NOAA 03-106
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Susan Buchanan
9/10/03
 NOAA News Releases 2003
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DUTCH HARBOR-UNALASKA SETS NEW RECORD FOR LANDINGS IN 2002
New Bedford Tops Nation's Fishing Ports for Value

According to figures released today by the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), commercial fishermen brought 908.1 million pounds of fish and shellfish to the port of Dutch Harbor-Unalaska, Alaska, in 2002, surpassing the 32-year volume record of 848.2 million pounds held by Los Angeles, Calif. New Bedford, Mass., claimed the top spot in the country for landing value at its port with $169.0 million.

The port of Dutch Harbor-Unalaska netted the top landings slot for the14th consecutive year according to NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries), with an increase of 73.6 million pounds over 2001 landings. Empire-Venice, La., was ranked as the number two port for the quantity of landings in 2002 with 398.9 million pounds landed. This year’s increase was due to an increase of menhaden landings. Reedville, Va., dropped from second to third in 2002, (367.4 million pounds), due to decline in menhaden landings.

The 2002 value of landings at New Bedford was $169.0 million, an increase of $17.6 million from the 2001 value. Dutch Harbor-Unalaska was second with landings valued at $129.4 million - an increase of $6.7 million. The Hampton Roads, Va. area catch value was third at $67.8 million in 2002, an increase of $11.0 million due to an increased number of sea scallops being landed at that port.

The increase in value of New Bedford landings was due to the rising value and catch of sea scallops, and an increase in landings of haddock, ocean quahogs and lobster. The landings value increase in 2002 at Dutch Harbor-Unalaska are the result of improved groundfish catch from the Bearing Sea/Aleutian Islands and the Gulf of Alaska.

The top 10 leading U.S. ports in volume and value of fish and shellfish landed in 2001 and 2002 are listed on an attached fact sheet.

COMMERCIAL FISHERY LANDINGS AT MAJOR US. PORTS, 2001-2002
Figures in Million Pounds
Port
Quantity
2001
2002
Dutch Harbor-Unalaska, Alaska
834.5
908.1
Empire-Venice, La.
370.7
398.9
Reedville, Va.
488.0
367.4
Intracoastal City, La.
303.6
358.5
Cameron, La.
324.1
349.9
Kodiak, Alaska
285.5
250.4
Pascagoula-Moss Point, Miss.
196.0
198.5
Los Angeles, Calif.
219.1
170.1
New Bedford, Mass.
107.2
108.9
Astoria, Ore.
102.9
106.9

COMMERCIAL FISHERY VALUE AT MAJOR US. PORTS, 2001-2002
Figures in Million Dollars
Port
Value
2001
2002
New Bedford, Mass.
151.4
169.0
Dutch Harbor-Unalaska, Alaska
129.4
136.1
Hampton Roads area, Va.
56.8
67.8
Kodiak, Alaska
74.4
63.3
Empire-Venice, La.
59.1
54.3
Dulac-Chauvin, La.
60.9
46.2
Brownsville-Port Isabel, Texas
59.8
44.1
Key West, Fla.
40.0
43.2
Gloucester, Mass.
38.0
41.2
Honolulu, Hawaii
40.0
39.9

Note: To avoid disclosure of private enterprise certain ports have not been included. A complete list of commercial fishery landings and value at 50 major U.S. ports for 2001-2002 is available on the Internet at http://www.st.nmfs.gov/st1/publications.html.

NOAA Fisheries is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation’s living marine resources, and the habitat on which they depend, through scientific research, management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, while helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine resources.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov

NOAA Fisheries: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov