Growth amongst Tribal producers was a bright spot in the most recent Census of Agriculture. American Indian/Alaska Native-owned operations account for more than 58,000 farms nationwide, with almost 10 percent of Tribal producers working in aquaculture or other animal production. While a drop in the bucket of the more than 189,000 aquaculture and other animal production focused operations nationwide, there is an increasing focus on this sector from Tribal government-owned and individual Tribal producer-owned operations.
Aquaculture vs. Fisheries
The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines aquaculture as “the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of fish, shellfish, algae, and other organisms in all types of water environments.”
Fisheries do not include plant life, but rather only include fish and/or shellfish. Additionally, fisheries mainly center around the catching, processing, and selling of fish. Fisheries can be either wild or farmed.
For example, while NOAA research tends to focus on commercial fisheries, including wild-caught fish and shellfish. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) includes more than just these specific types of fisheries and instead uses a definition that reports on specifically measuring the values of farmed aquatic products like fish, shellfish, and other aquatic organisms. USDA’s focus on the industry assists in its development to help meet future food needs and ease burdens on natural resources. Seventeen USDA agencies across multiple mission areas support aquaculture, including
- Food Safety
- Marketing and Regulatory Programs
- Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services
- Farm Production and Conservation
- Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Research,
- Education
- Economics and Rural Development.
Demand for Tribal aquaculture?
The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization estimates the total value of aquaculture production at $312.8 billion in 2022, making global markets significant economic drivers. Domestically, the potential is significant as well, with the USDA Census of Aquaculture valuing the industry at $1.9 billion in terms of product sold.
Tribes can use aquaculture to cultivate traditional fish for their communities and provide fresh food for rural areas while employing sustainable cultivation, which enhances Tribal food sovereignty.
Examples of different ventures
In the Pacific Northwest, the Skokomish Indian Tribe has engaged a Supporting Oyster Aquaculture and Restoration program, helping them restore oysters to the Skokomish River while supporting purchases from local, Tribal producers.
The Mi’Kmaq Nation in Maine has a robust aquaculture venture on their Tribal farm, where they cultivate brook trout, a traditional food. This enterprise increases their community members’ access to fresh, nutritional, and traditional foods in their rural location.
Resources
Tribal leaders and staff interested in exploring whether this sector is a good fit for their operations can visit the USDAs Aquaculture webpage.
Additionally, programs such as the National Fish Hatchery System and the Fish and Aquatic Conservation are also resources supporting local lake restoration as they offer information on breeding and raising fish. IFAI also has a wealth of resources, including an aquaculture and fisheries section, in its Model Tribal Food and Agriculture Code at tribalfoodcode.com.
For additional questions about the model code, starting an enterprise, or policy questions, reach out to agpolicy@uark.edu.