About Virginia Seafood

From the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal rivers to the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia supports a diverse and dynamic seafood industry. Wild harvest, aquaculture, hatchery production, processing, distribution and market development work together to bring Virginia seafood to consumers across the Commonwealth, throughout the United States and around the world.

This far-reaching industry supports thousands of jobs, strengthens businesses across nearly every sector of Virginia’s economy and continues a proud tradition of harvesting and producing high-quality seafood from the Commonwealth’s abundant waters.

A small boat gently floats on calm water, surrounded by a serene natural landscape.

VIRGINIA SEAFOOD BY THE NUMBERS

Economic Impact

Cappahosic Oyster Company worker Sean Carlson sorts oysters and cleans cages on the York River

  • $3.28 billion in sales impacts generated by Virginia’s broader commercial fishing and seafood economy in 2023. Source: NOAA Fisheries, Fisheries Economics of the United States 2023
  • 28,321 jobs supported by Virginia’s broader commercial fishing and seafood economy in 2023. Source: NOAA Fisheries, Fisheries Economics of the United States 2023
  • 480 of Virginia’s 528 industries are connected to seafood activity, demonstrating the industry’s extensive reach across the Commonwealth’s economy. Source: Virginia Tech, Economic Contributions of the Virginia Seafood Industry, 2023

Commercial Harvest

A row of red and white crab pots stacked neatly on a dock, ready for use in fishing activities.

  • 1 on the East Coast and No. 3 in the nation for commercial seafood landings by volume in 2024. Source: NOAA Fisheries/NMFS FOSS State Landings, 2024
  • 5 million pounds of seafood landed, generating $220.4 million in dockside value in 2024. Source: NOAA Fisheries/NMFS Commercial Landing System, 2024
  • Reedville ranked No. 4 among U.S. commercial fishing ports by seafood landings volume in 2023. Source: NOAA Fisheries, Fisheries Economics of the United States 2023

Shellfish Aquaculture

A man fills baskets with freshly harvested clams at a coastal location, preparing for distribution or sale.

  • $81 million in estimated farm-gate value generated by Virginia’s clam and oyster aquaculture industry in 2024—including $52 million from hard clams and $29 million from Eastern oysters. Source: Virginia Institute of Marine Science, 2024 Virginia Shellfish Aquaculture Situation and Outlook Survey
  • 195 million market hard clams and 43.4 million individual market oysters sold by Virginia growers in 2024. Source: Virginia Institute of Marine Science, 2024 Virginia Shellfish Aquaculture Situation and Outlook Survey
  • More than 700 full- and part-time employees work directly in Virginia’s clam and oyster aquaculture industry. Source: Virginia Institute of Marine Science, 2024 Virginia Shellfish Aquaculture Situation and Outlook Survey
  • Virginia seafood travels far beyond the Commonwealth: An estimated 92% of cultured hard clams and 42% of individual containerized oysters were sold outside Virginia in 2024. Source: Virginia Institute of Marine Science, 2024 Virginia Shellfish Aquaculture Situation and Outlook Survey

PRIMARY SOURCES

NOAA Fisheries

Fisheries Economics of the United States 2023.

Virginia Tech

Economic Contributions of the Virginia Seafood Industry and the Effects of Virginia Seafood Products in Retail Stores and Restaurants in 2023.

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

2024 Virginia Shellfish Aquaculture Situation and Outlook Survey / Report.

NOAA Fisheries/NMFS Commercial Landing System and FOSS:

Virginia annual commercial landings and state rankings, 2024. NOAA Fisheries, Fisheries Economics of the United States 2023: Reedville #4 U.S. port ranking.

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