56 MARCH 2026 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG The US Seafood Deficit The US provides a compelling case study of the potential role of IAAS. In 2022, imports of edible fishery products amounted to 6.9 billion pounds (3.13 million tonnes), valued at US$29.7 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of US$24.2 billion (NOAA Fisheries, 2024). Some 62-65% of all seafood consumed in the US is imported (Gephart et al., 2019) with domestic production accounting for some 35-38% of seafood consumption, with aquaculture contributing a mere 7% of total production — approximately 663 million pounds (300,372 tonnes) valued at US$1.7 billion (NOAA Fisheries, 2024). This translates to just 1.99 lbs/capita (0.902 kg/capita), compared to a global average of 26 lbs/capita (11.81 kg/capita) (FAO, 2024; US Census Bureau, 2022; UN, 2025). Such figures highlight the vulnerability of the US to trade barriers, supply chain disruptions, and external shocks, while simultaneously underscoring the opportunity to narrow the seafood deficit through IAAS adoption in cropirrigated farming enterprises. Untapped Potential in the Southern US States The southern US states of Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida collectively apply approximately 26.3 million acrefeet (32.44 km³) of irrigation water annually (USDANASS, 2024). If just 1% of this volume were diverted through IAAS prior to cropland irrigation, the potential annual tilapia production would be substantial: • 1.94 million lbs (0.88 million tonnes) using RAS. • 4.85 million lbs (2.2 million tonnes) using Biofloc Technology (BFT). These estimates originate from water use assumptions as follows: 1. A tilapia RAS growout unit typically generates approximately 44.1 US gallons of wastewater per pound of fish produced (368 m³/ tonne), whereas, 2. a BFT unit produces only 18 US gallons per pound (150 m³/ tonne). The contemporary global food system is increasingly challenged by resource scarcity, climate change, environmental degradation, and escalating demand for food. Within this context, Integrated Agriculture– Aquaculture Systems (IAAS) represent a promising and multifaceted strategy. By simultaneously enhancing water productivity, promoting nutrient circularity, and strengthening food security, IAAS provide a pathway toward sustainable, restorative, and regenerative agricultural models (Figure 1). Their potential lies not only in addressing immediate production challenges but also in contributing to longterm resilience in agroecosystems via improved soil health and climate change mitigation effects. Global Aquaculture Trends According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2024), future growth in fish supply will originate almost exclusively from aquaculture, as capture fisheries have been in decline since 1996. Global farmed aquatic animal production is projected to increase from 94 million tonnes in 2022 to 110 million tonnes by 2032. However, the annual average growth rate is expected to slow significantly, from 4% per annum between 2012 and 2022 to just 1.6% between 2022 and 2032. This deceleration is attributed to several interrelated factors: reduced availability of water in terms of both quality and quantity, limited suitable sites for aquaculture expansion, increasing prevalence of aquatic animal diseases in intensive systems, and diminished productivity gains under stricter environmental regulations (FAO, 2024). Within this constrained landscape, only two viable pathways remain for aquaculture to achieve significant and unconstrained growth: (1) zero discharge saline landbased Integrated Multi Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), marine/saline aquaponics and offshore marine aquaculture, and (2) nearzero or zerodischarge integrated systems such as IAAS, IMTA and aquaponics in freshwater environments. The Integration of Fish Farming into Crop Irrigation Systems Across Six Southern US States Ramon M. Kourie FIGURE 1. IAAS as a pathway to enhance water productivity and nutrient circularity in transitioned crop irrigation farming systems for improved food security and food production resilience. The contemporary global food system is increasingly challenged by resource scarcity, climate change, environmental degradation, and escalating demand for food. Within this context, Integrated Agriculture–Aquaculture Systems (IAAS) represent a promising and multifaceted strategy. By simultaneously enhancing water productivity, promoting nutrient circularity, and strengthening food security, IAAS provide a pathway toward sustainable, restorative, and regenerative agricultural models.
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