With the U.S. importing 90 percent of the seafood we eat, it’s clear that wild capture fisheries alone can’t meet our increasing demand for seafood. It’s time for the United States to take action to diversify our food supply by encouraging development of the nascent aquaculture industry, while also supporting growth of other related industries, such as agriculture.
Aquaculture in the U.S. has been hampered by an erratic and intimidating regulatory landscape, which currently involves an alphabet soup of state and federal agencies. It’s confusing, time-consuming and expensive, with up-front administrative costs for a new fish farming project capable of creeping into the seven figure range.
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Unfortunately, there are many outdated and misguided myths surrounding aquaculture. The truth is that fish farming is a proven, sustainable form of food production. Scientific research shows that offshore aquaculture, when done carefully and managed responsibly, has little environmental impact. And, when it comes to shellfish, species like mussels are inherently sustainable because they help clean the ocean floor.
Fish farming is the fastest growing food sector in the world, and the U.S. needs to embrace this burgeoning industry. We have the resources and technological know-how to be a world leader in responsible aquaculture.
