Accounting for the bounty of the sea

ACCOUNTING FOR THE BOUNTY OF THE SEA For several years, Scott Baker, North Carolina Sea Grant fisheries specialist, has given an update on the recreational and commercial fishing industries at the North Carolina Catch Summit and other venues. He outlines highlights of both industries, adding interesting facts about the state’s fisheries. Baker worked with Sea Grant communicators Diana Hackenburg and E-Ching Lee on this series of infographics to share the most recent data from the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries. w W W hen it comes to seafood, North Carolina commercial fisheries provide lots of local options for our plates. And recreational anglers bring more choices to their own tables. Here, we share some interesting numbers to give you a little food for thought. In 2015, N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries data show the commercial fishing industry was valued at S104 million, landing 66 million pounds offish. The recreational industry caught 11.6 million pounds, or 10.2 million fish. Both sectors increased from 2014 totals. In the top 10 seafoods consumed in the United States as determined by the National Fisheries Institute, a U.S. seafood trade association, there are five species — shrimp, tilapia, catfish, crab and clams — either caught or grown in North Carolina. However, up to 90 percent of seafood consumed in theUnited States is imported, according to www.fishwatckgov, which is maintained by the National Marine Fisheries Service in theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. About half of the imported seafood is wild-caught. According to data from NMFS, North Carolina sits in the middle of the pack for the volume and value of seafood it lands. In terms of pounds, North Carolina came in 15th out of 30 states nationwide that reported commercial landings in 2014 according to NMFS. Our state was 13th in dollar value of the seafood. In the same year, North Carolina ranked sixth in pounds landed and fifth for the value of that catch out of the 15 Atlantic Coast states with commercial fisheries. NOA A also noted that North Carolina commercial fishermen landed the most diverse array of seafood along the East Coast in 2014. The recreational industry tells the tale of two fisheries. The smaller inshore and nearshore species comprise the most numbers offish. However, the offshore species landed by larger boats farther from shore collectively combine for the most weight. Consider wahoo and yellowfin tuna, both in the top five species caught by weight. Wahoo and yellowfin, which are found offshore, can weigh as much as 150 and 400 pounds, respectively. Compare this with the top five species by number — kingfish, pufferfish, spot, bluefish and pigfish — that are caught closer to shore and typically weigh less than 10 pounds per fish. Bluefish, caught anywhere from the sounds to the nearshore reefs past the inlets, makes the top five in both pounds and number offish landed. For some species — such as dolphinfish, also known as mahi mahi, and spotted sea trout — recreational anglers bring back more than commercial fishermen. Perhaps the data about North Carolina's fisheries in the following pages will give you something to discuss over your next local seafood dinner. September 2016 UNC-SC-16-14