Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
															Search
		×
			NIOSH
			NIOSH
				All CDC
				Submit
			For a full list of topics:A-Z Index
			Advanced Search
		Advanced Search


The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)


Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate





Maritime Industries: Aquaculture										Related Pages
										Aquaculture
Fish swim in man-made ponds at a trout farm. Fish swim in man-made ponds at a trout farm. Photo: JMasis, iStock/Getty Images Plus
The aquaculture industry is engaged in the raising and production of plants or animals in either a controlled farm environment or selected aquatic environments. Freshwater aquaculture produces species that are native to freshwater streams, lakes, and rivers. Freshwater aquaculture primarily takes place in ponds, tanks, and in land-based systems. Marine aquaculture (mariculture) refers to species that live in the ocean and can take place in the ocean or on land.
Workers in aquaculture may be exposed to a variety of hazards on the job. Aquaculture workers use not only waterborne vessels, but also tractors or other all-terrain vehicles which have their own unique hazards. Extreme temperatures, bacterial pathogens, heavy lifting, repetitive motions, noise, long hours and shift work, chemical exposures, hazardous machinery, and use of a variety of vehicles all contribute to the risk of injury or illness in these workers.
U.S. aquaculture production was 633 million pounds with a value of $1.5 billion in 2016.1 Freshwater production in the U.S. is primarily includes catfish, crawfish, trout. 1 Marine aquaculture (mariculture) in the U.S. primarily includes salmon, oysters, clams, shrimp, and mussels.1
In 2011–2017, there were an average of 6,627 workers employed in the aquaculture industry.2 These workers suffer fatal injuries at a rate of 18.9 per 100,000.3 Additionally, occupational injuries and illnesses occur in this worker population at a rate of 5,237 per 100,000. This is approximately  twice the rate of injury/illness among all U.S. workers.4ReferencesNOAA [2019]. Fisheries of the United States, 2017 report. Silver Spring, MD: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Fisheries, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/document/fisheries-united-states-2017-reportexternal icon.
BLS [2019]. NAICS 1125 Aquaculture, all U.S., private, 2011–2017. In Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. Washington DC: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, https://data.bls.gov/cew/apps/data_views/data_views.htm#tab=TablesExternalexternal icon.
BLS [2019]. NAICS 1125 Aquaculture, all U.S., private, 2011–2017. In Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Washington DC: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/data/#injuriesExternalexternal icon.
BLS [2019]. Table 2. Numbers of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by industry and case types, 2011–2017. In Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. Washington DC: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshsum.htmExternalexternal icon.Top of Page
							
					
						Page last reviewed:  February 27, 2020					Content source: 	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health homeMaritime Safety and Health Studies
About the Centerplus icon
Program Description
Program Goals
Program Impact
Contact the Maritime Center
Maritime Industriesplus icon
Shipyards
Marine Terminals
Marine Transportation
Seafood Processingplus icon
Ergonomic Hazards
Language Barriers
Fatigue Hazards
Publications
Commercial Fishing
Aquaculture
Commercial Diving
Publications
Maritime Resources
Health Hazard Evaluations Follow NIOSH Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter
YouTube
 NIOSH Homepage NIOSH A-Z
Workplace Safety & Health Topics
Publications and Products
Programs
Contact NIOSH


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue