A N.O.A.A. Fisheries report finds the port of New Bedford, Mass., the top spot for value of landings for the 10th year in a row. The New Bedford port brought in $249.2 million in 2009, an increase of $7.9 million over the previous year. The amount of fish landed was also up by 23.6 million pounds, with scallops responsible for a large part of the high value.
For the 21st consecutive year, Dutch Harbor-Unalaska, Alaska was the country's top port for the total amount of fish landed. Last year, commercial fishermen unloaded 506.3 million pounds of fish and shellfish there, mostly pollock.
Dutch Harbor-Unalaska also retained its position as the second-highest port for landings value, with landings earning $159.7 million in 2009.
Nationwide, the total domestic commercial landings for 2009 were 7.9 billion pounds, valued at $3.9 billion. This is a decrease from 2008, when the volume reached 8.3 billion pounds, with a value of $4.4 billion. Accounting for most of the decrease was a decline in landings of both pollock and Pacific whiting.
"The successful and collaborative management of the New England scallop fishery is a main reason for the excellent year we saw in 2009," said Eric Schwaab, N.O.A.A. assistant administrator for N.O.A.A. Fisheries Service. "Fishing also supports a healthy industry and working waterfronts."
The ports of Empire-Venice, La. and Reedville, Va., ranked 2nd and 3rd for quantity of landings in 2009, primarily due to menhaden. Some 411.8 million pounds of fish were landed in Empire-Venice and 349.4 million pounds were landed in Reedville.
The report on the nation's ports is part of Fisheries of the U.S. 2009, a detailed statistical report on the nation's commercial and recreational fishing, landings, import, export, per capita fish consumption and consumer expenditures for fish products. The report is accessible online.
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TOP ten COMMERCIAL FISHERY LANDINGS AT MAJOR U.S. PORTS, 2008-2009
Figures in Millions of Pounds
|
Port
|
2008
|
2009
|
|
Dutch Harbor-Unalaska, Alaska
|
612.7
|
506.3
|
|
Empire-Venice, La.
|
353.2
|
411.8
|
|
Reedville, Va.
|
354.2
|
349.4
|
|
Kodiak, Alaska
|
250.9
|
282.9
|
|
Intercoastal City, La.
|
254.6
|
244.7
|
|
Pascagoula-Moss Point, Miss.
|
190.2
|
217.8
|
|
Cameron, La.
|
171.9
|
178.8
|
|
New Bedford, Massachusetts
|
146.4
|
170.0
|
|
Port Hueneme-Oxnard-Ventura, California
|
46.3
|
141.3
|
|
Gloucester, Massachusetts
|
120.2
|
122.3
|
TOP ten COMMERCIAL FISHERY VALUES AT MAJOR U.S. PORTS, 2008-2009
Figures in Millions of Dollars
|
Port
|
2008
|
2009
|
|
New Bedford, Massachusetts
|
241.3
|
249.2
|
|
Dutch Harbor-Unalaska, Alaska
|
195.0
|
159.7
|
|
Kodiak, Alaska
|
98.7
|
103.8
|
|
Naknek-King Salmon, Alaska
|
65.3
|
76.1
|
|
Cape May-Wildwood, N.J.
|
73.7
|
73.4
|
|
Hampton Roads area, Va.
|
72.3
|
68.1
|
|
Empire-Venice, La.
|
62.9
|
67.1
|
|
Honolulu, Hawaii
|
73.3
|
59.4
|
|
Sitka, Alaska
|
48.2
|
51.3
|
|
Dulac-Chauvin, La.
|
48.9
|
50.9
|
Note: To avoid disclosure of private enterprise, certain ports
