Early development of aquaculture in the United States was stimulated by interest in recreational fishing. In the late 1800s, federal and state hatcheries were built to propagate various gamefish species for stocking public and private waters. Commercial fish farming began in the United States in 1853 with the production of rainbow trout. Early efforts in the private sector were directed at raising fishes for recreational purposes. Large scale commercial trout production began in western United States during the early 1950s.
Aquaculture is defined as the rearing of aquatic organisms under controlled conditions.
Other species presently farmed in the United States include channel catfish, salmon, bait and ornamental fish, crawfish, shrimp, oysters and clams. Other species such as tilapia, hybrid striped bass, red drum, alligators, white sturgeon and aquatic plants are also being farmed on a smaller scale. All have considerable commercial potential. There are other aquatic species with possible commercial potential.