Aquaculture supplies most of the world’s seafood (57%), yet the U.S. remains heavily reliant on imports, producing only 11% of its seafood through aquaculture and carrying a $24.2 billion seafood trade deficit. Freshwater aquaculture—primarily catfish, crawfish, and trout—generated $872 million in 2022, and recent analysis shows U.S. aquaculture contributes $4 billion annually in production with several‑fold broader economic impacts. Despite this national significance, aquaculture for food remains underdeveloped in the Great Lakes region, where research and management have long centered on recreational fisheries.

This seminar will connect national and regional perspectives on U.S. aquaculture growth.