Newly released NOAA Fisheries reports highlight the economic importance of America’s commercial fishing and seafood industries while documenting continued progress in sustainable fisheries management. Together, the 2025 Status of Stocks, 2024 Fisheries of the United States, and 2024 Fisheries Economics of the United States reports provide an updated picture of the nation’s fisheries, seafood production, and the industry’s contributions to the U.S. economy.
Commercial Fisheries Generate Billions in Economic Activity
U.S. commercial fishermen landed approximately 7.7 billion pounds of seafood valued at $4.9 billion in 2024, according to NOAA. The industry’s economic contributions extend well beyond the dock, supporting approximately 1 million jobs nationwide and generating $175 billion in sales impacts, $44 billion in income, and $70 billion in value-added economic activity.
When commercial fishing, seafood processing, recreational fishing, and related marine industries are considered together, the broader sector generated approximately $321 billion in sales impacts and supported 1.7 million jobs nationwide in 2024. Recreational fishing alone accounted for $146 billion in sales impacts and supported approximately 685,000 jobs.
U.S. aquaculture also contributed to domestic seafood production, producing approximately 561 million pounds of farmed seafood valued at $1.3 billion. NOAA identifies aquaculture as an important opportunity to strengthen domestic seafood production and improve the competitiveness of American seafood in global markets.
U.S. Fisheries Continue Making Progress in Sustainability
The 2025 Status of Stocks report documents continued progress in reducing overfishing and rebuilding depleted fish populations.
The number of stocks classified as subject to overfishing declined from 23 to 15, the lowest level ever recorded. Of the 372 stocks with a known overfishing status, 96% were not subject to overfishing. Meanwhile, 52 fish stocks have been successfully rebuilt since 2000, including California’s quillback rockfish, which was added to the rebuilt list in 2025.
The number of stocks classified as overfished remained at 42, with 84% of the 265 stocks with a known overfished status no longer classified as overfished.
NOAA attributes this progress to science-based fisheries management, effective enforcement, innovative management strategies, and collaboration among federal agencies, regional fishery management councils, states, and other partners. The agency emphasizes that continued cooperation and public participation remain essential to maintaining healthy fisheries.
Opportunities to Strengthen Domestic Seafood Production
Despite the strength of domestic commercial fishing and aquaculture, the reports highlight the United States’ continued reliance on imported seafood.
Americans consumed an average of 18.4 pounds of seafood per person in 2024. During the same year, the United States imported approximately $25 billion in edible seafood products while exporting just $4.4 billion.
The substantial gap between seafood imports and exports underscores opportunities to expand domestic harvesting, processing, and aquaculture capacity. Strengthening American seafood production and supply chains could help improve the industry’s competitiveness, support domestic jobs, and increase the availability of American-produced seafood.
NOAA’s reports provide important data to inform ongoing efforts to strengthen the domestic seafood industry, address unfair international trade practices, and promote sustainable fisheries management.
For the commercial fishing, seafood, and aquaculture industries, the findings reinforce a central message: sustainable resource management and a competitive domestic seafood supply chain are essential to the long-term economic strength of America’s seafood sector.
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