Sustainability

American aquaculture farmers are stewards of the land they depend on to make a living.

Federal agencies including the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversee the production of aquatic organisms in the United States. States establish additional management practices that deal with water quality, wetlands protection, wastewater treatment, water supply, non-native species, and fish health programs. An important component of all of these programs is a requirement to prevent the escape of farmed fish into the wild. Farmed fish are routinely tested to help ensure that they are free of important diseases and aquatic nuisance species that might be harmful to the environment.

Aquatic drugs and chemicals are severely limited for aquaculture.

No drugs or hormones are approved to promote growth in the United States. Before any chemical is used on an U.S. aquaculture farm, it must undergone extensive research to document that it will not cause harm to the environment or public health. When a drug or chemical is used, it must be in accordance with federal guidelines, including strict withdrawal and retention times to ensure no residues leave the farm.

Learn more from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Aquatic Animal Drug Approval Partnership Program's resources. 

In the U.S., through the federal and state environmental protection laws, aquaculture farms are not located in environmentally sensitive areas.

The Environmental Protection Agency and state regulatory programs prevent impacts to critical habitats on private lands, such as altering natural wetlands or protected species habitat. For marine aquaculture, the National Marine Fisheries Service identifies areas that are considered essential to living marine resources and regulates the use of those areas to help ensure that those habitats remain healthy and can support sustainable fisheries.

The development of U.S. aquaculture is critical to maintaining the long-term sustainability of wild caught fisheries.

Source: OutWorldData 2020

It is estimated that wild caught fisheries have reached maximum sustainable yield, while the world’s appetite for seafood is only growing. The U.S. is a world leader in environmental protection, land management and natural resource conservation. The expansion of U.S. aquaculture can satisfy the growing demand for seafood while ensuring that new growth is environmentally friendly and sustainable.

There are many examples of aquaculture farms actually improving the environment too!

Aquaculture farms provide aquatic habitats in ponds, lakes and artificial wetlands and in coastal marine waters. Wetlands and aquatic systems can provide critical habitat to a variety of species of native wildlife. Shellfish and fin fish farms in coastal marine waters provide structure and foraging habitat for numerous important marine species and sensitive life stages. Learn more about Ecosystem Services below.

Save the Wild, Buy U.S. Farm Raised!

U.S. ornamental fish farmers raise freshwater and marine species that would otherwise be collected from wild populations. Food fish farmers raise species such as trout, tilapia,  bass and catfish that can replace rare wild species on menus yet meet customers’ wants and needs.

Other farms are raising traditional marine species such as red drum, almaco jack, flounder, and halibut. The availability of these overfished species allows natural fish stocks to recover and allows wild harvest commercial fishermen to work closely with government agencies to help ensure that those stocks aren’t overfished in U.S. waters.

U.S. farmed products are fresh, local and have a low climate footprint.

MacLeod et al. 2020 reported - "Global aquaculture accounted for approximately 0.49% of anthropogenic GHG emissions in 2017, which is similar in magnitude to the emissions from sheep production. The modest emissions reflect the low emissions intensity of aquaculture...which is due largely to the absence of enteric ­CH4 (methane) in aquaculture, combined with the high fertility and low feed conversion ratios."

The most environmentally friendly seafood choice is simple - U.S. farm-raised!

Beyond the inherent efficiencies of all aquaculture production, U.S. farmed product is local and fresh! Imported seafood often travels thousands of miles by airplane or oceanic shipping with a high carbon footprint before it reaches your dinner plate.

Shellfish and seaweed farms are living water filters!

Oyster reefs in the U.S. and around the entire globe have collapsed. Marine bivalve are keystone species in coastal estuaries that provide a variety of essential services that both the environment and local aquatic wildlife depend upon. The loss of natural stocks has caused disruptions through the entire marine food chain and resulted in degraded water quality around the nation. In the absence of natural bivalve populations, shellfish and seaweed farmers help to provide many of the same functions in the environment.

Farmers are helping to clean and recover imperiled estuaries all around the nation while producing fresh and high-quality seafood.

Farms provide structure and foraging habitat for a variety of species. Barnacles, mussels, algae, anemones, invertebrates and crabs naturally colonize aquaculture gear and these organisms are then fed upon by many species of fish, including many important to commercial fisheries.

Shellfish and seaweed farms remove excess nutrients from the water.

Excessive dissolved nutrients, such as carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, enter coastal estuaries by run off from upland sources and can cause serve damage to sensitive marine ecosystems. Excesses nutrients in a system can cause or exacerbate harmful algae blooms which can be acutely toxic to people and marine life and can cause hypoxic events - where all the oxygen is removed from the water and massive fish kills occur.

Shellfish and seaweed farms actively remove carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous from the environment and clarify the water. Improving water clarity allows more sunlight to reach the seafloor and encourages the repopulation of submerged aquatic vegetation.

The U.S. is the global leader for agricultural worker rights!

The U.S. Department of Labor is responsible for administering multiple statues which protect agricultural worker rights, ensure fair wages, prevent discrimination, and prohibit any form of compulsatory or child labor.

Federal minimum wage, overtime, recordkeeping, and child labor requirements are enforced under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Act establishes minimum standards toilets, potable drinking water, hand-washing facilities, and for providing information regarding good hygiene practices. Standards for housing, transpostation and wages are ensured by the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA).

Buying U.S. aquaculture products supports quality jobs for rural Americans!

Many fish farms are located in economically challenged rural areas. Taxes paid by local farmers help to support schools, hospitals, and other community services. Farms create local jobs and a source of local food. More local jobs mean that the entire community benefits.

U.S. aquaculture helps preserve the maritime and farming heritage upon which this nation was built.

• Reduces our trade deficit.
• Generates jobs on and off the farm.
• Provides economic activity in challenged parts of
  the country.
• Supports local schools, hospitals, and other
  community services.
• Reduces our dependence on imports (currently
  over 90% of all the seafood we eat is imported).