NC 2000 Landings Report

North Carolina's 2000 commercial landings were the lowest in many years.

Although landings were poor, a scant 154.1 million pounds for the state, market value soared leaving the state with seafood revenues of $108 million dollars.
Landings fluctuations occurred due to a number of factors including availability of fish, market conditions, harvest restrictions, and shifts in consumer tastes.

One of the more troubling harvest declines for 2000 occurred in the blue crab fishery. Although North Carolina still leads the nation in the production of hard blue, the 2000 catch plummeted to 38.8 million pounds from a 5 -year average of 57.1 million pounds. But despite the small harvest hard blue crabs continued to be the state's most lucrative seafood bringing in $32.1 million.

Shrimp catches remained solid in 2000 with 10.3 million pounds harvested, which was the third highest landing of shrimp on record, valued at $25.3 million - well above the previous 5-year average of $16.9 million.

Tuna landings in North Carolina amounted to $3.4 million, more than double the five-year average. The appearance of bluefin tuna off North Carolina's shores before the coast wide quota was reached is attributed with at least part of the fishery's success.

The recreational fishing industry reeled in it's biggest catch in 12 year with an estimated catch of 21.2 million pounds of landed recreationally in 2000.

This report taken from NOAA Fishnews.