Current Fishery Statistics No. 8800

Fisheries

of the

United States,

1988

Supplemental

PENNSYLVANIA^! "| 989
UNIVERSITY J

AUG14 12B

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
/ \tf \ National Oceanic and
\ KlJ / Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service

LETTER FROM

ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

The fisheries of the United States represent
a vast renewable natural resource
providing the people of this nation with
food. Income, employment, and
recreation. These marine fisheries

resources are the largest, most varied, and
valuable marine resources in the world.
They Include perhaps one-fifth of all the
traditionally marketed fish and shellfish in
the ocean and about $0 thousand miles
of tidal shoreline. These resources offer a
variety of recreational and commercial
opportunities.

In 1988, U.S. commercial fishermen landed
7.2 billion pounds of fish and shellfish with
a dockside value of over $3.5 billion dol-
lars. Marine recreational fisheries annually
involve over 17 million anglers, who In 1988
caught an estimated 631.7 million pounds
of fish while expending over $7.2 billion
dollars. These commercial and

recreational values can be multiplied sev-
eral times in determining the contribution
of fishery landings to the U.S. economy.

Holding stewardship over these resources is
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), an agency of the
U.S. Department of Commerce. Through
its National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA
encourages and assists all segments of the
Industry while protecting and enhancing
the resources and their environment.

James W. Brennan

NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries

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

U.S. Commercial Landings

Billion Pounds
Volume (Round Weight)

Billion Dollars

78 79 80 81 82 83 84 ' 85 86 87 88
Year

Commercial landings by U.S. fishermen in 1988
amounted to 7.2 billion pounds (3.3 million metric
tons) of edible and non-edible fishery resources
valued at $3.5 billion. A metric ton is equal to
2.204.6 pounds. Over 300 species are taken
commercially, although many of these species are
underutilized by the U.S. Industry and offer significant
potential for development. The "round" weights
referred to in the above graph and elsewhere In this
brochure Include the weights of whole fish, but not
the shell weights of shellfish.

U.S. Commercial
Fishermen and Craft

300

I

Thousands

250

~ U.S. Cor

imercial Fishermen —

200

150

Craft

100

50

I I

I I I I I

I I

77 78 79 80 81 82 83

There were an estimated 256,000 men and women
engaged In commercial fishing on a full-time basis
utilizing approximately 93.400 fishing craft in 1987. the
most recent year for which such data are available.
(Data for Maryland and Virginia were not available.)
The fleet consists primarily of boats under five "gross
registered tons" due to the near-water nature of most
of the fisheries. Traditionally, the U.S. commercial
industry has been characterized by the rather
specific nature of various fisheries, most of which are
carried out in relative isolation from one another.
However, to remain economically viable In today's
complex fisheries, there is an Increasing trend
towards rigging craft to be more easily adaptable to
compete in more than one fishery.

Marine Recreational Anglers...

(X numbered 17 million

iS took 84.7 million fishing trips

iS caught 371 .0 million fish

iS weighing 612.8 million pounds

iS spent 7.2 billion

An estimated 17 million marine recreational anglers
caught about 612.8 million pounds (278.0 thousand
metric tons) of finfish on approximately 84.7
million fishing trips In 1988. Excluding catches of
industrial species (such as anchovies and menhaden)
and freshwater fish, the marine recreational catch
comprised an estimated 20 percent of the total U.S.
finfish landings used for food In 1988. For some
species, such as bluefish and spotted sea trout, the
recreational catch greatly exceeded the commercial
catch. It Is estimated that marine recreational
anglers add about $7.2 billion annually to the U.S.
economy through direct and indirect expenditures
associated with fishing (boats, equipment, fuel,
tackle, lodging, etc.)

Major Marine
Recreational Species

1988— Atlantic/Gulf Coasts

Croakers^
and Other Sea Basses
Drums 13.7%

Recreational Species

The five species most commonly caught by marine
recreational anglers in 1988 were spotted sea trout,
summer flounder, Atlantic croaker, black sea bass,
and bluefish. The estimated total marine recreational
finfish catch In number on the Atlantic and Gulf
coasts was 320.8 million fish. The total catch In
number on the Pacific coast was estimated to be
51.2 million fish, exclusive of salmon, which historically
has been about two percent of the total Pacific
marine recreational finfish catch.

Major Commercial Species

Scallops"'- " Lobsters

410/0 Crabs 4.8%

10.9%

In terms of volume, the top five species caught by
commercial fishermen In 1988 were menhaden (an
oily fish used primarily for Industrial purposes), pollock,
salmon, crabs, and cod. Salmon, shrimp, crabs,
lobsters, and scallops were the top five species In
terms of value. Cameron, Louisiana, with landings of
438.9 million pounds (199.1 thousand metric tons),
was the leading port In terms of volume. Kodlak,
Alaska, with landings valued at $166.3 million, was
the leading port in terms of value.

Catch in the U.S. EEZ

Million Metric Tons
-(Round Weight)

^Foreign

83 84 85 86 87 88
Year

In the Interest of commercial and recreational
fishermen, the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and
Management Act of 1976 (MFCMA) was enacted by
the Congress to provide the national focus and effort
deemed necessary to protect our fishery resources
from overfishing by foreign nations. The MFCMA
established an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
extending from the seaward boundaries of the
territorial sea (3 nautical miles from shore In most
cases) to 200 nautical miles from shore. All fishery
resources within the EEZ, except highly migratory
species of tuna, are subject to management by one
or more of the eight Regional Fishery Management
Councils created by the MFCMA. The Councils
analyze scientific data and hold frequent public
meetings in the process of developing Fishery
Management Plans (FMP's) for species requiring
management. The FMP's are designated to provide
for the optimum utilization of the resources, while
giving preference to U.S. fishermen over foreign
fishermen. As of December 31. 1988. thirty FMP's
were fully implemented. A measure of the success
of the MFCMA Is the declining foreign catch within
the EEZ.

Joint Ventures

The MFCMA led to the development of "joint
ventures" In 1979, wherein U.S. commercial fishermen
catch and sell to foreign vessels certain species for
which U.S. demand Is low relative to the abundance
of the species. United States fishermen thus derive
Income from species which would otherwise be
underutilized, and also benefit by fuel savings since
the catches are transferred to foreign vessels at sea.
eliminating the need to return to port to unload.
"Joint venture" catches of species such as cods,
flounders, and Alaska pollock have grown
dramatically from 23.3 million pounds (10.6 thousand
metric tons) worth $1.3 million In 1979 to 3.2 billion
pounds (1.452.2 thousand metric tons) worth $221.1
million In 1988.

Joint Venture Catch

'< '':':-:'' ■■ : . -■-■ :v:,,.... . ,:■■■'.

3600
3400
3200
3000
2800
2600
2400
2200
2000
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200

- Million Pounds
Z (Round Weight)

^^

i-

^^

B

1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1£
Year

U.S. Supply of
Fishery Products

Billion Pounds
- (Round Weight)

U.S. Landings

82 83
Year

85 86 87

Despite the generally Increasing volume of U.S.
commercial landings over the years, the U.S. has
remained a major Importer of fishery products, and
1988 Imports accounted for 50.8 percent of the total
U.S. supply of all fishery products in terms of a round
weight equivalent volume.

Foreign Trade

U.S. Imports.

Fishery Trade Deficit

U.S. Exports

I I I I t L

78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88
Year

In terms of value, total fishery imports in 1988
reached a record $8.9 billion, while U.S. exports of
fishery products were valued at $2.3 billion.
Historically, the U.S. has run a fishery trade deficit
since 1895. Shrimp imports alone were valued at
$1.8 billion In 1988. Other major items were fresh and
frozen fish fillets, and frozen fish blocks used to
produce fish sticks. Major export items Included
fresh, frozen, and canned salmon, and fresh and
frozen snow crabs.

Leading Fishing Nations

Million Metric
Tons (Live Weight)

The U.S. ranked fourth among major fishing nations In
1987, the most recent year for which comparable
data are available. The live" weights referred to In
the above graph Include shell weights, whereas
weights used elsewhere In this brochure do not.

Disposition of Catch:
U.S. and World

The U.S. utilized a greater percentage of catch for
industrial (non-food) purpose than most other
countries, due largely to the great abundance of
menhaden In the Gulf and Atlantic. The large
difference In that portion of catch which is cured
reflects the dietetic preferences and lesser availability
of refrigeration among some foreign nations.

Disposition of Catch

Other Cured

Per Capita Consumption

78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85

Per capita consumption of commercially caught fish
and shellfish in 1988 was 15.0 pounds. Per capita
consumption of fish caught by marine recreational
anglers is estimated to be between three and four
pounds each year. 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.
Nutritional demands of consumers, as well as
Improving methods of catching, handling, and
processing seafood may reasonably be expected to
lead to greater consumption levels in future years.

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
Information about Regional Fishery Management
Councils, contact the Council nearest you.

NMFS Regional Offices

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 j
300 South Ferry St.
Terminal Island, CA 90731
(213) 514-6196

Regional Fishery
Management Coum

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

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

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

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

ADDDD1SSDTE1S

Caribbean

Banco de Ponce Bldg.

Suite 1108

Hato Rey. PR 00918

(809) 753-4926

Pacific

Metro Center, Suite 420
2000 S.W. First Ave.
Portland, OR 97201
(503) 221-6352

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

Wester Pacific

1 164 Bishop St., Suite 1405

Honolulu, HI 96813

(808)523-1368

Additional copies of this publication are available from:

Fisheries Statistics Division (F/RE1)

National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA

1335 East West Highway

Silver Spring, MD 20910

(301) 427-2328

TlrU.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1989-0-238-457