Lobster Second Most Valuable U.S. Fishery in 2023

NOAA press release

For the 26th consecutive year, Dutch Harbor, Alaska led the nation as the port with the highest volume of seafood landed (780.1 million pounds valued at $224.5 million). Alaska pollock have historically made up the majority of landings volume and value. New England landed only 5% of all seafood landings, but accounted for 27% of the value. Snow and king crab are also high-value species and have historically accounted for a large percentage of the value landed in Dutch Harbor.

In addition, for the 23rd consecutive year, New Bedford, Massachusetts was the port with the highest valued catch in the nation (76.9 million pounds valued at $363.3 million). Sea scallops have historically made up the majority of the value landed in New Bedford. Stonington, Maine was 15th on the list of the nation’s top 20 most valuable ports. Crabs were the nation’s most valuable species valued at $703.1 million, with lobsters coming in at a close second valued at $697.5 million.

In 2023, overall U.S. exports of edible seafood products declined. The United States exported 2.5 billion pounds of seafood (down 0.8% from 2022), valued at $5 billion (down 11%). The most valued export was whole lobster (78.2 million pounds, valued at $655.3 million). U.S. imports of edible fishery products in 2023 were 6.3 billion pounds, valued at $25 billion, down 9% in volume and 19% by value. The most valued imported item was shrimp (1.7 billion pounds valued at $6.4 billion) accounting for 26% of the value. Salmon fillets/steaks were second and whole lobster was third (105.7 million pounds valued at $1.4 billion).