Starting Dec. 18, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will mail the 2023 Census of Aquaculture. If you indicated in the 2022 Census of Agriculture that you produce and sell aquaculture products, expect to get one. The deadline to respond is Jan. 15.
The Census of Aquaculture will provide comprehensive aquaculture data at the state and national levels. This includes production volume and methods, surface water acres and sources, and sales. Federal, state, and local governments, agribusinesses, trade associations, and producers use these data, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
“The information that respondents provide will serve as the foundation for many decisions involving the sustainability and growth of the U.S. aquaculture sector for years to come,” says NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer. “This is an opportunity to share your voice and showcase the uniqueness of American aquaculture.”
NASS has made survey response more convenient with their online Respondent Portal at www.agcounts.usda.gov. On the site, producers can complete their NASS surveys, view historical reports, and access other resources.
Responding to the census is required by law. The same law requires NASS to keep all information confidential, use the data for statistical purposes only, and publish in aggregate form to prevent disclosing the identity of any individual producer or farm operation. NASS will release the data from the Census of Aquaculture on Dec. 16, 2024.
