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PROPOSED
MEASURES: FISHING
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Amount of fish
and shellfish caught commercially each year, both nationwide and for
each region of the United States. Fish and shellfish are key products
from coastal and marine ecosystems. (Fig. 1)
Amount of fish
caught recreationally each year, both nationwide and for each region
of the United States. Recreational catch may constitute a significant
proportion of the total catch for some species, and recreation is a
key use of coastal and marine areas. (Fig. 2)
Top five species
landed, by weight, in each region as an indication of changes in
the mix of species caught commercially.(Fig. 3)
Level of bycatch,
or incidental mortality. Such mortality may have significant effects
on some depleted stocks and is perceived as a significant waste of fish.
(Fig. 4)
Measures of
the status of fish stocks are included under Native
Species.
Commercial fishery
landings are about 4.5 million tons per year. This compares with an
average of between 2 million and 3 million metric tons from 1950 to
the mid 1970s. A significant increase occurred in the early 1980s, corresponding
to a sharp increase in fishing in Alaska, particularly for pollock.
In most regions
(except Alaska), total landings have remained fairly stable over time,
while some regions have seen a marked shift in the species that account
for the most landings (by weight). In all regions for which data are
available, the total number of species landed commercially has more
than doubled since 1950.
Total recreational
fish catches are small compared to commercial catches. However, there
are some species for which the recreational catch is a significant share
of total landings and, in some cases, even exceeds the commercial catch.
| Commercial
Fishery Landings, 1950- 1997 (1) Technical
Note |
Recreational
Catch, Including Fish Released Alive (2) Technical
Note |
 |
 |
| Source:
NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service |
Source:
NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service |
| Commercial
landings data are from a continuing monitoring program of the National
Marine Fisheries Service. Data for the top five species in Hawaii
and Alaska were not available. |
Recreational
catch is recorded as numbers of fish, rather than weight, making
it difficult to compare recreational and commercial catches. These
data are from a continuing survey program of the National Marine
Fisheries Service; improvements to the data are expected in time
for the 2001 report. |
| Top
Five Commercial Fish Species, by Weight, 1950 & 1990 (3)
Technical
Note |
Bycatch
(4) Technical
Note
Bycatch refers to species other than those intentionally targeted
that are caught and killed. The public has become concerned because
some overfished species are further depleted when they are caught
as bycatch, and because of the waste of fish. In the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands, discards range from less than 1 percent to
37 percent of the total catch, whereas 1 pound of southeastern shrimp
may be accompanied by up to 5 pounds of dead discards. |
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1950
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1990
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Northeast
(New England and Mid Atlantic)
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1.
Menhaden
2. Redfish
3. Atlantic herring
4. Haddock
5. Unclassified finfish for bait & animal food
90 species total
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1.
Atlantic herring
2. Atlantic cod
3. Atlantic Surf Clam
4. American lobster
5. Ocean Quahog
132 species total
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Southeast
South Atlantic & Gulf)
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1.
Menhaden
2. Blue crab
3. Striped mullet
4. Marine shrimp (includes brown and white shrimp)
5. Eastern oyster
85 species total
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1.
Menhaden
2. Brown shrimp
3. Blue crab
4. White shrimp
5. Striped Mullet
146 species total
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Pacific*
(not including AK or HI)
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1.
Pacific sardine
2. Yellowfin tuna
3. Jack mackerel
4. Skipjack tuna
5. Albacore tuna
76 species total
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1.
Chub mackerel
2. California market squid
3. Sea urchins
4. Ocean shrimp
5. Dover sole
146 species total
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* Kelp
ranks second in 1950, and first in 1990 by weight landed
in the Pacific.
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| Source:
NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service |
| This
table displays the top five species landed, by weight, in three
of the five major fisheries regions, for 1950 and 1990. Species
may be more heavily targeted from one year to another because of
changes in government regulations, fish populations, or market value. |
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STATUS
OF DATA & OTHER NOTES
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No consistent
and comprehensive national information is available concerning
bycatch. However, new regulations require expanded reporting,
so improved data should be available for future reports.
Please see
the Technical
Notes for additional information.
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