Source:  POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 12/20/19

Sales of aquaculture products passed $1.5 billion in 2018, a 10 percent increase over the last five years even as the number of operations shrunk by 5 percent, according to a new Agriculture Department census report on the sector. 

There were more than 2,900 aquaculture farms in operation last year, including 522 in Louisiana and 325 in Florida, the most of any states. But Mississippi and Washington sold the most aquacultural product, which includes farmed fish, algae and sea vegetables, according to the USDA report.

Catfish and oysters were the most commonly farmed species and accounted for the most sales: $367 million and $285 million, respectively. The census covers everything from alligator and turtle production to caviar, snails and live rock.