The U.S. crustacean market is anticipated to witness a lucrative growth rate in the forthcoming years owing to the high consumption of seafood along with growing awareness regarding the presence of vital nutrients in seafood. Lobsters, shrimps, prawns, and crabs usually belong to a group of invertebrates known as crustaceans.

They generally have hard shells and walk around the seabed on joined legs. These are diverse in form and live throughout the globe in a variety of different habitats, including on land. Crustaceans are some of the most essential marine lifeforms for humans since shrimp, lobsters, crabs and are extensively fished, farmed as well as consumed across the globe.

Aquaculture is a diverse industry in the U.S., which includes production of an assortment crustaceans, sea plants, and molluscs. In fact, most of the crawfish which is consumed in the U.S. are basically from Louisiana. These lifeforms are so integral to the region that related activities have become a part of the culture in the region; in the spring season families go out for fishing on crawfish farms, an age-old tradition that is practiced to date. The consumption and integrality of seafood will drive the demand for crustacean in the region.

The U.S. Crustacean market is segmented in terms of product and culture area.

In terms of product, the overall U.S. crustacean market is classified into crawfish, lobster, crabs, prawns, shrimps, and others. The prawns segment is likely to exhibit over 4.0% CAGR over the forecast timeframe. Prawns contribute over 11.2% in overall demand of crustacean in U.S. These are considered as a rich as well as affordable source of selenium, which is one of the most effective antioxidants that help maintain healthy cells. They also comprise of high levels of Zinc, which is significant to develop a healthy immune system. The above health benefits shall propel the demand for prawns in U.S. market over the coming years.

The crawfish segment will exhibit a 4.0% CAGR over the projected time period. The fast-paced urban lifestyle will influence restaurants, fast-food chains, and independent retailers to prefer frozen crustaceans for quick consumption. These factors will boost the demand for crayfish especially in new-age population.

In addition, there are several health benefits associated with consumption of crawfish. These are considered low in fat and contain little amount of carbohydrates. It is also packed with top-quality protein. In fact, a 5-ounce serving contains nearly 25 grams of protein and a 3-ounce of cooked crawfish comprises of 14 grams of protein and nearly 70 calories.

Apart from this, they are also high in B vitamins and minerals like phosphorous, zinc, iron, magnesium, and calcium. The health benefits associated with the consumption of these lifeforms would also drive the demand for crawfish among individuals.

The others segment is likely to exhibit 2.0% CAGR over the forecast time period. The other segment includes krill, woodlice and barnacles. Most krill are used as fish bait and as aquaculture feed. The other uses comprise of livestock or pet foods. Only a small ratio is usually prepared for human consumption.