USA fisheries statistics: production, consumption and trade
The United States of America is the largest world seafood producer amongst the developed countries, averaging a total production volume of 5.49 million tonnes over the 3-year period from 2013 to 2015. Finfish accounted for 88% of the weight of total landings and 46% of the total value (source: NOAA, 2016). According to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the seafood industry supported nearly 1.2 million jobs and generated USD 144 billion of turnover in 2015.
The United States of America was the world’s 4th largest exporter and the largest importer of seafood by value in 2016. While exports have remained approximately stable, US seafood imports have tripled in the last 20 years to reach a total value of USD 20.16 billion in 2016. According to NOAA, over 90% of the seafood consumed in the United States of America is imported. The main imported species are shrimp, salmon, crab and white fish. In 2016, the United States of America was the top global import market for shrimp with 603 986 tonnes imported, representing 3.1 percent year-on-year growth.
Alaska Pollock, pacific salmon, lobster, crab, fish roe and surimi are the United States of America’s top exported seafood products, accounting for more than 40% of the total value of exports in 2014 (source: US Department of Agriculture, 2015).
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the US authority which, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), ensures that imported fish and fishery products are safe, wholesome, and accurately labelled. The FDA uses the Import Alert System as a tool to prevent potentially violative products from entering the US seafood supply chain.
Graphs and tables are based on statistics prepared by the FAO Statistics and Information Branch, Fisheries and Aquaculture Department.
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Please note: Fishery statistical data here presented exclude the production for marine mammals, crocodiles, corals, spongers, pearls, mother-of-pearl and aquatic plants.