Fisheries of the United States (2012)
In this annual report covering 2012, the U.S. government estimates that commercial fish “landings” totaled 9.6 billion pounds for the year (fish deaths are measured in pounds, not individual lives). This represented a 2.3% decrease from the previous year (2011). Measured in value, commercial landings in 2012 were estimated to be $5.1 billion, 3.2% lower than in 2011. Recreational fishing accounted for 380 million individual fish being caught in 2012, with 60% of those fish being released, according to survey results.
Commercial Fisheries Landings U.S. commercial fishermen landed 9.6 billion pounds of seafood in 2012, valued at $5.1 billion. These figures represent small decreases in pounds (2.3 percent) and value (3.2 percent) over 2011, which had the highest landings volume over the last decade and highest value ever recorded. However, poundage and value continue to remain higher than the average of the preceding decade (9.2 billion pounds valued at $4.1 billion).
Regional Highlights Alaska led all states in both volume and value of landings. New England also had a 7% increase in landings volume and value.
The top 5 states by volume of landings:
1. Alaska (5.3 billion pounds) 2. Louisiana (1.2 billion pounds) 3. Virginia (461.9 million pounds) 4. Washington (420.1 million pounds) 5. California (358.2 million pounds) The top 5 states by value of landings:
1. Alaska ($1.7 billion) 2. Massachusetts ($618.2 million) 3. Maine ($448.5 million) 4. Louisiana ($356.6 million) 5. Washington ($302 million) Recreational Fisheries Landings Recreational anglers took 70 million trips and caught nearly 380 million fish in 2012. Over 60 percent of these fish were released alive. The estimated total weight of landed catch (almost 140 million fish) was over 200 million pounds. Spotted seatrout remains the top catch among saltwater anglers, with more than 43 million fish caught in 2012. Atlantic croaker, black sea bass, summer flounder, and red drum were among the other most commonly caught species in 2012.