At Premier Catch, we believe knowing where your seafood comes from, and how it’s caught, matters more than ever.
But here’s something most people don’t realize: even though the United States waters are home to some of the richest, most sustainable fisheries in the world, a huge percentage of our wild seafood is exported overseas. Meanwhile, the U.S. imports most of the seafood sold in grocery stores and restaurants.
This seafood paradox leaves many consumers wondering: How does this make sense? And more importantly: What can I do to make better choices? Here’s what’s behind it.
Why the U.S. Exports So Much of Its Wild Catch
Each year, American fishermen harvest millions of pounds of premium wild seafood, salmon, crab, halibut, black cod, and more, from our cold, clean waters. Yet a large share of that catch is sold abroad, into markets where wild American seafood commands a premium.
Why?
It’s simple economics. Global demand for wild-caught U.S. seafood is high, and international buyers often pay top dollar for quality products like Alaskan salmon and Dungeness crab. Meanwhile, most of the seafood sold in American grocery stores and restaurants is imported, much of it farmed and much of it cheaper to source than the wild catch landed here.
The result is that the seafood caught closest to home is often the hardest to find on an American plate.
What You Give Up When You Don’t Know the Source
When you buy seafood without knowing its source, there’s a good chance it’s imported — and that usually comes with compromises:
- Less certainty: seafood of unknown origin may be farmed or wild, and may be frozen and handled several times before it reaches your plate.
- Varying oversight: sustainability, labor and food-safety standards differ considerably from one country and one fishery to the next.
- Environmental costs: Seafood flown halfway around the world racks up a massive carbon footprint.
- Economic loss: Money that could be supporting American fishing families and coastal economies leaves our shores.
Plenty of imported seafood is excellent. The point is not that imports are bad — it’s that knowing the source lets you choose deliberately.
Environmental and Economic Reasons to Buy American
When you buy U.S. wild seafood, you’re making a powerful impact:
- Support sustainable fisheries: American fisheries are among the most strictly managed in the world. Alaska writes sustainable management into its state constitution, and its salmon fisheries have been recognized under the MSC programme since 2000.
- Boost local economies: Your purchase supports small fishing families, coastal communities, and American jobs.
- Protect the environment: U.S. fishing regulations protect marine ecosystems better than almost anywhere else globally.
- Enjoy higher quality seafood: Wild American seafood is prized for its flavor, nutrition, and purity — you’ll taste the difference.
Buying American seafood isn’t just about patriotism. It’s about choosing healthier oceans, stronger communities, and better food.
How Premier Catch Makes It Easy
At Premier Catch, we’re proud to be part of the solution.
Our mission is simple:
Bring wild, American-caught seafood straight to your door — no middlemen, no mystery.
We partner directly with trusted fishermen in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, sourcing only the highest-quality wild seafood. The seafood we sell is:
- Sustainably harvested in U.S. waters
- Flash-frozen at peak freshness
- Traceable to the source
- Delivered to you with care
By choosing Premier Catch, you’re making a statement:
You value quality, sustainability, and the hardworking American fishing families who make it possible.
Shop Our Wild American Seafood:
At Premier Catch, we're making it easier, and tastier, to buy U.S. wild seafood and feel good about every bite.
Ready to stock your freezer with the best American seafood? Shop now.