"The United States needs a strong commercial fishing industry and a robust aquaculture industry in order to meet projected seafood demand," Gutierrez said. "Over 70 percent of the seafood Americans consume annually is imported, and half of those imports come from foreign aquaculture operations."
The U.S. annual seafood trade deficit is $8 billion.
Gutierrez said Hawaii is among the most active and receptive regions for marine aquaculture in the United States with $40 million annually in sales and the potential to grow to $200 million in annual sales in five to 10 years.
Source: Pacific Business News