C 55. 30^/3- 3." Current Fishery Statistics No. 9000 ' Fisheries of the United States, 1990 Supplemental May 1991 U.S. DEPARTMENT *<°>i OF COMMERCE *^Tf f O* * 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 1990, U.S. commercial fishermen landed 9.7 billion pounds of fish and shellfish with a dockside value of $3.6 billion, while the U.S. industry exported more than $5.6 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 $26.7 billion on seafood purchases in 1990, and consumed an estimated 15.5 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. Commercial Landings Billions \folume Ob) Value (S) Commercial landings by U.S. fishermen in 1990 amounted to 9.7 billion pounds (4.4 million metric tons) of edible and non-edible fishery resources valued at $3.6 billion. A metric ton is equal to 2,204.6 pounds. Over 300 species are taken commercially. The "round" weights shown in the above graph and elsewhere in this brochure in- clude the weights of whole fish, but not the shell weights of shellfish. Per capita Consumption Per capita consumption of commercially caught fish and shellfish in 1990 was 15.5 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 appreci- ated, since most fish and shellfish have a low-fat/ high-protein content. Pounds 20.0 1981 82 83 84 1985 86 87 88 89 1990 YEAR ;^ Fresh 8c Frozen j| Canned £iSSl Cured — Total Major Commercial Species In terms of volume, the top five species caught by commercial fishermen in 1990 were pollock, menhaden (an oily fish used primarily for industrial purposes), salmon, cods and flounders. Salmon, shrimp, crabs, pollock, and lobsters were the top five species in terms of value. Dutch Harbor- Unalaska, Alaska with landings of 509.9 million pounds (231.3 thousand metric tons), was the leading port in terms of volume. New Bedford, Massachusetts with landings valued at $ 160.4 mil- lion, was the leading port in terms of value. Total Volume =9.7 billion lb Alaska Pollock 32.5% Other 27.9% Menhaden 20.2% Flounders 5.2% Cods 6.6% Salmon 7.6% Total Value = $3.6 billion Shrimp 13.8% Salmon 17.1% Crabs 13.5% Alaska Pollock 7.6% Lobsters 5% Other 43% Major Recreational Species The five species groups most commonly caught by marine recreational anglers in 1990 on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts by weight were bluefish, tunas/mackerels, drums/croakers, porgies, and dolphin. The estimated number of recreational finfish caught were 230.9 million fish. These fish weighed approximately 317.7 million pounds and were taken on an estimated 39.8 million fishing trips. Of this amount, 141 .5 million lb (45 percent) were landed, the balance was released. The total catch in number on the Pacific coast for 1989. the last year data are available, was estimated to be 41.3 million fish (27.8 million pounds), exclusive of salmon, which historically has been about two percent of the total Pacific recreational catch. 1990 Atlantic & Gulf Coast Landings ■ 141.5 million lb Tunas/Mackerels 17.7% Other Fishes 41.4% Bluefish 20.2% Dolphin 6.1% Porgies 6.4% Drums/Croakers 8.2% 1989 Pacific Coast Landings = 27.8 million lb Other fishes Flatfishes .3% Rockfishes 32.1% Greenlings 11.1% Sea Basses 10.9% 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 cases) to 200 nautical miles from shore. All fishery resources within the EEZ, except highly migratory Pounds (Billions) 1986 1987 1988 YEAR 1989 1990 HH Foreign Catches m U.S. Vessel Landings Hi! Joint Venture species of tuna, are subject to management by one or more of the eight Regional Fishery Man- agement Councils created by the MFCMA. The Councils analyze scientific data and hold fre- quent public meetings in the process of develop- ing Fishery Management Plans (FMP's) for species requiring management. The FMP's are designed to provide for the optimum utilization of the re- sources, while giving preference to U.S. fishermen over foreign fishermen. Thirty-two FMP's were fully implemented as of December 31, 1990. Joint Ventures The MFCMA led to the development of "joint ventures" in 1979, wherein U.S. commercial fisher- men 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 bene- fit 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 grew dramatically from 23.3 million pounds (10.6 thousand metric tons) worth $ 1 .3 million in 1 979 to 3.2 billion pounds (1,452.2 thousand metric tons) worth $22 1 . 1 million in 1 988. but in 1 990 the catch decreased to 800,600 pounds (363.1 thousand metric tons) worth $51.3 million. The U.S. harvest- ing and processing capabilities have expanded greatly in the last few years, decreasing the need for these joint venture arrangements. Foreign Trade Total fishery imports in 1990 were valued at $9.0 billion (down 6 percent), while U.S. exports of fishery products were valued at $5.6 billion (up 20 percent). The U.S. has run a fishery trade deficit since 1895. Shrimp imports alone were valued at $1.7 billion in 1990. Other major items were fresh and frozen fish fillets, and frozen fish blocks used to produce fish sticks. Major export items included salmon (fresh, frozen and canned); groundfish (fresh and frozen); and blocks and slabs (fresh and frozen). Dollars (billions) 1981 82 83 84 1985 86 87 88 89 1990 YEAR ■I Exports HI Imports 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. and 1990 imports accounted for 41.7 percent of the total U.S. supply of all fishery products. Pounds (billions) 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 Hi Total Supply 0 Imports ill Domestic Landings (1990 a record) Leading Fishing Nations The U.S. ranked sixth among major fishing nations in 1989 world catch, the most recent year for which comparable data are available. The "live" weights referred to in the graph include shell weights, whereas weights used elsewhere in this brochure do not. 1989 World Catch = 99,535 million mt USSR China Japan Peru Chile USA 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 Metric Tons (Millions) Disposition of Catch: U.S. and World The U.S. recorded its highest percentage of catch utilized for food in 1990, setting a record (7 .3 million pounds). This was due largely to the increased catch of pollock and other major species used in surimi and other analog products. Industrial (non- food) purposes showed an increase with 2.4 mil- lion pounds (up 5 percent) after declining for two years in a row. The difference in the portion of catch which is cured reflects the dietary prefer- ences and lesser availability of refrigeration among some foreign nations. 1990 - U.S. Fresh and Frozen 70.1% 1989 - World Cured 14.1% Industrial 27.7% Other 1.4% Fresh and Frozen 44.7% Additional Information 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 Northwest Region 7600 Sand Point Way, N.E. BIN CI 5700, Blag. 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 Northeast Region One Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01 930 (508)281-9300 Southeast Region Duval Bldg. 9450 Koger Blvd. St. Petersburg. FL 33702 (813)893-3141 Southwest Region 300 South Ferry St. Terminal Island. CA 90731 (213)514-4196 REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCILS New England Caribbean Suntaug Office Park Banco de Ponce Bldg. 5 Broadway (Route 1 ) Suite 1 1 08 Saugus, MA 01906 Hato Rey. PR 00918 (617) 231-0422 (809) 753-6910 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 PENN STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES 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)57M366 Gulf of Mexico Lincoln Center Suite 881 5401 W. Kennedy Blvd. Tampa, FL 33609 (813)228-2815 _ _, ini ., AQ00D73S702l40 Additional copies of this puDiicarion are available from: Fisheries Statistics Division (F/RE1) National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA 1335 East West Highway - Rm. 8313 Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301)427-2328