U.S. flag An official website of the United States government.
				Here's how you know we're official. **Official websites use .gov** A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure websites use HTTPS** A small lock or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to a .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Toggle navigation Toggle search National Ocean Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
 Search
					Search National Ocean Service


Home
				Ocean Facts

				Topics
					Explore All Topics 
                        Arctic 
                        Careers 
                        Economy 
                        Ecosystems 
                        Geodesy 
                        Hazards 
                        International
                        Navigation 
                        Observations 
                        Ocean 
                        Recreation 
                         Sea Level Rise 
                        Story Maps 
                        Tools
                
                			Education

				
				News
				Podcasts
				Video
				Images
				About Us


1. Home
2. About
3. AA Spotlight
4. National Seafood Month

National Seafood Month *03 October 2019* During the month of October we celebrate National Seafood Month, and seafood is certainly worth celebrating! Seafood is not only important to our nation’s food security and coastal economies, it is a critical part of a healthy diet. Seafood production requires the sacrifice, adaptability, and innovation of our seafood industry, and so we honor those who bring savory seafood to our dinner plates from their boats and working waterfronts. Seafood is personal for me. Fishing traditions are deeply interwoven in my family history. I was raised in a commercial fishing family along the North Carolina coast. For many generations, my family had to weather storms, innovate new ways to fish, adjust target species due to management policies, and find work when environmental changes made it hard to make a living. My family’s story is not unique — it can be told all along our vast coastlines, and it is why this month we celebrate the people, the hard work, and the seafood we all love. The U.S. is recognized as a global leader in responsibly managed fisheries, but market demand for seafood exceeds sustainable wild harvesting. This has been the case for quite a few years, which has spurred the growth of the aquaculture industry. We are now witnessing the remarkable advancement of technology to farm shellfish (oysters, clams, and mussels) and algae (seaweed and kelp) in coastal estuaries, as well as finfish farms, in the ocean. While we have many challenges ahead of us, we are confident that through innovation and resolute conservation, the U.S. can become a global leader in sustainable seafood that is wild-caught and farmed. So what is the National Ocean Service’s seafood mission? We develop innovative aquaculture planning and siting tools such as OceanReports and theNational AquaMapper. We assist coastal managers and industry partners with our science assessments and policy analyses, and we developforecasting tools capable of keeping seafood safe. So, let’s celebrate! Let’s celebrate NOS’s vital role in seafood and in aquaculture.
 ***Guest post:**
						James A. Morris, Jr., Ph.D.
						Marine Ecologist
						National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science*   More **Information** Return to AA Spotlight Archives Subscribe to Syndicated Feed of Updates  Get **Social** Social


Feedback Provide Feedback
							Contact Us
							Report an error
 Social Instagram Logo/a>


*Science. Service.Stewardship.*
 About NOS About Us
							NOS Program Offices
							Media Inquiries
							Website Acknowledgements
                            Site Index
							Disclaimer
 More Resources Freedom of Information Act
							Accessibility
							Information Quality
							Privacy Policy
							NOS For Employees
							USA.gov
 Department of Commerce
									National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
									National Ocean Service