Crescent City Profile - California Sea Grant

the period 1984–1991, increased to 30–50during the period 1992–2004, and decreasedagain to 20–27 during the period 2005–2007.Participants noted that despite an increasein the number of buyers, the actual numberof ‘fish houses’ – large volume fish buyersthat process and/or distribute the catch – hasdeclined in the region.Of the 23 buyers that received commerciallycaught seafood at Crescent City in 2005,about 75% were predominantly engagedin fish receiving (and perhaps processing,wholesale activities and distribution). Theremaining receivers were fishermen whosell their own (and perhaps others’) catchdirectly to restaurants and other retailers and/or consumers. Of the 20 buyers that receivedfish at Crescent City in 2007, three accountedfor slightly more than 55% of the landed valueof the catch, five accounted for 75% and sevenaccounted for 90%. Eleven (just over half)of those receivers relied entirely on CrescentCity for their California receipts, and 14 reliedon Crescent City for more than 50% of theirCalifornia receipts.The average ex-vessel price for all fisheriescombined is 55% greater in the recent term($1.39 per pound) compared to the long term($0.89 per pound). However, the trends varyamong fisheries. Recent-term prices are lowerthan long-term prices in the shrimp trawl(-33%), whiting (-13%), albacore (-21%),crab (-11%) and shrimp pot (-7%) fisheries.In contrast, recent-term prices are greater inthe rockfish hook-and-line (+82%), salmon(+13%), and groundfish trawl (+5%) fisheries.The distribution of ex-vessel value amongvessels and buyers provide insights intothe extent to which consolidation of fishingactivity has occurred. Over the past decade(1998–2007), the number of boats deliveringfish to Crescent City decreased from 247 to157, while the proportion of boats accountingfor 90% of landed value at the port increasedslightly from 42%–46% prior to 2003 to45%–54% thereafter. Over the same period,the number of buyers decreased from 50 to 20,while the proportion of buyers accounting for90% of the landed value increased from 16%to 35%. While vessel and buyer concentrationremain a feature of Crescent City fisheries,both have lessened since 1998. The reductionin buyer concentration has been more dramaticand is likely related to the closure of two majorprocessors at the port around 2000.Activity Within Commercial FisheriesCrescent City has supported a diversityof fisheries over time. Crab, salmon, andgroundfish trawl have historically been themainstay of Crescent City’s commercialfisheries, together accounting for an averageof 91% of the ex-vessel value of landings peryear over the long term (1981–2007) and 97%in recent years (2003–2007). This sectionexamines fishery activity based on landingsdata for these fisheries and for two othershighlighted in our meetings with communitymembers: the shrimp trawl and rockfish/lingcod hook-and-line and pot fisheries.Albacore troll, coonstripe shrimp pot andPacific whiting trawl fisheries have played arole as well, and are discussed briefly.The Dungeness Crab Pot FisheryDungeness crab has ranked first among the port’scommercial fisheries on most measures over thelong term and in recent years. According to studyparticipants, some of the best crab grounds arewithin a few miles of the harbor and, although theabundance of crab is cyclical, these grounds havebeen extremely productive. Historically, the crabwas cooked and canned, but today crab is soldeither cooked and frozen (whole or in sections),or live.Between 1981 and 2002, landings varied widelybetween 1.1 million pounds (worth $3.0 million)and 7.0 million pounds (worth $12.3 million)Crescent City Fishing Community Profile 21