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About
our Industry
"Preserving and maintaining this Nation's cultural diversity is as important to the survival of America as is maintaining biological diversity. What we are preserving in rural farming and fishing communities are PEOPLE—not abstractions or symbols, but people who embody the basic values that are fundamental to our nation's history and its traditions."
United States
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4th largest fleet in the world
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170,000-plus commercial
fishermen on large, medium, and small vessels
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300-plus species harvested annually
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4 to 5 percent of the world’s total catch
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9 billion lbs (or 4 million metric tons) of fish and shellfish landed annually
in U.S. ports
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approximately $3.5 billion worth of seafood landed per year
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1,200 seafood plants (processed/packaged seafood, fish oil, animal feeds, etc.)
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3,500 wholesale and distribution firms
North Carolina
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7,307 full-time commercial fishermen
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4,000 miles of shoreline
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2.5 million acres of marine and estuarine waters
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39 major fish stocks
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100-plus million lbs
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from $88 to greater than $100 million worth of seafood landed per year
ranked among the top 10 to 11 states in seafood landings
***United States statistics were compiled using information obtained from the National
Fisheries Institute’s Web site, while North Carolina statistics were
compiled using information obtained from the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries’ Web site.
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“Top Ten” Major NC Seafood Landings |
| Rank |
Item |
2002 Value ($) |
| 1. |
Blue Crab (Hard, Peeler, Soft) |
33,103,704 |
| 2. |
Shrimp (Brown, Pink, White) |
18,321,932 |
| 3. |
Flounder (Southern,
Summer) |
11,210,405 |
| 4. |
Atlantic Menhaden |
5,044,826 |
| 5. |
Hard Clam |
3,506,195 |
| 6. |
Atlantic Croaker |
3,233,373 |
| 7. |
Grouper
(Gag, Red, Scamp, Other) |
1,334,413 |
| 8. |
Mullets |
1,252,543 |
| 9. |
Sea Scallop |
1,221,112 |
| 10. |
King Mackerel |
1,169,306 |
*** The table above was compiled using information obtained from the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries’ Web site
(2002 stats).
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Comparison of “Top Ten” NC Seafood Landings to Other States |
| Rank |
Item |
Exceeded
by |
| 1 |
Blue Crab (Hard, Peeler, Soft) |
None |
| 6 |
Shrimp (Brown, Pink, White) |
TX, LA,
FL, MS, AL |
| 1 |
Flounder (Southern,
Summer) |
None |
| 4 |
Atlantic Menhaden |
LA, VA, MS |
| 5 |
Hard Clam |
NY, CT, RI,
FL |
| 2 |
Atlantic Croaker |
VA |
| 2 |
Grouper
(Gag, Red, Scamp, Other) |
FL |
| 3 |
Mullets |
FL, LA |
| 7 |
Sea Scallop |
MA, VA, NJ,
CT, ME, AK |
| 2 |
King Mackerel |
FL |
*** The table above was compiled using information obtained from the National Marine Fisheries Service’s and the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries’ Web sites
(2002 stats).
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