Status, Constraints, and Opportunities for Salmon Culture in the United States: A Review

This paper reviews and analyzes the major factors constraining the development of salmon culture in the United States. A brief review of economic factors in the seafood sector contributing to the industry's recent growth is offered, and the present status of the major producing regions is summarized. The major constraints, which include marketing problems, policy and regulatory constraints, production costs, disease, financiing, and environmental uncertainty, are discussed, followed by recommendations for improving the industry's development.

A Review of World Salmon Culture

World farmed salmon production reached 145,000 metric tons (t) in 1988 and an estimated 217,000 t in 1989. The latter figure is comparable to the U. S. annual salmon catch (about 250,000 t) and is approaching one-third the size of the world wild salmon catch (about 700,000 t). The rapid expansion of farmed salmon supplies in the late 1980's has led to sharp price decreases. Lower prices have forced some farmers out of business, but at the same time, a large number of farmers first began harvesting salmon on a commercial scale as the 1980's ended. Farmed salmon production could exceed 270,000 t in 1990.