Maine ports still strong in landings

First published in Landings, December 2014/January 2015.

Each year the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration publishes a report on the commercial fisheries of the country. Fisheries of the United States 2013 provides statistics on what was landed and where. We present here selected information related to New England fisheries drawn from the report.

American lobster landings were over 149.3 million pounds valued at $460.1 million—a decrease of 227,000 pounds, but an increase of nearly $30.8 million (7 percent) compared with 2012. Maine led in landings for the 32nd consecutive year with over 127.2 million pounds valued at more than $368.4 million-an increase of 564,000 pounds compared with 2012. Massachusetts, the second leading producer, had landings of 15.3 million pounds valued at $61.6 million-an increase of 772,000 pounds (over 5 percent) compared with 2012. Together, Maine and Massachusetts produced more than 95 percent of the total national landings. The average ex-vessel price per pound was $3.08 in 2013, compared with $2.87 in 2012.

The U.S. menhaden landings were more than 1.5 billion pounds valued at over $129.3 million—a decrease of almost 303.5 million pounds (17 percent), but an increase of nearly $1.6 million (over 1 percent) compared with 2012. Landings decreased by over 125.3 million pounds (over 25 percent) in the Atlantic states, while decreasing by over 178.3 million pounds (14 percent) in the Gulf states compared with 2012. Landings along the Atlantic coast were more than 369.5 million pounds valued at $34 million. Gulf region landings were 1.1 billion pounds valued at over $95.3 million.

U.S. commercial landings of sea herring were more than 298.4 million pounds valued at $49.2 million—an increase of more than 28.5 million pounds (almost 11 percent), and $290,000 (almost 1 percent) com-pared with 2012. Landings of Atlantic sea herring were 208.3 million pounds valued at $32 million—an increase of over 17.3 million pounds (9 percent), and nearly $3.2 million (11 percent) compared with 2012.

Landings of butterfish, Atlantic cod, cusk, flounders (winter/blackback, summer/fluke, yellowtail and other), haddock, red and white hake, ocean perch, pollock and whiting (silver hake) in the North Atlantic were over 75.3 million pounds valued at nearly $99.9 million—a decrease of 16.1 million pounds (almost 18 percent), and $22 million (18 percent) compared with 2012. Of these species, flounders led in total value in the North Atlantic, accounting for 50 percent of the total; followed by pollock, more than 11 percent; and cod, more than 10 percent.

The 2013 landings of Atlantic cod were 5 million pounds valued at $10.5 million—a decrease of 5.5 million pounds (almost 53 percent), and $11.7 million (nearly 53 percent) compared with 2012. The Ex vessel price per pound in 2013 was $2.10 compared with $2.11 in 2012. Landings of yellowtail flounder were 2.8 million—a decrease of 2.2 million pounds (nearly 44 percent) from 2012 and were more than 26 percent lower than the 5-year average. Haddock landings decreased to 4.1 million pounds (down 5 percent) and $6 million (down more than 23 percent) compared to 2012. North Atlantic pollock landings were 11.1 million pounds valued at $11.4 million—a decrease of 3.7 million pounds (nearly 25 percent), and $1.8 million (more than 13 percent) compared with 2012.