The domestic fishery can no longer supply additional landings of
most wild-caught species without endangering the resources.
Increases in demand will have to be met either through increased
aquaculture production or increased imports. Many species are
currently being over-exploited world-wide causing further need
to look elsewhere for fishery products to meet the ever-
increasing global demand. Seafood consumption has been steadily
growing in the U.S. Even if consumption remained unchanged in
the 1990's, U.S. population growth alone would add forty million
pounds to the demand for seafood each year. Shortfalls in
domestic wild harvests of fish and shellfish also draw in
imports to fill demand. More than 60 percent of the seafood
consumed in the U.S. is imported resulting to trade deficits in
fisheries products. Economic benefits from aquaculture
production accrue not only to those directly involved in the
industry but contribute to increased employment and revenue of
the entire region. Recent analyses suggest