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Current Fishery Statistics No. 9200

Fisheries

of the

United States,

1992

Supplemental
May '

- , U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
\

K&J ; National Oceanic and
LXJ J Atmospheric Administration
******

National Marine Fisheries Service

PENN STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

ADDDD7MEbl33fl

LETTER FROM THE ASSISTANT
ADMINISTRATOR:

The fisheries of the United States represent a vast renew-
able natural resource providing the people of this nation
with food, income, employment, and recreation. The U.S.
has about 90,000 miles of tidal shoreline which support
marine resources that are among the largest, most varied
and valuable in the world. These resources contribute
significantly to the quality of American life.

Fisheries are very important to our economy. In 1992, U.S.
commercial fishermen landed 9.6 billion pounds offish and
shellfish with a dockside value of $3.7 billion while the U.S.
industry exported more than $7.1 billion in fishery prod-
ucts. Marine recreational fisheries annually involve some
1 7 million anglers who spend over $7.2 billion. As a nation
we spend more than $35.1 billion on seafood purchases in
1992, and consumed an estimated 14.8 pounds of seafood
per capita.

Holding stewardship over America's living marine re-
sources is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration, (NOAA), an agency of the U.S. Department of
Commerce. Through its National Marine Fisheries Service,
NOAA protects and enhances these resources and their
environment. By encouraging and assisting the U.S. fishing
industry, NOAA seeks to optimize economic benefits for the
nation and ensure continued opportunities for future gen-
erations.

NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries

idings

Commercial landings by U.S. fishermen in 1992 amounted to 9.6
billion pounds (4.4 million metric tons) of edible and non-edible
fishery resources valued at $3.7 billion. A metric ton is equal to 2,204.6
pounds. Over 300 species are taken commercially. The "round"
weights shown in the graph below and elsewhere in this brochure
include the weights of whole fish, but not the shell weights of mol-
lusks.

10.0

Billions

1988

1989

1991

1990
YEAR

Volume (lb) □ Value ($)

1992

Record
Volume

ince-from-Shore

Congress enacted the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (MFCMA) in 1976 to protect and conserve our
fishery resources. The MFCMA created eight Regional Fishery
Management Councils that analyze scientific data, gather public
comments and develop Fishery Management Plans (FMP's) designed
to provide optimum utilization of species requiring management.
Thirty-two FMFs were fully implemented as of December 31, 1992.
The MFCMA also established a U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
extending from the seaward boundaries of the territorial sea (3 nautical
miles from shore in most cases) to International Waters that begin 200
nautical miles from shore. U.S. commercial harvests by the area of
capture are indicated on the next page:

Pounds (Millions)

6,000 -

3,000 -

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992
YEAR

■ 0-3 Miles EZ3 3-200 Miles □ International Waters

In terms of volume, the top five species groups caught by U.S.
commercial fishermen in 1992 were Alaska pollock, menhaden (an
oily fish used primarily for industrial purposes), salmon, flounders and
crabs. Salmon, shrimp, crabs, Alaska pollock, and cod were the top five
species in terms of value. Dutch Harbor-Unalaska, Alaska with
landings of 736.0 million pounds (333.8 thousand metric tons), was
the leading port in terms of volume and value with $194.0 million.

Total Volume = 9.6 billion lb

Alaska Pollock
30.8%

Flounders
6.7%
Crabs, Total

6.5%

Total Value = $3.7 billion

Recreational Fishing

NMFS collects data on marine angling through its Marine Recreational
Fishery Statistics Survey (MRFSS) to generate estimates of overall
recreational catch, effort and participation in the U.S. The MRFSS
consists of intercept surveys of fishermen in the field and telephone
surveys of households.

The estimated total catch of finfish on the Atlantic coast by marine
anglers in 1992 was 285.5 million fish. The estimated landings (total
catch less fish released alive) were 144.2 million fish (50 percent of the
total) weighing 164.3 million pounds. These fish were taken on an
estimated 52.1 million fishing trips. Data for the Pacific coast are only
available through 1989 (a modified MRFSS was resumed on the Pacific
coast in 1993.)

1992 Atlantic & Gulf Coast Landings = 144.2 million fish

Drums
Herrings

Porgies

Flounders

Bluefish

Mackeral/Tuna

Sea Basses

Mullets

Jacks

■

Grunts

Others

1 i i 1 1 1

10

15 20

Percent

25

30

1989 Pacific Coast Landings = 27.8 million lb

i Sea Basses
10.9%

Tunas/Mackerals
11.6%

Total fishery imports in 1992 were valued $9.9 billion, while U.S.
exports of fishery products were valued at $7.1 billon (up 5 percent).
The U.S. has run a fishery trade deficit since 1895, but the deficit has
been shrinking in recent years. Shrimp alone were valued at $2.0
billion in 1992. Other major items were tuna, fresh and frozen fish
fillets, and frozen fish blocks used to produce fish sticks. Major export
items include salmon (fresh, frozen, and canned): crabs (fresh and
frozen): blocks and slabs (fresh and frozen) and industrial fishery
products.

Dollars (Billions)

n

8.0-

6.0-

■

1

4.0-

1

2.0-

00-

I-

.J.

1

1

1

1

1983 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 1992

YEAR

WM Exports I I Imports

>f Fishery Products

Despite the generally increasing volume of U.S. commercial landings
over the years the U.S. has remained a major importer of fishery
products. In 1992 imports accounted for 40 percent of the total U.S.
supply of all fishery products.

20.0

Pounds (Billions)

15.0-

10.0

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992
YEAR

■I Total Supply S3 Imports CD Domestic Landings

The U.S. ranked sixth among major fishing nations in 1991 world
catch, the most recent year for which comparable data are available.
The "live" weights shown in the graph include shell weights, which are
not included in totals used elsewhere in this brochure. Statistics for
mariculture, aquaculture, and other kinds of fish farming are included
in country totals. Statistics on quantities caught by recreational fisher-
men are excluded.

1991 World Catch = 96.9 million metric tons

4 6 8 10

Metric Tons (Millions)

12

ion of Catch: U.S. and World

The U.S. utilized 79 percent (7.6 billion pounds) of its domestic
landings for human food in 1992. This percentage was 5 percent
higher than the 1991 record of 74 percent. The high utilization rate for
human food is due largely to the landings of Alaska pollock and other
groundfish species used in surimi and other analog products. Landings
used for industrial (non-food) purposes showed a decrease with 2.0
million pounds (down 18 percent). Landings used for canned bait and
pet food declined to 42 million pounds (down 33 percent).

1992 -U.S.

Fresh & Frozen
72.7%

1991 -World

Fresh & Frozen
48.1%

Per capita consumption of commercially caught fish and shellfish in
1992 was 14.8 pounds, just slightly less than the 1991 estimate of 14.9
pounds. The current emphasis on the role of diet in health makes the
nutritional qualities of seafood especially appreciated, since most fish
and shellfish have a low-fat/high-protein content.

20.0

Total Pounds

15.0-

10.0-

1983 84 85 86 87

YEAR

90 91 1992

The Fisheries Statistics Division of the National Marine Fisheries Service
maintains a variety of data on U.S. and world fisheries. This brochure
provides a general overview of the size, scope, and world position of the
U.S. fisheries and the U.S. supply and consumption of fishery products.

Additional copies of this brochure are available from:

Fisheries Statistics Division (F/RE1)
National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA
1335 East West Highway - Rm. 8313
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 713-2328

Contact the nearest NMFS Regional Office for more information about
U.S. fisheries, including such NMFS programs as marketing, consumer
services, and voluntary fishery product inspection. For more informa-
tion about Regional Fishery Management Councils, contact the
Council nearest you.

NMFS RE

FFICES

Northeast Region
One Blackburn Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930
(508) 281-9300

Southeast Region

Duval Bldg.

9450 Koger Blvd.

St. Petersburg. FL 33702

(813) 893-3141

Southwest Region

501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200

Long Beach. CA 90802

(310) 980-4001

Northwest Region

7600 Sand Point Way, N E.
BIN C15700, Bldg. 1
Seattle, WA 98115
(206) 526-6150

Alaska Region
Federal Bldg.
709 West Ninth St
P.O. Box 21668
Juneau, AK 99802
(907) 586-7221

iMENT COUNCILS

New England
Suntaug Office Park
5 Broadway (Route 1)
Saugus, MA 01906
(617) 231-0422

Caribbean

Banco de Ponce Bldg.
Suite 1108
HatoRey, PR 00918
(809) 753-6910

Mid-Atlantic
Federal Bldg.
Suite 2115
300 So. New St.
Dover, DE 19901
(302)674-2331

South Atlantic

Southpark Bldg.

Suite 306

1 Southpark Circle

Charleston, SC 29407

(803)571-4366

Gulf of Mexico
Lincoln Center
Suite 881

5401 W. Kennedy Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33609
(813) 228-2815

Pacific

Metro Center, Suite 420
2000 S.W. First Ave.
Portland, OR 97201
(503) 326-6352

North Pacific
605 W. 4th Ave., Rm. 306
P.O. Box 103136
Anchorage, AK 99510
(907) 271-2809

Western Pacific
1164 Bishop St., Rm. 1405
Honolulu, HI 96813
523-1368

£GPO : 1993 O - 353-602