Food insecurity and poor diets are major factors in the ongoing health crisis across the United States. As of August 2024, around 34 million Americans, including 9 million children, face food insecurity, affecting about 10.5% of households nationwide.
Concurrently, diet-related illnesses like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes are among the leading causes of death. These problems are especially severe in rural communities and among historically marginalized groups.
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nearly 46% of Native Americans and Alaska Natives experience food insecurity and are 50% more likely to suffer from obesity compared to their white counterparts. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified these disparities, highlighting the urgent need for systemic food access and healthcare changes.
The Role of Blue Foods
For a significant transformation of the U.S. food system, it is crucial to focus on all sectors, including marine and aquatic foods, commonly known as “blue foods.” These foods have gained recognition for their high nutritional value and potential to improve global health.
The 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend eating at least 8 ounces of seafood per week to reduce the risk of diet-related diseases. Despite the clear benefits, the potential of blue foods to transform the U.S. food system has been largely overlooked.
The White House’s 2024 National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health does not mention seafood, missing an important opportunity to leverage this nutrient-rich food source.
Blue foods are often excluded from food system discussions because they do not play a major role in the U.S. diet. In reality, seafood is one of the most traded food commodities globally, with the U.S. importing about 80-90% of its seafood.
Despite this reliance on imports, the U.S. is also a leading producer, harvesting approximately 8.4 billion pounds of seafood annually as of 2020. This dual role as a major producer and consumer highlights the potential for the U.S. to become more self-reliant in its seafood consumption.
The Potential for U.S. Seafood Independence
There is growing interest in evaluating the U.S.’s potential to achieve “seafood independence. This concept refers to the nation’s ability to meet its seafood needs through domestic production, thus reducing import dependence. Achieving greater self-reliance in seafood can enhance food and nutrition security and protect against global supply chain disruptions, which have become increasingly common in recent decades.
Researchers have conducted a self-reliance analysis using data from 1970 to 2021 across seven U.S. regions. Their findings suggest that while full seafood independence would require significant changes, it is attainable with strategic investments.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in the global seafood trade, prompting calls for stronger local and regional seafood systems. According to a 2023 NOAA report, the U.S. seafood industry could increase domestic production by 30% with the right investments in aquaculture and sustainable fishing practices.
Seafood production in the U.S. has varied across regions and over time. The North Pacific (Alaska) region is the driving force behind U.S. seafood production, contributing about 58% of the nation’s total harvest, with a peak of 2.7 million metric tons in 2015.
The Pacific (West Coast) and New England regions are significant contributors, though their production levels have fluctuated. National seafood production saw a sharp increase in the mid-1980s due to the expansion of the pollock fishery in Alaska. Still, growth has stabilized in recent years, maintaining an average of 3.4 million metric tons annually.
Despite these trends, regional self-reliance in seafood varies widely. For instance, Alaska’s fish production far exceeds local demand, with a self-reliance rate of 27,000% in 2021. In contrast, regions like the Gulf of Mexico and Mid-Atlantic show much lower self-reliance rates, indicating a greater dependence on imports.
According to the USDA, expanding local aquaculture operations, which currently contribute less than 5% to the region’s seafood supply, could significantly improve self-reliance.
Seafood Self-Reliance
To boost seafood self-reliance in the U.S., substantial changes are necessary, including infrastructure investments and shifts in consumer behavior. The current infrastructure supporting the U.S. seafood industry is geared toward global trade, complicating locally sourced seafood distribution. To address this, the USDA has proposed a $1 billion investment plan to enhance local distribution networks over the next decade, which could increase national seafood self-reliance by 20%.
Consumer preferences also play a crucial role in shaping seafood consumption. Encouraging Americans to choose locally sourced and sustainably produced seafood can drive demand for domestic blue foods.
This shift will require promoting underutilized species currently exported or used as bait. According to a 2024 report by the National Aquaculture Association, increasing domestic consumption of species like mackerel and sardines could boost overall seafood consumption by 15% by 2030.
While the U.S. is a leading global seafood producer, it still relies heavily on imports to meet domestic demand. However, achieving seafood independence is within reach if the country prioritizes local production, infrastructure, and consumer education investments.
The U.S. can enhance food security, support healthier diets, and build a more resilient food system. As the nation faces food insecurity and diet-related diseases, blue foods offer a valuable opportunity to transform the U.S. food system for the better.
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