. Production offshore in saltwater net-pens is feasible along the 

northeast and northwest coastlines of the country, and especially in the near-shore waters of 

Alaska, but development is unlikely at present. 
Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

224 

Figure 10.15. World and U.S. production of rainbow trout. 

Source: FAO, 2007 

Figure 10.16. U.S. rainbow trout production. 

Source: NMFS, 1999, 2003, 2007 

5. Tilapia and recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS).

A smaller but important part of American food fish aquaculture is the farming of tilapia. It is 

important for two reasons. First, tilapia has become a popular food fish in the United States in 

recent years with most supplies coming from overseas producers especially in Central and South 

America and Asia (Figure 10.17). Second, almost 8,000 mt of this tilapia is grown in the United 

States (Table 10.1) in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) where, by continuous recycling 

and reconditioning of the culture water, the temperature can be maintained at a level at which 

0

100

200

300

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500

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195019551960196519701975198019851990199520002005

Metric Tons ('000)

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US

U.S. Aquaculture Production: Trout

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1984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005

Million Pounds / Million Dollars

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Value
Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

225 

Figure 10.17. Tilapia imports in the United States. 

Source: Aquaculture Outlook, April 2007 

a tropical fish like tilapia grows well. These fish are almost all sold live in areas where certain 

ethnic groups prefer to buy their fish in this way, and they are sold at premium prices compared 

to imported processed tilapia products 

Control of water temperature in RAS at any level that the operator chooses means that 

this technology can be used, in principle, to grow any species of fish. Therefore RAS have 

numerous potential applications in aquaculture and are the subject of intense research. The key 

challenge is to be able to build and operate them at a cost that allows them to compete with other 

methods of aquaculture as described above. Higher costs in RAS result from the investment 

needed for water treatment and control equipment and the energy, biosecurity, and other costs of 

operation (Figure 10.21). Presently, RAS are most successful when used to grow high value 

products such as live tilapia, sturgeon for the production of caviar, and barramundi. They are 

also being used increasingly in hatcheries where controlling both temperature and microbial 

content of water makes them especially suitable for culturing the delicate early life stages of 

many species, including salmon. For the same reason, almost all public aquariums are RAS and 

the technology is also used in ornamental fish breeding. 

Another benefit of RAS is that they use and discharge much less water than other 

methods of aquaculture. Therefore, there is greater flexibility as to where they can be located 

because they are not so dependent on large natural water sources for their water supply and their 

waste water can be treated before discharge back into natural water bodies. 

6. Public sector aquaculture

Hatchery-reared fingerlings and spat are released to enhance commercial and recreational 

catch or to restore threatened or endangered populations of fish and shellfish. Also, shellfish 

spat and marsh grasses are produced by public hatcheries or private companies for public 

programs to rebuild shellfish and marsh habitat. Statistics for the production of juveniles to 

support the recreational fishing industry are separated from the statistics for annual commercial 
Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

226 

Figure 10.18 A Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) for Tilapia and Process Flow 

Diagram.

Source Timmons and Ebeling 2006 
Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

227 

aquaculture production in most state and federal fisheries and aquaculture reports. The most 

common species raised and stocked to support recreational fisheries are bluegill, catfish, 

largemouth and smallmouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, salmon and trout, sauger and 

walleye, steelhead, striped bass, and sunfish (Nash, 1995). Hundreds of millions of juveniles are 

raised each year in over 75 hatcheries operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National 

Fish Hatchery System, more than 1,000 private hatcheries and hundreds of state hatcheries. 

Production volumes for stocking from restoration and enhancement hatcheries for marine 

species are hard to pin down. Hatchery-based production of fingerlings has been or was 

conducted for many years to enhance or restore fisheries for striped bass on the East Coast and 

Gulf, for red fish in the Gulf, and white sea bass in California. However, data for yields directly 

attributable to released fish are not available (Drawbridge, 2006; Leber, 2006), except for salmon 

for which it is possible make an estimate of value, though not weight, by making certain 

assumptions. 

The numbers and values for releases and catches of hatchery-raised salmon on the West 

Coast and Alaska vary. Data for production from Pacific salmon enhancement hatcheries in 

Alaska (see Figure 10.19) have been summarized by White (2005) and McGee (undated). 

According to White, 

“Over 1.5 billion eggs were collected by Alaskan hatchery operators in 2005. In 

addition, over 1.4 billion fish were released. An estimated 80 million salmon of hatchery 

origin returned. Of the 200 million salmon harvested in the commercial common 

property fishery, over 53 million or 27% of the harvest was contributed by ocean 

ranching by the Alaska salmon enhancement program. Enhanced salmon provided over 

$39 million or 14% of the preliminary value of the common property harvest. The ocean 

ranching program provides hundreds of Alaskans with seasonal and full time jobs. It is 

considered the largest agricultural industry in Alaska.” 

The fact that 27% of the harvest contributed only 14% of the value is because the vast majority 

of hatchery-reared salmon for stock enhancement are chum and pink salmon. These are the least 

valuable species but also the easiest to rear in a hatchery. However, the actual contribution of 

salmon hatcheries in Alaska may be higher than the number provided by White (2005). For 

example, Knapp et al (2007) included both cost recovery harvest and enhanced fish harvest as 

contribution of hatchery-based salmon farming to commercial harvest and estimated the total 

enhanced harvest represented 33.8% of the total commercial harvest in 2005, rather than 14% as 

stated by White. 

In contrast, hatchery releases from federal, state, and tribal hatcheries in Washington, 

Oregon, and California are mostly of the higher-value salmon species such as Chinook and Coho 

salmon. Bartlett (2005) reported that almost 300 million salmon in total were released into 

Pacific Northwest waters in 2004 and that 4,640 tons of Chinook and 244 tons of Coho were 

caught in the commercial fisheries in the same year. Furthermore, he indicated that coastal and 

freshwater fisheries and the sport fisheries took another 3,699 tons of Chinook and 2,710 tons of 

Coho, assuming the same average weights as in the commercial fisheries. 
Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

228 

Figure 10.19. Contribution of hatchery-reared salmon to the Alaskan fishery. 

Source: ADFG, 1979-2005

The ex-vessel value of the non-Indian commercial ocean fishery for salmon in these three 

coastal states in 2004 was $29 million. Although a value for fish harvested in coastal and fresh 

waters and in sport fisheries is not provided, it is clear that this value is at least as large as that of 

the commercial fishery, if not more. Therefore, a reasonable approximation of aggregate weights 

and values from these hatchery-enhanced fisheries in Washington, Oregon, and California is 

8,000 tons of Chinook salmon and 3,000 tons of Coho, yielding a total ex-vessel equivalent value 

of about $60 million suggesting that enhancement aquaculture is one of the country’s major 

aquaculture activities. 

For completeness, it must also be noted that there are hatcheries for enhancement and/or 

restoration of Atlantic salmon on the East Coast and for certain Pacific salmon species in the 

Great Lakes. However, none of these programs supports a commercial fishery; therefore, they 

do not contribute to the overall commercial value. 

References 

Anon 2007. Offshore mussel farm is USA first. Fish Farming International. 34(11):7. 

Bartlett, H.R. 2005. Washington, Oregon, and California salmon hatchery releases. 

Commercial and Sport Fishery Catch Statistics for 2004 the Season. Washington Department of 

Fisheries and Wildlife. NPAFC Doc. No 909 Rev. 1, 6pp. 

Buck, G. 2005. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: fishing and aquaculture industries - damage and 

recovery. CRS Report for Congress. Order Code RS22241. 

Dewey, William. 2006. Personal communication. 

Drawbridge, Mark. 2006. Personal communication. 

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

19791981198319851987198919911993199519971999200120032005

Wild

Cost Recovery

Enhanced Harvest
Chapter 10: Current Status of Aquaculture in the United States 

229 

Dean, S. and T. Hanson, 2003. Economic Impact of the Mississippi Farm-Raised Catfish 

Industry at the Year 2003. Miss. State Univ. Extension Publication #2317 

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). 2007. FishStat Plus: 

Universal Software for Fishery Statistical Time Series. 

Haley, M.M. 2008. Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook. A report from the Economic 

Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, April 17, 2008. www.ers.usda.gov 

Hanson, T.R., S.Dean, and S.R. Spurlock. 2004. Economic Impact of the Farm-Raised Catfish 

Industry on the Mississippi State Economy. Journal of Applied Aquaculture 15 (1/2):11-28. 

Harvey, D. 2006. Aquaculture Outlook. USDA, ERS, LDP – AQS-23. 

Hinshaw, J., G. Fornshel, and R. Kinnunen. 2004. A profile of the aquaculture of trout in the 

United States. USDA, Risk Management Agency, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, through 

Mississippi State University. Agreement RMA 01-IE-0831-127. 

Knapp, G., C.A. Roheim, and J.L. Anderson. 2007. The Great Salmon Run: Competition 

between Wild and Farmed Salmon. Traffic North America, World Wildlife Fund, Washington, 

DC 

Kraeuter, D., B. Dewey, B., and M. Rice. 2000. Response to EPA’s aquaculture industry 

regulatory development data needs. Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture, Aquaculture Effluent 

Task Force. Molluscan Shellfish Aquaculture Technical Subgroup. 

Leber, K. 2006. Personal communication. 

McGee, S. Undated. Salmon hatcheries in Alaska – plans, permits, and policies to protect wild 

stocks. http://www.lltk.org/ 

Nash, C.E. 1995. Aquaculture Sector Planning and Management. Fishing News Books, 

Blackwell Science, Ltd., Osney Mead, Oxford, U.K. 

National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS). 2006. Aquaculture, October 2006. 

www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Florida/Publications/Aquaculture/06aqua4.doc 

National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS). 2008. Catfish News 

http://catfishnews.com/markets.htm 

NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service). 2007. Fisheries of the United States 2006. Current 

Fishery Statistics No. 2006, NOAA/NMFS, Silver Spring, Maryland. 

NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service). 2003. Fisheries of the United States 2002. Current 

Fishery Statistics No. 2002, NOAA/NMFS, Silver Spring, Maryland. 
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230 

NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service).1999. Fisheries of the United States1996. Current 

Fishery Statistics No. 1996, NOAA/NMFS, Silver Spring, Maryland. 

Newell, R.I.E. 1988. Ecological changes in Chesapeake Bay: are they the result of 

overharvesting the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica? Chesapeake Research Consortium, 

Publication 129. 

Philippakos, E., C. Adams, A. Hodges, D. Mulkey, D. Comer, and L.N. Sturmer. 2001. The 

economic impact of the Florida cultured hard clam industry. University of Florida Sea Grant 

(SGR 123), Gainesville, FL, 23 pp. 

Ruth, A., L. Sturmer, and C. Adams. 2003. Organizational structures and strategies for the hard 

clam aquaculture industry in Florida. Submitted to the USDA Risk Management Agency. The 

Targeted Commodity Partnerships for the Risk Management Education Program; Report on 

Project 02-1E0831-0105. 

Seafood Intelligence. 2008. What news from Hell. Norway registers formidable salmon 

production; Chile and Canada down. (Jan 26th) 

http://www.seafoodintelligence.com/EditModule.aspx?tabid=145&mid=574&def=News%20Arti

cle%20View&ItemId=16299 

Timmons, M., and J. Ebeling. 2006. Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) Technologies. 

Part Aquaculture Magazine Sept / Oct 2006 32 - 39. 

Tucker, C., J. Avery, C. Engle, and A Goodwin. 2004. Industry profile: pond-raised channel 

catfish. USDA Risk Management Agency, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, through 

Mississippi State University. Agreement No. RMA 01-IE-0831-127. 

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 2005 Census of Aquaculture. 

http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2002/Aquaculture/index.asp 

White, B. 2005. Alaska salmon enhancement program - 2005 annual report. Fishery 

Management Report No. 06-19. 
231 

CHAPTER 11 

Future Markets for Aquaculture Products 

James Anderson and Gina Shamshak 

This chapter compares the global seafood industry to other animal protein industries and 

examines the general trends shaping the future of the U.S. seafood industry. 

The Seafood Industry 

How does the seafood sector compare to other animal protein sectors? Consider the 

following characterization of the global seafood industry: 

• The global seafood industry is the most complex and diverse animal protein sector 

especially in terms of the number of species and the variety of harvest technologies. 

There are over 800 species traded, ranging from urchin to oyster to salmon to swordfish 

(Anderson, 2003). The industry still uses harvesting technologies that date back 

thousands of years (nets, spears, and harpoons); however, it also employs some of the 

most advanced technologies in aquaculture and fishing systems. 

• It is by far the most international of all the animal proteins. International trade in fish is 

valued at more than twice the trade in all other meats and poultry combined (FAO, 2004). 

• It is the most fragmented industry, with tens of thousands of companies spread around the 

world. 

• Few would argue with the claim that the seafood sector faces the most bureaucratic and 

inefficient regulatory environment, relative to any other food sector. 

• Compared to other animal protein sectors, it is remarkably wasteful. The levels of 

bycatch and processing wastes are staggering. The race to find and capture fish has often 

resulted in excess capacity, overcapitalization, and/or regulated inefficiency, all of which 

waste resources. 

• Seafood is definitely the most misunderstood animal protein by both consumers and 

chefs. The lack of knowledge regarding preparation, handling, nutritional characteristics, 

origin, and species is truly remarkable, especially in the U.S. The media are full of 

misinformation and biased content. 

• Seafood trade occurs in a global marketplace which lacks transparency. There are few, 

well-run wholesale markets in the U.S. In general, accurate and timely information about 

prices and market conditions is difficult to obtain or non-existent. 

• All of these factors result in a seafood sector which is highly volatile compared to the 

other animal protein sectors. 

The factors above undermine efficiency, market planning, and market development. 

Growth in market share will come from the sub-sectors of the seafood industry that can change 

the industry from the one characterized above to one that is more like the traditional animal 

protein sectors (such as beef and poultry). That future belongs to aquaculture and the few wellmanaged wild fisheries. To understand this position more thoroughly, consider the expectations 

for seafood consumption in the future. 
Chapter 11: Future Markets for Aquaculture Products 

232 

Expectations: World Supply and Demand 

In a recent study, Delgado et al. (2003) projected the global demand for seafood will 

grow 38% from 133 million metric tons (mmt) in 1999/2000 to approximately 183 mmt in 2015. 

This represents an annual increase of about 2.1%, compared to an annual growth rate of 3.1% 

over the prior two decades. They expect 46% of this growth to come from population increases 

and 54% to come from economic development and other factors. 

Their report also projects the source of the supply required to meet the forecasted 

demand. They expect that 73% will come from aquaculture, while most traditional capture 

fisheries are expected to stagnate. Only 27% of the growth in supply is expected to come from 

traditional fisheries. In particular, they expect the share of supply derived from pelagic and 

demersal fisheries to decline. 

Expectations: U.S. Market 

Figure 11.1 illustrates U.S. per-capita consumption of red meat, poultry and seafood. 

Expected per-capita consumption for the three categories was forecasted out to 2020 using a 

basic state-space time series model. Red meat per-capita consumption is expected to decline by 

about 9% over the next 15 years, and poultry per-capita consumption is expected to increase 

nearly 40% (barring an outbreak of Avian flu). Growth in seafood consumption is expected to 

increase 14-17%, from 16.6 pounds per capita to over 19 pounds per capita by 2020. Given that 

the U.S. population is expected to grow 12-13%, additional seafood requirements are likely to 

range between 25 to 35% more than are currently available. These expectations are in line with 

the forecasts by Delgado et al. (2003) for global demand. Demand could also expand as 

consumers seek out seafood products due to their associated health benefits. Demand could also 

expand as consumers seek out seafood products due to their health benefits. Seafood is an 

excellent source of high quality proteins and long chain omega-3 fatty acids, including EPA 

(eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Both DHA and EPA provide 

essential health benefits, including cardiovascular health, improved cellular function, and overall 

brain and nervous system function. The consumption of omega-3 fatty acids is beneficial 

especially with regard to cardiovascular health (Seierstad et al., 2005; Kris-Etherton et al., 2002; 

Eliseo et al., 2002; Connor, 2000; Kromhout et al., 1985). Advances in aquaculture production 

will be required to meet this expected demand. With improved marketing and advances in 

technology, these forecasts may be conservative. 

Current Market Trends

Consider how the market has been changing over the past decade or so. Table 11.1 

shows two significant changes in the U.S. seafood market. The first startling observation is that 

growth in per-capita consumption is occurring almost exclusively among aquaculture-based 

species. Since 1987, salmon is up 403%, shrimp is up 74%, catfish is up 91%; and tilapia wasn’t 

even measured in 1987. In contrast, many traditional fisheries are stable or declining: cod is 

down 62%; clams are down 21%; flatfish are off the top ten list; and tuna and scallops remain 

essentially unchanged. 
Chapter 11: Future Markets for Aquaculture Products 

233 

A second observation is that the market for seafood is becoming more concentrated. 

Note that the top five species account for 76% of total consumption in 2003, compared to 56% in 

1987. Furthermore, the top ten species now account for 93% of total seafood per-capita 

consumption. This concentration is coming from consolidation in the seafood business, which is 

driven in large part by the presence of the aquaculture sector. The aquaculture sector is not just 

increasing global seafood supply, it is also reducing supply uncertainty and providing a more 

consistent, high-quality product. This leads to better marketing and new product development. 

Figure 11.1. U.S. per capita consumption of red meat, poultry, and fish/shellfish actual 

(1970-2004) and forecast (2005-2020). 

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2019

Pounds Per Capita

Red Meat

Poultry

Fish & Shellfish

2020 

Per Capita Seafood: =15-18% 

US Pop: +12-13%

Total Seafood: +25-35%

 Source: USDA, 2004; NMFS, 2004 

Seafood product diversity in the future will not necessarily come from the next “new” 

species; rather, it will come from the same species with a new preparation, sauce, product form, 

or image (such as organic). The U.S. catfish industry, for example, has expanded its market 

share by making catfish appear different with sauces, flavors, and coatings. Producers within the 

tilapia industry will likely do the same to increase market share and expand product lines. 

The trend toward aquacultured species is further substantiated by the data collected in the 

annual retail survey conducted by Seafood Business. As can be seen in Table 11.2, top selling 

species (salmon, tilapia, shrimp, and catfish) are now dominated by aquaculture. Ten years ago 

pollock, cod, haddock, and flounder were the top sellers. 
Chapter 11: Future Markets for Aquaculture Products 

234 

Table 11.1. United States seafood consumption changes from 1987 to 2003. 

Edible kg per Capita 

1987 2003 % Change 

1 Tuna 1.59 Shrimp 1.81 +74 

2 Shrimp 1.04 Tuna 1.54 -3 

3 Cod 0.76 Salmon 1.01 +403 

4 AK Pollock 0.40 AK Pollock 0.77 +93 

5 Flatfish 0.33 Catfish 0.52 +91 

6 Clams 0.30 Cod 0.29 -62 

7 Catfish 0.27 Crab 0.28 +84 

8 Salmon 0.20 Clams 0.25 -21 

9 Crab 0.15 Tilapia 0.24 NA 

10 Scallops 0.15 Scallops 0.15 0 

Other 2.16 Other 0.55 -75 

 Total 7.35 Total 7.40 +1 

Source: NMFS(2004) and NFI (1988, 2005) 

Expectations: Global Supply 

Globally, supplies from traditional fisheries will either remain flat or decline over time. 

Figures 11.2 & 11.3 demonstrate the trend in traditional capture fisheries production, where 

harvests have been stable or declining over the past 20 years. Increases in global seafood supply 

will not come from traditional fisheries. Many fisheries are already fully exploited and any 

increases in harvest levels will only reduce the stock and ultimately decrease, rather than 

increase, harvest levels. Instead, any increases in total global fisheries production will come from 

the aquaculture sector. 

 In contrast to Figures 11.2 and 11.3, which represent stagnant or declining global supply 

in traditional fisheries over the past 20 years, Figures 11.4 & 11.5 demonstrate the extraordinary 

expansion in production that occurred and will continue to occur in the aquaculture sector. 

Global production of salmon and trout, as well as tilapia, has exhibited remarkable 

growth over the past two decades. Production by these sectors has steadily increased, unlike the 

situation for traditionally harvested flatfish and cods. Interestingly, tilapia imports in the U.S. 

are likely to surpass salmon imports within the next 15 years (Figure 11.6). One reason for the 

rapid growth in tilapia, in addition to technological and genetic advances, is the substitution of 

tilapia for traditional whitefish, as supply from traditional capture fisheries remains static or 

declines. 

The emergence of offshore aquaculture could alter this scenario, especially if species 

such as cod and haddock are raised in offshore aquaculture operations. Even if these species are 

not raised domestically, the importation of these and other aquaculture species will continue, and 

most likely increase, as the forecasted gap between domestic demand and supply for seafood 

widens. 

71% 93%

56% 76%
Chapter 11: Future Markets for Aquaculture Products 

235 

Table 11.2. Seafood Business Retail Survey: U.S. Retail Sales, 1994 vs. 2004. 

Source: Perkins, 1994; and Robinson, 2004 

Figure 11.2. World harvest of Alaskan pollock and cod 1985-2004. 

Source: FAO, 2006 

Best Sellers 

 1994 2004 

1 Shrimp Shrimp 

2 Salmon Salmon 

3 Pollock, Cod, Haddock Tilapia 

4 Catfish Tuna 

5 Flounder Catfish 

Fastest Growing Items 

 1994 2004 

1 Salmon Salmon 

2 Shrimp Tilapia 

3 Tilapia Shrimp 

4 Catfish Tuna 

5 Orange Roughy Crab 

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Millions MT

Alaska pollock Cod (Atlantic & Pacific)
Chapter 11: Future Markets for Aquaculture Products 

236 

Figure 11.3. World and North American flatfish 1986-2006. 

Source: FAO, 2006 

Figure 11.4. World salmon and trout aquaculture. 

Source: FAO, 2006

World & North American Flatfish 1986 2006

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Millions MT

North America World

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

2.00

1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004

Millions MT
Chapter 11: Future Markets for Aquaculture Products 

237 

Figure 11.5. World tilapia aquaculture.

Source: FAO, 2006 

Figure 11.6. U.S. imports of salmon vs. tilapia, actual (1989-2005) and forecast (2006-2015). 

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Million MT

Salmon & Trout

Tilapia

Source: USDC, 2005 

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004

Millions MT
Chapter 11: Future Markets for Aquaculture Products 

238 

Aquaculture vs. Traditional Fisheries 

In addition to increasing global seafood supplies, the aquaculture sector also provides 

seafood markets with characteristics that traditional fisheries are often unable to provide. 

Aquaculture species are often not as influenced by seasonal and environmental fluctuations in 

supply, unlike wild fisheries (such as wild-caught salmon) which have season-specific supply 

spikes, followed by periods of no availability. This consistency in the supply of a species is 

preferable to processors and distributors, who can make production and marketing decisions 

throughout the year instead of over a concentrated period of time. Consumers also benefit from 

year-round availability of a species, allowing demand to grow as consumption becomes more 

frequent. In aquaculture, product forms do not have to be limited to frozen, as is often the case 

for many wild fisheries. Furthermore, year-round trade in fresh or live species is also possible for 

several species. 

Given the standardized production of aquaculture species, producers are able to supply a 

homogeneous product of similar size, quality, and consistency throughout the year. For example, 

a catfish fillet harvested and sold in March is essentially identical in size and quality to a catfish 

fillet sold in December, owing to consistency in the production process. Processors, distributors, 

consumers, and the market all benefit from this reliability in supply, quality, and form. Another 

important feature of aquaculture is the ability to predict supply with a much lower variance than 

is the case in wild, traditional fisheries. 

The consistency in supply and quality of aquacultured products are essential features for 

market development, especially with regard to new and value-added products. Investors and 

marketers will seek out species that exhibit increasing production trends, where, as demand 

grows so too can supply—further increasing market demand. 

Real Price Trends in Seafood 

The real price trends of various aquaculture species have been declining over time in 

contrast to traditional wild-caught species, which have remained essentially flat or increased 

(Figure 11.7). Over the past 15 years, the real price of frozen cod has remained relatively 

unchanged. During 1990, the average price of frozen cod was $2.84 per pound, while in 2005 the 

average price was $2.65 per pound, a 7% difference. In contrast, the real prices for salmon, 

shrimp, and catfish all fell considerably over that same time period. Salmon prices declined 

66%, falling from an average price of $6.94 per pound in 1990 to an average price of $2.39 per 

pound in 2005. The price of shrimp declined from an average price of $4.52 per pound in 1990, 

to an average price of $2.71 per pound in 2005, representing a decline of 40 percent. Similarly, 

the price of frozen catfish fillets declined 33%, from an average price of $3.57 per pound in 1990 

to an average price of $2.38 per pound in 2005. It is also interesting to note that, currently, 

catfish, shrimp, salmon, and cod are all trading at very similar prices. Relatively consistent 

declines in the price of aquacultured products are important, because they create opportunities 

for market development and increased market share. 
Chapter 11: Future Markets for Aquaculture Products 

239 

Figure 11.7. Real price trends of seafood. 

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

19901990199019911991199219921992199319931994199419951995199519961996199719971997199819981999199920002000200020012001200220022002200320032004200420052005

2000 US$/lb

Cod, fillet,fz Salmon, 2-3lb, fillet, fz Catfish, fillet, fz Shrimp, Composite

Source: USDA, 1990-2005; Urner Barry Publications, 1990-2005 

Product Diversification and the Role of Eco-labeling 

Relating back to Table 11.1, as the number of species consumed becomes fewer and the 

market becomes more concentrated, diversity in product attributes will fuel additional market 

growth. As stated earlier, this can come in the form of new preparations, sauces, flavorings, and 

other value-added consumer conveniences. Another important source of product differentiation 

will come from eco-labeling and other types of certification programs that differentiate products 

according to set standards that relate back to environmental, health, or other relevant production 

methods. 

There are two major marine certification programs: one administered by the General 

Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), and one administered by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). 

The GAA strictly deals with aquacultured species. According to its website, the GAA is “an 

international, nonprofit trade association dedicated to advancing environmentally and socially 

responsible aquaculture” (GAA, 2006). The GAA established the Responsible Aquaculture 

Program (RAP), which led to the establishment of quantitative, “Best Aquaculture Practices” 

standards for shrimp farming. These standards address environmental and social issues in 

addition to food safety and traceability issues (GAA, 2006). 
Chapter 11: Future Markets for Aquaculture Products 

240 

Another important certification program, the MSC, deals strictly with traditional capture 

fisheries. Established through a partnership between Unilever and the World Wildlife Fund 

(WWF), the MSC was developed to create standards for certifying fisheries as sustainable and 

well-managed (MSC, 2006). There are three main principles of the MSC standard: 1) the 

condition of the fish stock is evaluated, ensuring harvest levels are sustainable; 2) the impact of 

the fishery on the surrounding marine environment is examined (including the potential impact 

on non-targeted species, marine mammals, and sea birds); and finally, 3) the fishery management 

system is evaluated to assess the success of its rules and procedures in ensuring the sustainable 

use of the resource (MSC, 2006). Currently, the MSC does not certify aquacultured fish; 

however, it is reasonable to envision the MSC expanding to include both traditional fisheries and 

aquaculture in the future. 

Both certification programs provide another form of value-added product differentiation 

to consumers by providing information on the production and harvest practices and, also, the 

overall environmental and social impacts of a given fishery. Consumers are becoming 

increasingly interested in where and how their seafood was produced or harvested, and the value 

of this information has not been lost on retailers and restaurants. Both Wal-Mart and Darden 

restaurants have recently committed to providing MSC- and GAA-labeled products to its 

consumers. In early 2006, Wal-Mart announced its commitment “to source all of its wild-caught 

fresh and frozen fish for the North American market from MSC certified fisheries over the next 

three to five years” (Wal-Mart, 2006). This commitment will apply to Wal-Mart’s own branded 

products, not other branded products, although the company hopes “to influence that also” 

(McGovern, 2006). Darden Restaurants Inc., the parent company of Red Lobster, recently 

committed to requiring its farmed shrimp suppliers to adhere to GAA “Best Aquaculture 

Practices” certification standards. Both companies are major players, and their actions speak 

volumes about the growing importance of environmental certification programs. Other retailers 

and restaurants will most likely follow the lead of Wal-Mart and Darden, increasing both the 

availability and popularity of this new form of value-added seafood product in the market. 

Roheim (2003) identifies four major beneficiaries of successful eco-labeling programs. 

First, marine fisheries and surrounding ecosystems benefit from the establishment of sustainable 

management practices. Second, consumers benefit from receiving more information on the 

seafood products which they consume, allowing them to make more informed purchasing 

decisions. Third, producers of eco-labeled seafood products benefit from potentially higher 

prices, due to the ability to differentiate their products. And finally, the fishing industry itself 

benefits from operating in a sustainable and well-managed framework designed to preserve both 

the resource and the industry. 

Conclusions 

The general trends shaping the future of the U.S. seafood industry are increasing imports 

predominantly from the aquaculture sector: moderately increasing per capita seafood 

consumption, and growth in value-added seafood products. The U.S. demand for seafood is 

forecasted to expand by 25-35% over the next 15 years, with no foreseeable increases in 

domestic production, especially from domestic capture fisheries. The situation is similar for 

global capture fisheries, many of which are already fully exploited. Therefore, any further 
Chapter 11: Future Markets for Aquaculture Products 

241 

increases in total global fisheries production will come from the aquaculture sector, as has been 

the case to date. 

Per-capita consumption of seafood will continue to increase; however, it will likely be 

concentrated on fewer species produced primarily through aquaculture. Product diversity will 

come from variations in preparation, including sauces, portions, and other value-added and 

convenience-driven modifications. Additionally, eco-labeling and other certification programs 

will provide further opportunities for value addition and product differentiation. 

Technological innovations and better nutritional and disease management practices will 

continue to reduce costs in aquaculture production. In turn, lower production costs and increased 

supplies from aquaculture will hold prices down, another attractive outcome for investors and 

marketers. However, the trend toward value-added products has the potential to drive processing 

to countries where labor costs are lower. 

Retail outlets will continue to be increasingly important to the seafood industry. Supply 

stability and product standardization are important attributes for large retailers and chain 

restaurants, especially those focused on growth in revenue and market share. They will seek out 

new product forms that have the potential to expand both on the supply and the demand sides. 

Furthermore, they will seek out supply sources where consistency and low prices allow them to 

engage in long-term planning. Given these requirements, aquaculture is in a better position to 

satisfy these demands than traditional capture fisheries. 

Open-ocean aquaculture has the potential to contribute in two major ways. First, it would 

increase the global supply of seafood by providing an additional source of production. Recall 

that global demand for seafood is expected to grow 38 percent between 1999/2000 and 2015. 

Additionally, open-ocean aquaculture can provide a product that meets the needs of consumers 

and processors: a consistent, high-quality product with a relatively stable and/or declining price. 

With regard to the United States, seafood imports will remain vital in bridging the gap 

between domestic supply and demand. While the emergence of a domestic, open-ocean 

aquaculture industry has the potential to increase domestic seafood production, it will not 

eliminate seafood imports. However, without any increases in domestic aquaculture production, 

offshore or otherwise, the level of seafood imports will have to increase to meet an ever-growing 

domestic demand for seafood products. In 2004, the U.S. seafood deficit was $7.6 billion, an alltime high (NMFS, 2004). Without substantial increases in domestic production, the seafood trade 

deficit will certainly increase. In the future, aquaculture will be the primary source of growth in 

seafood supply for the U.S. market. U.S. regulatory policy over the aquaculture sector will 

largely determine whether that source is from domestic or foreign production. 

References 

Anderson, J.L. 2003. International Seafood Trade. Woodhead Publishing, Ltd., Cambridge, 

England and CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida. 
Chapter 11: Future Markets for Aquaculture Products 

242 

Connor, William E. 2000. Importance of n-3 fatty acids in health and disease. American Journal 

of Clinical Nutrition 71:171S-175S. 

Delgado, C.L., N. Wada, M.W. Rosegrant, S. Meijer, and M. Ahmed. 2003. Fish to 2020: Supply 

and Demand in Changing Global Markets. International Food Policy Research Institute, 

Washington DC. World Fish Center, Penang, Malaysia. 

Eliseo Guallar, M. Inmaculada Sanz-Gallardo, Pieter van't Veer, Peter Bode, Antti Aro, Jorge 

Gómez-Aracena, Jeremy D. Kark, Rudolph A. Riemersma, José M. Martín-Moreno, Frans J. 

Kok, the Heavy Metals and Myocardial Infarction Study Group. 2002. Mercury, Fish Oils, and 

the Risk of Myocardial Infarction. New England Journal of Medicine 347:1747-1754. 

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). 2006. FishStat Plus: Universal Software for Fishery 

Statistical Time Series. 

Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA). 2006. http://www.gaalliance.org/resp.html 

Kris-Etherton, P. M. Harris, W. S. Appel, L. J. 2002. Fish consumption, fish oil, omega-3 fatty 

acids, and cardiovascular disease. Circulation 106(21):2747-57. 

Kromhout D, EBBosschieter EB, de Lezenne Coulander C. 1985. The inverse relation between 

fish consumption and 20-year mortality from coronary heart disease. New England Journal of 

Medicine 312:1205–1209. 

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). 2006. http://www.msc.org/ 

McGovern, D. 2006. Wal-Mart Clarifies MSC Initiative. Intrafish Media. 

http://www.intrafish.no/global/news/article100353.ece 

National Fisheries Institute (NFI). 1988 & 2005. Top Ten Seafood Rankings Provided by 

Howard Johnson, H.M. Johnson & Associates for NFI. http://www.aboutseafood.com 

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 2004. Fisheries of the United States 2003. U.S. 

Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine 

Fisheries Service, Office of Science and Technology, Fisheries Statistics Division. 

Perkins, C. 1994. Seafood Business Retail Survey: U.S. Retail Sales. Seafood 

Business. Diversified Business Communications. Portland, Maine 

Robinson, F. 2004. Seafood Business Retail Survey: U.S. Retail Sales. Seafood 

Business. Diversified Business Communications. Portland, Maine 

Roheim, C. 2003. Chapter 10 in International Seafood Trade. Anderson, J.L. 2003. Woodhead 

Publishing Ltd., Cambridge, England and CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida 
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243 

Seierstad, S.L., Seljeflot, L., Johansen, O., Hansen, R., Haugen, M., Rosenlund, G., Froyland, L. 

and H. Arnesen. 2005. Dietary Intake of Differently Fed Salmon: The Influence on Markers of 

Human Atherosclerosis. European Journal of Clinical Investigation 35(1):52-59. 

United States Department of Agriculture. National Agricultural Statistical Service (USDA 

NASS). 1990-2005. Catfish Processing. 

http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/nassr/other/pcf-bb/ 

United States Department of Agriculture. Economic Research Service. (USDA ERS). 2004. Per 

Capita consumption data. 

http://www.ers.usda.gov/data/foodconsumption/FoodAvailSpreadsheets.htm 

United States Department of Commerce (USDC). 2005. US Census Bureau. US Imports and 

Exports of Merchandise. Washington, DC. 

Urner Barry Publications. Seafood Price-Current. 1990-2005. 

Wal-Mart. 2006. News Release. Wal-Mart Takes Lead On Supporting Sustainable Fisheries: All 

Wild-Caught and Frozen Fish Suppliers to be Marine Stewardship Council-Certified. 

http://walmartstores.com/ 
244 

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245 

CHAPTER 12 

Broader Issues in the Offshore Fish Farming Debate 

John Forster 

Previous chapters have been concerned primarily with the immediate and near-term 

implications of offshore aquaculture, such as markets, jobs, costs, and competition. This chapter 

looks at its potential over the longer term and within a broader context by asking: 

• How does the potential of offshore aquaculture fit into the bigger picture of global food 

supply? 

• What is its long-term potential and how important is this potential in evaluating today’s 

efforts to get started? 

• Since it is impossible to satisfy humanity’s need for food with zero impact, how should 

offshore aquaculture be judged in comparison to other methods of food production? 

• What new law, if any, is needed to enable private farming in marine public lands? 

The Global Food Supply 

Discussion of the above questions becomes more meaningful when key points about 

global population and food supply are first understood: For example: 

• Annual world food production in total is about 5.1 billion metric tons (Table 12.1). 

• At least 1.1 billion tons (21%) of this food is fed to animals (Wild 1997)1

. 

• Production of terrestrial animal products is 473 million metric tons (mmt) per year.2

 

• Capture fisheries yield about 93 mmt of fish per year3 (Figure 12.1). 

• Aquaculture produces 42 mmt fish and shellfish per year, and 1.9 mmt of seaweed 

Looking ahead, the FAO (2002) has projected that: 

• World population will grow from about 6 billion people to 8.3 billion by 2030; 

• Food calories available per person will increase from 2,800 kcal to 3,050 kcal; 

• This means one billion metric tons more cereal crops will be needed for human and animal 

food; and 

• 120 million hectares more farmland will be needed to grow these cereals. 

FAO and other researchers also project that there will be an increase in per-capita 

consumption of meat and dairy products, which will be driven by higher per-capita incomes in 

 

1

 This figure is from a 1997 report. There are more up to date figures for the manufactured feed sector, but this is the 

only source the author could find that included all feeds, i.e. manufactured feeds (530 mmt), home mixing (350 

mmt) and single ingredient feeds (220 mmt). Tacon (2005) quotes Gill (2005) in stating that manufactured feed 

production is now 620 mmt. 

2

 This includes a ‘constructed value’ for milk of which there is 600 mmt produced each year. When expressed on a 

equivalent protein basis with meat using data from Waggoner (1994), this converts to 169 mmt. 

3

 68.3 mmt of which is eaten by humans and 21.7 mmt is made into fish meal. 
Chapter 12: Broader Issues in the Offshore Fish Farming Debate 

246 

Table 12.1. Agricultural production in 1990. 

Product Production (mmt) Protein (mmt) 

CLASS 1 

Wheat 601,723 84,162 

Rice 521,703 46,953 

Veg & melon 450,986 4,669 

Fruit ex melon 344,875 2,811 

Potatoes 268,107 4,547 

Cassava 150,768 897 

Sweet potatoes 125,124 1,709 

Sugar 123,401 0 

Pulses 58,846 13,117 

Rye 40,042 5,606 

Rapeseed 24,416 8,320 

Ground nuts 23,410 4,440 

Sunflower 22,682 7,729 

Yams 20,966 379 

Copra 5,476 394 

Taro 5,173 82 

Tree nuts 4,379 198 

Roots other 3,971 54 

Cocao beans 2,528 437 

Sesame 2,399 817 

Olive oil 1,573 0 

Honey 1,172 4 

Safflower 917 312 

TOTAL 2,804,637 187,637 

CLASS 2 

Milk 537,844 18,836 

Meat 176,629 26,222 

Fish 99,535 24,585 

Eggs 37,056 4,252 

TOTAL 851,064 73,895 

CLASS 3 

Corn 479,340 47,934 

Barley 181,946 23,653 

Soybeans 108,134 36,847 

Sorghum 56,677 6,234 

Oats 42,799 5,564 

Cotton Seed 33,930 11,562 

Millet 29,896 3,569 

TOTAL 932,722 135,363 

GRAND 

TOTAL 

4,588,423 396,895 

Note: More up-to-date data from various sources indicates that current world food production is more than shown 

here by about 500,000 mt. Data from Waggoner (1994) is used here because it is the only data that could be found 

that expressed global production in terms of weight and protein. 
Chapter 12: Broader Issues in the Offshore Fish Farming Debate 

247 

Figure 12.1. Global seafood production from wild-capture fisheries and aquaculture. 

 

 Source: FAO, 2007 

developing countries (FAO, 2002; Brown, 2005; Delgado et al., 1999) (Figure 12.2). 

Consumption of meat and milk by 2030 is expected to increase by 100 mmt and 223 mmt, 

respectively, led by China, which already consumes over twice the amount of meat eaten in 

America (Delgado et al., 1999; Brown, 2005). Delgado et al. (1999) also warn that unless 

increased production is accompanied by corresponding improvements in farming practices, it 

will result in continued environmental degradation including, importantly, continued diminution 

of fresh groundwater reserves. 

These projections highlight the huge difference in the scale of production between what 

is anticipated by traditional agriculture and what might be feasible during the same period from 

offshore aquaculture. It is sobering to realize, for example, that just the expected increase in 

global meat supply between 1993 and 2030 is more than the present, total worldwide production 

of all seafood from capture fisheries and more than twice that of aquaculture. By comparison, the 

likely contribution from true offshore (open-ocean) aquaculture by 2030 will be modest. 

Presently, it contributes no more than about 20,000 mt per year worldwide4 and, unless things go 

exceptionally well, this is unlikely to increase to more than 2 mmt by 2030, or by just 2% of the 

expected increase in meat supply. This does not mean it will never be more significant, but to 

reach its full potential, development of offshore aquaculture will take more than 25 years. 

Under these circumstances, Delgado et al. (2003) conclude that prices for seafood, 

relative to other kinds of meat, will rise by about 20%. The primary driver for this increase will 

be demand in developing countries, which will occur because capture fisheries have reached the 

limit of what they can take from the oceans, while aquaculture is unlikely to be able to make up 

 

4

 This estimate does not include ‘nearshore’ or sheltered water farming such as for salmon. It includes farmed tuna 

and limited quantities of other marine fish that are now being farmed in exposed open ocean (offshore) conditions. 

Capture

Aquaculture

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

1984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005

Million Metric Tons (mmt)
Chapter 12: Broader Issues in the Offshore Fish Farming Debate 

248 

Figure 12.2. World meat production and the historical relationship between wealth and 

meat consumption .

Sources: Brown, 2005, Bunge, undated

the gap. Moreover, demand for certain food crops to produce biofuel is now leading to price 

increases in a broad spectrum of food products worldwide. When superimposed on the outlook 

for seafood, this suggests even larger future seafood price increases as well as higher feed costs 

for those who grow any sort of livestock. 

One final point that these numbers highlight is the vast disparity that exists between the 

amount of food derived from the land versus that captured from the sea. Presently, worldwide 

consumption of all animal products is 566 mmt per year5

, of which the oceans contribute only 

12.1%6

 from capture fisheries and less than 1% of our plant-derived food or fiber. Yet they cover 

over two-thirds of the Earth’s surface and contain 97% of its water, and their natural productivity 

 

5

 Total of 473 mmt of terrestrial animal products which, as noted in Footnote 2 of Page 1 (this chapter), includes a 

constructed value for milk protein, plus 93 mmt of seafood. 

6

 68.3 mmt of wild caught seafood was eaten by humans in 2003. This is 12.1% of the 566 mmt total. 
Chapter 12: Broader Issues in the Offshore Fish Farming Debate 

249 

is thought to be similar to that of the land, namely 40 to 50 pentagrams7 (Pg) of carbon per year 

compared to 56 Pg per year on land (Geider et al., 2001). At a time when the world faces the 

prospect of having to produce large amounts of additional food by traditional agriculture, adding 

environmental burden to what is already thought to be excessive (UN, 2005), it is appropriate to 

ask: Is increased production of food from the oceans a possible solution and, if it is, what has to 

be done to accomplish it? 

Offshore Aquaculture in the Long Term 

Making More Productive Use of the Sea

The potential for offshore aquaculture in the long term may be larger and more profound 

than merely providing additional production to meet our future needs for seafood. Our biosphere 

is powered by energy received from the sun, two-thirds of which falls on the oceans. In turn, the 

oceans provide equable growing conditions for plant life over their entire surface, resulting in an 

overall level of productivity already comparable to that on land when, as yet, no serious attempt 

has been made to enhance it. Moreover, this productivity and its potential enhancement are not 

dependent on inputs of freshwater as is terrestrial agriculture, a dependency that may inhibit its 

expansion in some areas. The key to recovering more of this energy and to making the oceans 

more productive is to develop a system of aquaculture that grows plants as its primary source of 

production, with animal protein being produced secondarily, just as is done in terrestrial 

agriculture today. 

For reasons explained below, it will take many decades and much experimentation before 

methods are perfected to be able to do this. Marine aquaculture, as practiced today, is simply a 

first stage in this process, and it is important that it is seen in this context because it is too easy, 

otherwise, to misinterpret it and to under-estimate the environmental and economic benefits it 

will bring. For the same reason, it is also important to start thinking about what might be 

involved in a plant-based “Marine Agronomy,” in order to help guide a development process that 

could not only ease pressure on our natural fisheries but could, eventually, reduce the demands 

we now make on the land and even on the biosphere itself. At a time when the prospect of global 

warming threatens human existence as we know it, it is surely an oversight that we use twothirds of the Earth’s surface for little more than hunting and navigation. 

Though agricultural parallels are persuasive, their application at sea is difficult, because 

terrestrial and marine ecosystems are quite different. While vegetation on land is dominated by 

large plants (macrophytes), plant life in the oceans consists mainly of microscopic plants, 

collectively called phytoplankton. Large marine plants (seaweeds) make up only a small 

proportion of total marine vegetation, because most seaweed species need to attach to a surface; 

normally the seabed. In order to do this and yet still receive enough light, they must occur in 

shallow water. Most of the ocean is too deep for them, so phytoplankton species - which can 

float near the surface in order to receive light - are the only plants that can grow there. 

These tiny plants are the primary food source for higher animals, but they cannot be eaten 

directly by most fish and, instead, must first be consumed by small, filter feeding creatures 

specifically adapted for such a trophic existence. In turn, these creatures serve as food for larger 

 

7

 One pentagram = 10 to the power of 15 grams. 
Chapter 12: Broader Issues in the Offshore Fish Farming Debate 

250 

fish, some of which are captured in commercial fisheries, but which mostly provide forage for 

still larger fish that are then targeted for capture. Thus, the “marine food chain” requires one, two 

or more additional conversion steps compared to the process on land before producing animals 

that can be readily used by man. It means that most of the fish taken in capture fisheries, or 

contemplated as species for aquaculture, are carnivores, quite unlike the large macrophyte-eating 

herbivores that provide meat for humans on land. 

There are exceptions to this; especially, bivalve shellfish that can filter and feed on 

phytoplankton and which humans are able to harvest directly. Future, large-scale ocean 

aquaculture could produce more shellfish for this reason. But there is probably a limit to how 

many mussels, oysters, or clams people can or want to eat. Mostly, humans prefer to eat fish and 

there are few species of fish suitable for farming, or palatable to humans, that can filter 

phytoplankton or eat seaweed. Therefore, a critical step in realizing the full potential of ocean 

farming is to figure out how to “shortcut” the natural marine food chain by processing protein 

and fat from marine plants so that they can be used in fish feed. Or, at least, to find uses for 

farmed marine plants that substitute for terrestrial ingredients in other applications. Unless this is 

done, fish farming will, in effect, be a “zero sum game” in which ingredients that might 

otherwise be fed to terrestrial animals are fed to fish instead. It is true that fish may convert these 

ingredients into meat more efficiently than warm-blooded land animals and that the meat itself 

may be of superior nutritional value, so the sum may not be exactly zero. But, the 

accomplishment will be so much greater if we can truly learn to amplify and harvest some of the 

ocean’s vast photosynthetic capacity. 

Seaweeds for biofuel and animal feed

Increased food production is not the only way in which humanity might benefit. World 

energy use is expected to increase five-fold by 2100 (Huesemann, 2006). Given that peak oil 

production will soon be reached and that the continued combustion of fossil fuels will aggravate 

the many risks associated with global climate change, it is imperative that future energy demand 

be supplied by renewable energy. However, the generation of biofuels such as ethanol, diesel, 

and methane from terrestrial biomass requires extremely large areas of productive land. For 

example, to supply the current worldwide energy demand of 351 Exajoules (10 ^18 joules)/yr 

solely with terrestrial biomass would require more than 10% of the earth’s land surface, which is 

comparable to the area used for the entire world arable agriculture; about 1,500 million hectares. 

Or, if ethanol from corn were to be substituted for 100% of the gasoline consumption in the U.S., 

all of the available U.S. cropland (190 million hectares) and the freshwater that irrigates it would 

have to be devoted to ethanol production, leaving no land for food production (Huesemann, 

2006). Since the oceans are not used presently for any form of large-scale capture of solar energy 

by photosynthesis, it prompts the question: Could this be possible one day, and if so, could the 

resulting biomass be used for a wide range of applications, including biofuel production, thereby 

easing pressure on the land?

This idea was first examined in the early 1970s following the first world oil crisis when 

the U.S. Department of Energy and the Gas Research Institute established a marine biomass 

energy research program to determine the potential for producing methane from seaweed by a 

process of biodigestion. After conducting several pilot studies and feasibility analyses, Ashare et 

al. (1978) concluded that the concept was not then economically competitive, a conclusion that 
Chapter 12: Broader Issues in the Offshore Fish Farming Debate 

251 

was validated later as crude oil prices declined in the early 1990s. But oil and gas prices are now 

back at record highs and the prospect of carbon taxes makes it likely that burning them will 

become even more expensive in future. A recent analysis of the past work (Chynoweth et al. 

2001) suggests that methane production from seaweed such as Macrocystis, Sargassum, and 

Laminaria could now be economically viable if methods can be developed for the large scale 

farming of these species. Viability might be even more likely if these plants could also be 

processed into products such as animal feeds as well as biofuel, as is the case in ethanol 

production from corn. 

 It is easy to dismiss such notions as fantasy. Certainly, the prospect of large scale 

farming of seaweeds for energy and animal feed is many years away but, as we learn to farm fish 

and to work in the open sea, so we will develop the skills and infrastructure that will allow us to 

farm marine plants there in future. And, as we learn to feed carnivorous fish on terrestrially 

grown plant nutrients, so we will set the stage for them to be fed, one day, on plant nutrients 

produced at sea. 

In effect, today’s pioneering aquacultural efforts are just the beginning of the creation of 

a critical mass around which new developments can take place, some of them barely imaginable 

now. The key to making progress, as it has always been, is to try, to risk failure and to learn from 

it. In a twenty-first century capitalist democracy, that also means trying something that has a 

chance at the outset of making some money and, for now, that means growing something for 

which people will pay a price that justifies the costs, and that means high value finfish. If we can 

embrace that idea and build research programs around it that anticipate subsequent steps in the 

journey, there is a reasonably good chance that it will get us, eventually, to where we need to go. 

It is noteworthy that one of the companies that collaborated in the earlier marine biomass 

work was General Electric, which now, alongside other, international corporations, champions 

“green energy” production as one of the outstanding economic opportunities for American 

business in the new century. As in the offshore production of finfish, America possesses many of 

the technologies necessary to develop new, renewable energy and food sources based on the 

farming of marine plants. That such an opportunity is apparent at the same time as the offshore 

production of more seafood is contemplated is no coincidence. The Millennium Ecosystem 

Assessment (UN, 2005) describes all too clearly how the Earth, especially its terrestrial habitat, 

is strained to its breaking point. And though the assessment provides similar warnings about 

world fisheries and coastal pollution, it is not surprising that people from many fields find 

themselves wondering simultaneously if two-thirds of the planet could be used more effectively. 

First Steps

The Chinese philosopher, Lao-Tzu, once observed that a journey of a thousand miles 

must begin with a single step. Relative to the lofty goals put forward above, modern marine 

aquaculture has a long way to go and has, up to now, taken just a few tentative, albeit critical, 

steps for which it is often criticized. Salmon farming has born the brunt of much of the criticism. 

Yet, in the space of only 30 years it has become the world’s primary source of salmon and 

proved to a skeptical seafood industry that it is possible to turn to the sea and farm high-quality 

fish at a cost that meets the value expectations of a mass market. In so doing, it has made highly 

nutritious food available to many who would otherwise have been deprived of its benefits. 
Chapter 12: Broader Issues in the Offshore Fish Farming Debate 

252 

Of course, methods of salmon farming and the farming of other species can be improved. 

But these improvements would hardly be possible, or even contemplated, were it not for what 

was learned during the past few decades. Steady, incremental improvements in a technology 

may not satisfy idealists, but man has always progressed in this way and there is no reason to 

think that the development of ocean farming - be it for seafood, renewable energy, or other 

valuable byproducts - will be different. This is one of the reasons that the U.S. Commission on 

Ocean Policy and a wide variety of stakeholders have recommended the enactment of offshore 

aquaculture legislation: to enable the next steps in the process (NOAA, 2007; Cicin-Sain et al, 

2005; Stickney et al, 2006). If America is to take the lead in this new industry, as it can and 

should, it is essential to provide a regulatory framework now that will allow a period of 

experiment and innovation to begin. 

What can be expected?

If an initial timeframe of ten years is contemplated, what sort of projects can be 

envisioned, what will they look like, and how much space within the EEZ will be needed? Ten 

years is not very long in a business with production cycles from egg to harvest up to three years, 

so it is unlikely that within such time passing of legislation will unleash massive growth. The 

technical challenges and assembly of all the components needed to make medium to large scale 

offshore aquaculture business work are complex, so initial investment is likely to be cautious and 

painstaking. But it will lay the groundwork for further expansion and provide a more informed 

basis for further legislation should it be found that such is needed. The sorts of development that 

can be expected may include: 

• Demonstration that offshore farming systems can be operated economically over 

several years in a wide range of sea conditions; 

• Establishment of up to 20 new offshore farms in the U.S. EEZ, with a combined 

annual production of 10,000 to 15,000 mt; 

• Identification of up to ten different species of fish as suitable candidates for offshore 

aquaculture; 

• Establishment of up to five onshore hatcheries to produce juvenile fish to be stocked 

in offshore farms; 

• Establishment and gradual expansion of offshore methods for the production of 

mussels and possibly scallops; and 

• Research on techniques for farming and processing certain seaweeds, and on 

development of applications and markets for them. 

It is important that this likely pace and nature of progress is understood clearly. To put it 

in perspective, an offshore aquaculture industry of 20 farms producing a combined total of 

15,000 mt of fish per year would need about 30 acres of surface space in the EEZ for net pens, 

with up to 2,000 acres encumbered by moorings on the seabed (out of the 25 billion acres of the 

U.S. EEZ). 

Looking ahead further, there are several directions the industry may take. Which of them 

will be followed and how quickly development proceeds will depend on the success of research 

and on markets as they evolve, but the following are some possibilities: 
Chapter 12: Broader Issues in the Offshore Fish Farming Debate 

253 

• Combined aquaculture and offshore wave or wind energy systems that tap the 

synergies created by supporting infrastructure and by wave attenuation in the case of 

wave energy;

• Location of farms in deeper water as single point mooring methods are perfected or 

self-positioning systems are developed that can be operated at any depth; 

• Refinement in the understanding of how nutrients can be recycled from fish farms by 

integration with shellfish or seaweed farms; 

• Adoption of offshore mussel farming (as in New Hampshire) and small finfish cage 

culture technologies by commercial fishermen using existing boats and supply high 

value niche markets; and

• Development of methods for the floating culture of seaweeds combined with genetic 

improvements in them like those that made the “green revolution” in terrestrial 

agriculture possible, yielding biomass of increasingly high value for a range of new 

applications, including renewable energy.

Such developments may herald a completely new method of energy and food production 

that could, one day, free humans from the limits of the land and allow some of the land itself to 

be taken out of production. This will not happen in committees, or through desk studies, but by 

learning-by-doing, through the hard work of pilot and demonstration projects, fledgling 

commercial operations, and by cooperative work of fishermen, entrepreneurs, scientists, and 

seafood businesses. 

How sustainable is it and how should this be judged?

The long-term vision for ocean farming offered above would seem to meet all current 

definitions of “sustainable” since farming would be predominantly powered by sunlight. 

However, as noted, there is a long way to go before the vision will become reality. How, 

therefore, should sustainability be judged in the interim? In fact, how can the sustainability of 

any process be judged when it is not static but constantly adapting to change? Critics frequently 

brand some forms of modern marine aquaculture as unsustainable, notably salmon farming. But 

is this meaningful, or helpful, if such activities are a means to an end that will be quite different 

from the way they operate today? 

Three presumptions seem to underlie the criticism. First, that there is little difference 

between fisheries, which depend on nature to adapt to and recover from human pressure, versus 

fish farming, where “nurture” allows man to intervene to accelerate the process using 

technology. An editorial in the February 9, 2006 Seattle Times, “Don’t throw more krill on the 

barbie,” captured this idea. Second, aquaculture will continue to expand unchecked by ecological 

or market forces. Third, the industry cannot be trusted to improve on its own. Yet the industry 

has been undergoing constant and rapid improvement for the past 30 years in response to 

ecological, market, and regulatory forces. By any standard, it is more efficient now than it was 

30 - or even 10 - years ago, both economically and ecologically. And while regulatory coercion 

played a part, competition, smart design to save on costs, and rising prices of inputs such as feed 

costs, have been by far the greatest forces for change. 
Chapter 12: Broader Issues in the Offshore Fish Farming Debate 

254 

A frequently cited criticism, which embraces elements of all three presumptions, is that 

the use of fish meal in salmon feeds is unsustainable because fish meal fisheries are fished to 

their limit and cannot supply more. Further, it is argued that salmon and most marine fish are 

carnivores and that feeding them with fish is like feeding tigers with meat and leads to a net loss 

of fish protein (Naylor, et. al., 2000). The counter-points to this are listed below; each speaks in a 

different way to why these criticisms and the resulting charge of lack of sustainability are 

misleading. 

1. Up to one-third of fish meal is made from fishery wastes that would have to be 

disposed of if not re-used as animal feed. 

2. The other two-thirds are made mostly from small bony fish that are caught in mostly 

well-managed fisheries and for which man has not yet found a better use. In fact, 

implied in much of the criticism on this issue is the idea that using these fish for fish 

meal production deprives malnourished people from being able to eat them instead. 

This is highly misleading because it has proved impossible up to now, despite 

considerable effort, to process them into a form that is palatable to people at a cost 

that makes sense. 

3. Feeding salmon with some fish meal in their diet is actually up to five times more 

efficient than if the fish from which the meal is made were left in the sea to be eaten 

by wild fish (Asgard et al., 1999). Thus, the idea that use of fish meal in aquaculture 

results in a net loss of fish protein is also misleading. 

4. The comparison with feeding tigers overlooks the fundamental differences between 

marine and terrestrial ecosystems (explained earlier) and the last two points made. 

The great majority of fish that humans eat are carnivores, but whereas for 

commercially-caught wild fish this can never change, in aquaculture it can and will. 

Indeed, changes are already happening (see #6 below). 

5. Because an animal has adapted to catch and eat other animals in nature does not mean 

that its digestive system is incapable of using vegetable matter, especially if the 

protein in this matter has been concentrated (Rust, 2002). Thus, in captivity 

carnivores can in effect be turned into herbivores. There is still much to learn about 

doing this with many potential aquaculture species, but carnivorous behavior in 

nature is not an immutable physiological state. 

6. Salmon farmers and farmers of other carnivorous fish have realized for years that the 

supply of fishmeal is finite and that this represents a commercial vulnerability. 

Research to find alternatives has been progressing since the 1970s, and ingredients 

such as soy, corn, and canola protein are already being used in salmon feeds at 

increasing rates of inclusion. 

 

In a broader context and building on what has been learned in the last 20 years, most people 

would say that commercial offshore aquaculture was not only sustainable, but highly beneficial 

if, 25 years from now, it becomes an industry that: 

• contributes one mmt ($2.5 billion) of domestically-produced seafood to the national 

larder; 

• demonstrates that it really is a means to reduce pressure on over-fished stocks; 
Chapter 12: Broader Issues in the Offshore Fish Farming Debate 

255 

• is well on its way to perfecting ecologically balanced aquaculture that recovers wastes 

from fish farms through secondary production of shellfish and seaweeds; and 

• uses feed made from all vegetable proteins or byproducts from other agribusinesses, 

while developing methods for making feeds directly from seaweed proteins. 

And, while some may challenge that controlled recycling of fish farm wastes in an ocean 

environment is improbable, it is not so very different from the concepts of organic agriculture 

today, where farm animals are nourished with feed that is grown in fields nearby using animal 

wastes as the primary source of nutrients. A major difference between the two is that, on land, 

such wastes have to be collected, transported and spread, using non-renewable energy for a 

process that at sea is performed passively. Given the vastness of the oceans and with careful 

siting of aquaculture operations, aquaculture could transform man’s present understanding of the 

Earth’s productive capacity and possibly reduce the burden he currently imposes on its exhausted 

lands. 

Environmental Costs

Some of the discourse about marine aquaculture is focused upon concerns about actual or 

hypothetical environmental impacts. It is suggested, however, that it would be better instead to 

talk about environmental costs or the use of environmental services. Man could not survive 

without incurring such costs or using such services, and it is hardly surprising that the costs 

imposed by six billion people (soon to be eight billion) appear to be pushing the environment 

toward bankruptcy—consumption of food being one the main drivers. Yet no one suggests that 

humans should not eat, so the only solution, if there is one, is to seek to minimize the costs 

incurred or services used in producing what we need. 

 This raises two points of principle which merit discussion and which; as is often the case 

in debate about aquaculture, take the discourse into a much broader realm of philosophy and 

man’s purpose in life. First, though we are confronted by great environmental challenges, is it an 

appropriate response merely to try to conserve rather than to seek instead to manage and build on 

the resources that have been given to us? Second is the concept of relative costs, or comparative 

ecological footprints. As we strive to build on our resources, there will be environmental costs 

and risks that things will not always go as expected. There is no hiding from the fact that in the 

short and medium term, as an offshore aquaculture industry strives to develop it may (like any 

aquaculture operation elsewhere) incur ecological costs, including: 

• use of feed materials from several external sources; 

• discharge of wastes into marine waters; 

• the potential for escapes of domesticated stock which, if they breed with wild stock, 

may impact them genetically; and 

• the potential for release of pathogens if farmed stock become infected, which may 

then heighten the risks of disease in wild stock. 

All of these actual or potential costs will either draw on environmental services or risk 

negative environmental consequences. But are these more or less than the burdens imposed by 

other forms of food production, such as deforestation or soil erosion in terrestrial agriculture, or 

degradation by certain commercial fisheries at sea? It is impossible to satisfy humanity’s need 
Chapter 12: Broader Issues in the Offshore Fish Farming Debate 

256 

for food with zero impact. Therefore, in weighing the possible impacts of a new form of food 

production—such as offshore aquaculture—the alternatives must be compared. 

Offshore aquaculture is opposed or criticized by parts of two general constituencies: the 

commercial fishing industry and environmental NGOs. The commercial fishing industry is 

concerned about aquaculture being a competitive source of supply and about possible 

environmental consequences that could threaten the resource it harvests. Environmental NGOs 

also worry about environmental issues and about setting in motion an industry whose future scale 

and consequences are unknown. 

To address these concerns, we need a dispassionate comparison between commercial 

fishing, aquaculture, and other forms of food production and of the role that aquaculture can play 

in an integrated approach to managing marine ecosystems. We also need a better understanding 

of the synergies between fishing and aquaculture, how fishermen can benefit from aquaculture, 

and of the effects of the globalization of the seafood trade on U.S. production of seafood. 

Today’s clamor for sustainability will eventually ensure that such matters are addressed and that 

those on all sides are judged without prejudice. 

Private Use of Marine Lands 

In its final report, “An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century,” the U.S. Commission on 

Ocean Policy offers a primer on ocean jurisdictions under the title, “Drawing Lines in the 

Water”. In general, both the states and the federal government must exercise authority over the 

nation’s waters “for the benefit of the public” under The Public Trust Doctrine, which originates 

from ancient Roman and English common law. Given such ancient origins, it is hardly surprising 

that the obligation that the doctrine imposes has had to be interpreted, modified, and adjudicated 

numerous times in response to new circumstances, and there is a large body of law to reflect this 

work. 

 Aquaculture in marine waters introduces another new circumstance that could not have 

been foreseen in earlier interpretations of the doctrine and for which a new body of law will have 

to evolve. In the same way that society has evolved rules to govern rights to use of the airwaves 

for communication, the skies for air transport, the sea for commercial fishing and the sea bed for 

mineral extraction, it is also clearly possible to provide new laws for offshore aquaculture. But 

this pre-supposes that the political will to do so exists. 

 As the process moves forward, however, it is possible to imagine certain outcomes and to 

respond proactively to some concerns. First, for offshore aquaculture to succeed, small parts of 

the EEZ will need to be privatized, albeit through permits rather than titled ownership. In other 

words, government has to act as a partner in this development because government is the owner 

(The Public Trust Doctrine notwithstanding) of the aquatic real estate that will be farmed. 

Parallels with the homesteading laws of earlier times are relevant here. In order to 

encourage settlement and productive use of western lands, the government provided not only 

permission but also incentive to those with the will and the drive to challenge a new frontier. 
Chapter 12: Broader Issues in the Offshore Fish Farming Debate 

257 

There are reasons to think that the oceans now represent such a frontier and, once again, it is 

government’s task to act as both the enabler and the steward. 

 In this context, it is interesting to compare the development of the U.S. catfish farming 

industry with various approaches to sea-based aquaculture. On land (albeit land that is excavated 

to make ponds), land-use law and the principle of private property is clearly established. In fact, 

it is enshrined in our essential freedoms. Thus, there was little to deter landowners and traditional 

farmers in the South from digging ponds and becoming catfish farmers once they recognized this 

as good business. In other words, they were free, within reason, to do what they wanted with 

their land and they knew that their investment would be secure, and might even increase in value 

as commercial success was proved. The result is a world-class industry that now produces over 

70% of all aquacultured products in America. 

 Examples of privately owned marine property are rare but they do exist. For example, 

tidelands in the State of Washington have been privately owned and used for shellfish farming 

since statehood, providing the owners with a bankable asset that appreciates in value. Private 

ownership has even been found helpful in some commercial fisheries, where allocation and 

subsequent ownership of fishery quotas provides the motivation to better husband the resource 

and manage the supply.8

 Such quotas are also bankable; in fact, selling quotas has provided some 

with a lucrative exit from the commercial fishing industry. 

 Since the days of claim-staking and unrestricted access to natural resources have passed, 

it is incumbent on government leaders to do three things: 

1. Establish a schedule of permit fees that at one and the same time recover a fair rent 

for use of public waters, while acknowledging the commercial risk and the 

international competition that offshore fish farmers must deal with. 

2. Establish ownership criteria that encourage local and national investment, while 

being consistent with international trade law and recognizing the reciprocal rights 

that Americans are usually accorded when investing overseas themselves. 

3. Consider how the economic multiplier benefits of investment in offshore aquaculture 

can help those in coastal communities who are most in need, without imposing 

constraints that may inhibit the investment to begin with. 

 There are models and precedents for dealing with these matters in many branches of 

American commerce. Particularly relevant is the policy that makes federal lands available for the 

grazing of livestock, where fees are charged based on the number of animals the land will 

support. It is noteworthy that grazing occurs on 235 million acres of federal lands for a variety of 

purposes (GAO, 2005), which stands in marked contrast to the estimates provided earlier with 

regard to the surface and seabed areas required for aquaculture. It is to be hoped that, just 

because in this case we are dealing with the sea, the temptation will be resisted to re-invent 

wheels, and that existing practices—such as livestock grazing on public lands—can and will be 

used as models. 

 

8

 The most commonly use acronym for these today is LAPPs – Limited Access Privilege Programs. 
Chapter 12: Broader Issues in the Offshore Fish Farming Debate 

258 

 An often heard comment in the discourse over marine aquaculture in America is that it 

can only work in countries with weak environmental regulations; that it will not develop in 

America because regulations here are too tough. This is not true. No business can operate in a 

lawless society, be it laws governing the environment or private property. Serious investors in 

aquaculture need tough environmental regulations and strong private property assurances to 

protect them from the capricious acts of government or criminal acts of individuals. The 

aquaculture industry is not looking for lax environmental standards or a free ride on the 

resources it uses, but instead, for regulatory clarity, certainty, and stability. State regulations 

already in place in Maine, Washington, Florida, and Texas, and regulations in other 

industrialized countries, provide good examples of what the industry expects and NOAA has in 

mind regarding environmental matters. Federal law that protects property rights from real estate 

to the air waves provides adequate prior guidance on which to base a fair and enabling system of 

marine leasing. If America is to take a lead in this new industry, as it can and should, its 

practitioners need and expect no less. 

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Brown, L.R. 2005. Outgrowing the Earth: The Food Security Challenge in and Age of Falling 

Water Tables and Rising Temperatures. NY: W.W Norton & Co., 2004. 

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Chynoweth, D.P., J.M. Owens, and R. Legrand. 2001. Renewable Methane from Anaerobic 

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261 

Background on the Authors 

Dr. James L. Anderson – University of Rhode Island 

Dr. James Anderson is the Chairman of the Department of Environmental and Natural Resource 

Economics at the University of Rhode Island in Providence, where he has been a professor since 

1983. His research has focused on aquaculture markets, seafood safety, seafood price 

forecasting, analysis of seafood markets, market structure and other pricing mechanisms, and the 

relationship between the seafood market and environmental policies and regulation. Dr. 

Anderson has authored or co-authored four books, over 30 peer-reviewed articles, and multiple 

book chapters. He has served as editor of Marine Resource Economics since 1999. He received 

the Outstanding Ph.D. Thesis Award from the American Agricultural Economics Association 

(1984), Research Scientist of the Year Award from the University of Rhode Island’s College of 

Environment and Life Sciences (1994), and the Article of the Year Award from the Editorial 

Board of Agricultural and Resource Economics Review (1995). Dr. Anderson holds a Ph.D. in 

Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of California–Davis. 

John Forster – Forster Consulting 

Mr. John Forster is an aquaculture consultant with over 40 years of experience in the industry. 

Initially a government researcher in the United Kingdom, he moved to the business sector with 

Shearwater Fish Farming in 1974, where he ran a commercial trout farm and established an 

international technical services business. In 1984, Mr. Forster moved to Port Angeles, 

Washington, where he helped Stolt Sea Farm develop its West Coast salmon and sturgeon 

farming operations. In 1994, he founded Columbia River Fish Farms LLC, the largest U.S. 

producer of steelhead trout, and served as its president until 2005. A consultant to clients in both 

the public and private sectors, he has a special interest in the application of experience from the 

farmed salmon industry to new aquaculture species. He is currently the director of four 

aquaculture companies. He also serves on NOAA’s Marine Fishery Advisory Committee, which 

advises the Secretary of Commerce on living marine resource matters. 

Dr. Di Jin – Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution 

Dr. Di Jin is an Associate Scientist at the Marine Policy Center of the Woods Hole 

Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. He specializes in the economics of 

marine resources management and marine industries. Dr. Jin has substantial research experience 

with the commercial fishing and aquaculture industries, the offshore oil and gas industry, and the 

marine transportation industry, and has experience working on coastal management problems. 

His papers have been published in numerous journals, including Aquaculture Economics and 

Management, Environmental and Resource Economics, Journal of Environmental Economics 

and Management, Land Economics, and Marine Resource Economics. He holds a Ph.D. in 

Economics–Marine Resources from the University of Rhode Island. 
262 

Background on the Authors 

Dr. James E. Kirkley – College of William and Mary 

Dr. James Kirkley is a Professor of Marine Science in the Department of Fisheries Science at the 

College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. From 2000 to 2005, Dr. Kirkley was 

the Chairman of the Department of Coastal and Ocean Policy at William and Mary. From 1978 

to 1986, he was the Chief of Economic Investigations at NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science 

Center in Gloucester, Massachusetts. His primary research interests include fisheries economics, 

marine policy, marine resource management, economic impact analysis, economic valuation of 

market and non-market goods and services, fisheries management, aquaculture, and fisheries 

production. He holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of 

Maryland. 

Dr. Gunnar Knapp – University of Alaska–Anchorage 

Dr. Gunnar Knapp is a Professor of Economics at the University of Alaska’s Institute of Social 

and Economic Research in Anchorage, where he has conducted a wide variety of research on 

Alaska’s economy and natural resources, including markets for Alaska seafood and the 

management of the state’s fisheries resources. In particular, Dr. Knapp has studied markets for 

Alaska salmon and other fish species and how they have been affected by competition from 

farmed salmon and other factors. He is also interested in how the Alaska seafood industry has 

responded to changes in world seafood markets. Dr. Knapp co-authored the 2007 report, The 

Great Salmon Run: Competition Between Wild and Farmed Salmon, which examines the 

economic and policy issues surrounding wild and farmed salmon in North America. Dr. Knapp 

holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Yale University. 

Colin E. Nash – NOAA Fisheries Service (retired) 

Mr. Colin Nash was Director of the Aquaculture Development and Coordination Programme at 

the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome during the 1980s, 

followed by four years as the technical director of Cofrepêche, an international firm in France 

specializing in coastal management issues. After his return to the United States in 1998, Mr. 

Nash joined the aquaculture group at the NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center’s 

Manchester Research Station near Seattle. For 10 years he was the Editor-in-Chief of the first 

aquaculture journal, Aquaculture. He has published a number of papers on aquaculture, 

including, most recently, Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment of Marine Fish Aquaculture

(NOAA Technical Memo, December 2005) and Achieving Policy Objectives to Increase the 

Value of the Seafood Industry in the United States: The Technical Feasibility and Associated 

Constraints (Food Policy, December 2004). In 2005, Mr. Nash was made an Honorary Member 

of the European Aquaculture Society. 
263 

Background on the Authors 

Dr. Michael C. Rubino – NOAA Aquaculture Program 

Dr. Michael Rubino is the manager of NOAA’s Aquaculture Program. He joined the agency in 

2004 to lead NOAA's renewed commitment to marine aquaculture. Most recently, Dr. Rubino 

was the Manager of New Funds Development for the World Bank's Carbon Finance Group. In 

the 1990s, Dr. Rubino worked at the International Finance Corporation, a private sector affiliate 

of the World Bank, where he developed renewable energy and biodiversity investment funds. 

Prior to that, he was the CEO of Bluewaters, Inc., an aquaculture research and development 

company, and a partner in Palmetto Aquaculture, a shrimp farm in South Carolina. Dr. Rubino 

also served as vice-chairman of the State of Maryland 's Aquaculture Advisory Committee. He 

holds a Ph.D. in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan. 

Gina L. Shamshak – University of Rhode Island 

Ms. Gina Shamshak is a Ph.D. candidate in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics at 

the University of Rhode Island. She holds M.A. and B.A. degrees in Economics from Boston 

University. In 2005, she was one of 40 students chosen nationally for the John A. Knauss Sea 

Grant Fellowship Program. Her research interests include fisheries and aquaculture economics 

and management, environmental policy, risk analysis, bioeconomic modeling, and international 

trade. Ms. Shamshak is currently researching the economics of bluefin tuna aquaculture for her 

dissertation. 

Diego Valderrama – University of Rhode Island 

Mr. Diego Valderrama is a Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Environmental and Natural 

Resource Economics, University of Rhode Island. He holds a B.S. degree in Marine Biology 

from the Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano (Bogota, Colombia) and an M.Sc. in Aquaculture and 

Fisheries from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He has published nearly a dozen journal 

articles and several book chapters on various issues in aquaculture and fisheries economics. He 

has extensive experience in the analysis of global shrimp and salmon markets. Mr. Valderrama 

has researched the economics of shrimp farming in Latin America, catfish farming in the 

southeastern United States, and the optimization of management strategies for sea scallop stocks 

in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. His current dissertation work involves analyzing market 

interactions between aquaculture and traditional capture fisheries, examining the economic 

climate of the Alaskan salmon fisheries, and formulating recommendations for improving 

competitiveness of the fishing industry with the aquaculture sector. 


U.S. Department of Commerce 

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration 

Silver Spring, Maryland 

You may download an electronic version of this report from: 

http://aquaculture.noaa.gov 

For more information: 

NOAA Aquaculture Program 

1315 East-West Hwy. 

SSMC #3 – Room 13117 

Silver Spring MD 20910 

(301) 713-9079 

E-mail: noaa.aquaculture@noaa.gov 

Website: http://aquaculture.noaa.gov