Fishing and seafood consumption in the U.S. increased in 2017, with landings and the value of U.S. fisheries continuing a strong, positive trend. Across the nation, American fishermen landed 9.9 billion lb. of fish and shellfish in 2017, while the U.S. imported 5.9 billion lb. of seafood, up 1.6%, according to the annual "Fisheries of the United States" report released Dec. 13 by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Given the increases in seafood landings, and with the average American adding more than 1 lb. of seafood to their diet, there is a growing role for aquaculture to play in the domestic industry, NOAA said.

“This report exemplifies the vital economic benefits provided by commercial and recreational fisheries to American communities nationwide,” Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said. “Every year, farmed and wild fisheries across the United States deliver food to our tables while safeguarding thousands of American jobs.”

The landed 9.9 billion lb. of fish and shellfish in 2017 represent an increase of 344 million lb., or 3.6%, from the year before, NOAA said. The value of the landings also increased to $5.4 billion, up $110 million, or 2.1%, from 2016.

Overall, the highest value U.S. commercial species were salmon ($688 million), crabs ($610 million), lobsters ($594 million), shrimp ($531 million), scallops ($512 million) and Alaska pollock ($413 million), the report says. By volume, the nation’s largest commercial fishery remains Alaska pollock, which had near-record landings of 3.4 billion lb., up 1% from 2016.

In addition, the report notes that the average American ate 16.0 lb. of fish and shellfish in 2017, up a significant 1.1 lb. from the year before, NOAA said. U.S. dietary guidelines recommend eating at least 8 oz. of seafood per week.

The U.S. aquaculture industry produced $1.5 billion in 2016 — the most recent year aquaculture data are available — an increase from $1.4 billion in 2015. Thus, aquaculture represented approximately 21% of the value of the nation’s total seafood production in 2016. The top-value domestic farmed marine species were oysters, clams and salmon.

Shrimp, salmon and tuna continue to top the list of imports for 2017, with a total value of all seafood imports of $21.5 billion, up 10.4%.

NOAA also released the 11th "Fisheries Economics of the United States 2016" report, which provides the most up-to-date economic statistics on commercial and recreational fisheries as well as seafood-related businesses for each coastal state and the nation.

A key piece of the latest report is the jobs, sales, income and value added to the gross domestic product (GDP) by the fishing and seafood industries. This provides a measure of how sales from commercial and recreational fishing ripple through state and national economies, as each dollar spent generates additional economic effects, NOAA said.

In a single year, economic impacts from recreational fishing grew across the board. Nationally, 9.8 million saltwater anglers took recreational fishing trips in 2016 — a 9% increase in anglers from 2015. Saltwater recreational fishing supported 472,000 jobs, generated $68 billion in sales impacts across the economy and contributed $39 billion to GDP, all metrics that increased 7% from 2015 measurements.

The commercial fishing and seafood industry — harvesters, processors, dealers, wholesalers and retailers — supported 1.2 million jobs in 2016, generating $144 billion in sales impacts and adding $61 billion to GDP, NOAA reported.

The domestic harvest produced $53 billion in sales, up 2% from 2015, and supported 711,000 jobs across the entire American economy. Sea scallops had the largest revenue increase in 2016, bringing in $46 million in landings revenue, NOAA said. The domestic lobster industry also performed well, with a $43 million increase in revenue primarily from the harvest of lobster off the coast of Maine and New England.

“This report illustrates the depth and breadth of fishing and seafood’s contribution to our country’s economy,” said Chris Oliver, assistant NOAA administrator for fisheries. “From sustainably harvesting America’s seafood to casting a line in our coastal waters, the economic impacts of commercial and recreational fishing provide a boon to each and every American community.”

"Fisheries Economics of the United States 2016" is the 11th volume in an annual series designed to give the public accessible economic information on fishing and seafood in the U.S. and is a companion to "Fisheries of the United States."