La. accounts for second highest catch in U.S. during banner year

The U.S. seafood catch reached a 17-year high last year, with all fishing regions of the country showing increases in both the volume and value of their harvests. Commercial fishermen last year caught 10.1 billion pounds of fish and shellfish valued at a record $5.3 billion, according to a report released today by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That’s a 23% increase in catch by weight and a 17% increase in value over 2010. Alaska led all states by far in catch volume, with 5.4 billion pounds, followed by Louisiana, California, Virginia and Washington, according to the report. Alaska was also tops in the value of its catch, at $1.9 billion, followed by Massachusetts, Maine, Louisiana and Washington. The increases are evidence that fish populations are rebuilding, says Sam Rauch, deputy assistant administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service. “Overall nationally, the numbers are very good news,” Rauch says. “But we don’t want to miss the fact that there are parts of the industry that are or soon will be suffering economic pain.” The Department of Commerce has declared disasters for cod and other so-called groundfish in New England, oyster and blue crab fisheries in Mississippi, and chinook salmon in Alaska’s Yukon and Kuskokwin rivers. About 91% of the seafood consumed in the U.S. was imported, up from 86% in 2010. Check out The Associated Press’ coverage of the report here; and access the full report here.