Current Fishery Statistics No. 9100 Fisheries of the United States, 1991 Supplemental ,. May%992 .<°'J\. s£kJ U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service LETTER FROM THE 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. 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 1991 , U.S. commercial fishermen landed 9.5 billion pounds of fish and shellfish with a dockside value of $3.3 billion, while the U.S. industry exported more than $6.2 billion in fishery products. Marine recreational fisheries annually involve some 17 million anglers who spend over $7.2 billion. As a nation we spent more than $26.8 billion on seafood purchases in 1991, and consumed an estimated 14.9 pounds of seafood per capita. Holding stewardship over America's living marine resources is the National Oceanic and Atmos- pheric Administration (NOAA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Through its Na- tional Marine Fisheries Service. NOAA protects and enhances these resources and their environ- ment. By encouraging and assisting the U.S. fishing industry, NOAA seeks to optimize eco- nomic benefits for the nation and ensure contin- ued opportunities for future generations. William W. Fox, Jr. NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries The Fisheries Statistics Division of the National Marine Fisheries Service maintains a variety of data on U.S. and world fisheries. This brochure provides a general overview of the size, scope, and world position of the U.S. fisheries, and the U.S. supply and consumption of fishery products. *U S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1992-0-324-825 U.S. Commercial Landings Billions 8.0 j Ml 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 YEAR Volume ■Volume (lb) rziValuo ($) Commercial landings by U.S. fishermen in 1991 amounted to 9.5 billion pounds (4.3 million metric tons) of edible and non-edible fishery resources valued at $3.3 billion. A metric ton is equal to 2,204.6 pounds. Over 300 species are taken com- mercially. The "round" weightsshown in the above graph and elsewhere in this brochure include the weights of whole fish, but not the shell weights of mollusks. Per capita Consumption Per capita consumption of commercially caught fish and shellfish in 1991 was 14.9 pounds, just slightly less than the revised 1990 estimate of 15.0 pounds. The current emphasis on the role of diet in health makes the nutritional qualities of seafood especially appreciated, since most fish and shell- fish have a low-fat/high-protein content. U.S. Per Capita Consumption, 1981 -1991 Pounds 17.0-1 ..Jin Major Commercial Species In terms of volume, the top five species groups caughtbyU.S. commercial fishermen in 1991 were Alaska pollock, menhaden (an oily fish used pri- marily for industrial purposes), salmon, crabs and cods . Shrimp, crabs, salmon, pollock, and lobsters were the top five species in terms of value. Dutch Harbor-Unalaska. Alaska with landings of 731.7 million pounds (331 .9 thousand metric tons), was the leading port in terms of volume. New Bedford, Massachusetts with landings valued at $ 157.7 mil- lion, was the leading port in terms of value. Total Volume = 9.5 billion lb Alaska Pollock 30.1% ■ff Shrimp ^^m 3A% Menhaden ^% 20.8% HPF Rounders ^ 4.3% Cods Salmon 8.3% Crabs 6.8% 6.8% Total Value = $3.3 billion Salmon 12.5% 10.9% BSSSSSSSSSSSS.™^ Alaska Pollock ^0k I ^\ Shr'mP 7.3% /^H *W \ 155% Major Recreational Species NMFS collects data on marine angling through its Marine Recreational Fishery Statistics Survey (MRFSS) to generate estimates of overall recreational catch, effort and participation in the U.S. The MRFSS consists of an intercept survey of fishermen in the field and telephone surveys of households. The estimated total catch of finfish on the Atlantic coast by marine anglers in 1991 was 379.5 million fish. The estimated landings (total catch less fish released alive) were 186.0 million fish (49 percent of the total) weighing 233.0 million pounds. These fish were taken on an estimated 59. 1 million fishing trips. Data for the Pacific coast are only available through 1989 (a modified MRFSS will be resumed on the Pacific coast in 1992.) 1991 Atlantic & Gulf Coast Landings = 186.0 million fish Drums/Croakers ||| Herrings g| Porgles pjffi||||jj|j ■ . \J Bluefish ra § ' Flounders MjJ|b| , Tunas/Mackerels j^ J . Groupers/Sea Bass - ! jjgj 1 Snappc in | J Grunts Bil , Jacks B| > Dolphin H Other ^g^^^^Q Percent 1 989 Pacific Coast Landings = 27.8 million lb Other fishes 28% Flatfishes _^~~~~~ ^ 6.3% ■^^^ Greenlings / "*** IIIIIIIImI^X, 11.1% ^^B Sea Basses \ ^$mr 1 0-9% Rockfishes ^^ 32.1% Tunas/Mackerels 11.6% Catch in the U.S. EEZ 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 and establish a mechanism for conservation. The MFCMA estab- lished a U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) ex- tending from the seaward boundaries of the terri- torial sea (3 nautical miles from shore in most Pounds (Billions) T""1 LI YEAR ■ Foreign Catches E3U.S. Vessel Landings EB Joint Venture cases) to 200 nautical miles from shore. All fishery resources within the EEZ, except highly migratory species of tuna in the Pacific, are subject to management by one or more of the eight Re- gional 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 designed to provide for the optimum utilization of the resources, while giving preference to U.S. fish- ermen over foreign fishermen. Thirty-two FMP's were fully implemented as of December 3 1 , 1991 . Joint Ventures The MFCMA led to the development of "joint ventures" in 1979, wherein U.S. commercial fisher- men catch and transfer to foreign vessels at sea certain species for which U.S. demand is low rela- tive to the abundance of the species. In 1979 joint venture catches were 23.3 million pounds (10,600 metric tons) worth SI. 3 million. The joint venture catches peaked in 1988 when 3.2 billion pounds ( 1 .452.2 thousand metric tons) were caught worth $221.1 million. The U.S. harvesting and processing capabilities have expanded greatly in the last few years, decreasing the need for these joint venture arrangements. In 1991 the joint venture catch decreased to 124.1 million pounds (56,300 metric tons) worth $3.9 million. While joint ventures were an important transitional opportunity for U.S. har- vesters, current domestic processing technologies and marketing arrangements are capable of handling the catches from U.S. fishery resources. Foreign Trade Total fishery imports in 1991 were valued at $9.4 billion (up 4.3 percent), while U.S. exports of fishery products were valued at $6.2 billion (up 9 per- cent). The U.S. has run a fishery trade deficit since 1895, but the deficit has been shrinking in recent years. Shrimp imports alone were valued at $ 1 .8 billion in 1991. Other major items were tuna, fresh and frozen fish fillets, and frozen fish blocks used to produce fish sticks. Major export items included salmon (fresh, frozen and canned); crabs (fresh and frozen); blocks and slabs (fresh and frozen); and industrial fishery products. $10.0 $8.0 Dollars (billions) $6.0- $4.0 $2.0 $0.0 J* J . I I 1982 83 84 85 86 87 88 YEAR ■Exports ay import* 89 90 1991 U.S. Supply of 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 1 99 1 imports accounted for 42 percent of the total U.S. supply of all fishery products. Pounds (billions) 15.0 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 E23 Total Supply SS Imports E3 Domestic Landings Leading Fishing Nations The U.S. ranked fifth among major fishing nations in 1 990 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 fishermen are excluded. 1990 World Catch = 97,246 million metric tons China Japan USA Chile 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 Metric Tons (Millions) Disposition of Catch: World U.S. and The U.S. utilized 74 percent (7.0 billion pounds) of its domestic landings for human food in 1991. This percentage was only slightly lower than the 1990 record of 75 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 an increase for the second year in a row with 2.5 million pounds (up one percent). Landings used for canned bait and pet food declined to 62 million pounds (down 36 percent). 1991 -U.S. Fresh and Frozen 69% Industrial 22.7% Canned 12.2% Cured 14% Other 1.3% 1990 -World Industrial 27.5% Fresh and Frozen 45% 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 01 930 (508)281-9300 Northwest Region 7600 Sand Point Way, N.E. BINC15700,Bldg. 1 Seattle. WA 98115 (206)526-6150 Southeast Region Duval Bldg. 9450 Koger Blvd. St. Petersburg. FL 33702 (813)893-3141 Alaska Region Federal Bldg. P.O. Box 21668 709 West Ninth St. Juneau. AK 99802 (907) 586-7221 Southwest Region 501 West Ocean Blvd.. Suite 4200 Long Beach. CA 90802 (310)980^001 REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT 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 21 15 300 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 (808)523-1368 Additional copies of this r: Fisheries Statistics Division (F/RE1 ) National Marine Fisheries Service. NOAA 133$ East West Highway - Rm. 8313 SilveV Spring! MD 20910 v ^.' , (301)713-2328 A0000505U75T J