Crescent City Profile - California Sea Grant

from more than 245 boats in the early 1980sto 109–137 boats since 2001. The averagenumber of buyers (including fishermen sellingtheir own catch) was 34 in recent years, a 34%increase from the long-term average of 26.The number of buyers increased from 6–11 forthe period 1981–1997 to 11–19 for the period1998–2005, then declined to 11–12 for theperiod 2006–2007.The number of crab trips at Crescent Cityaveraged 2,108 in recent years, 13% lowerthan the long-term average of 2,416 trips. Tripspeaked at more than 3,500 in 1981–1983 and1996, and were at their lowest (730–1,981trips) in 2001 and 2002 (the years of recordlow landings). During years of record highlandings (2003, 2004, 2006), the number oftrips ranged from 2,052 to 3,033, a rather“ordinary” level of effort. This apparent lackof synchrony between landings and trips mayreflect, to a large extent, the marked increase inthe number of traps used.in recent years. Prices have varied considerablynonetheless, from a low of $1.46 per pound(1993) to a high of $2.80 per pound (1983).The crab fishery has played an increasinglycentral role for the Crescent City commercialfishing community as a result of severalfactors, most notably reduced opportunities inother fisheries and availability of and access tothe resource. The proportion of fishing activityat Crescent City involving crab has been muchhigher in recent years relative to the longterm. Crab boats as a proportion of total boatslanding at Crescent City has increased from52% to 81%. The contribution of crab tripshave increased from 41% to 69%, of landingsfrom 22% to 67%, and of ex-vessel value from52% to 86% of those totals.The Groundfish Trawl FisheryAnnual landings of groundfish declined steadilyfrom 6.1–10.6 million pounds during the period1981–1990 to 2.8–5.9 million pounds duringthe period 1991–2000, and to 1.1–2.8 millionpounds during the period 2001–2007 (Figure 9,Table 9). Landings have averaged 1.4 millionpounds in recent years, a 73% decline from thelong-term average of 5.1 million pounds. The exvesselvalue of groundfish landings declined by70%, from a long-term average of $2.7 million to$821,000 in recent years. Landed value fell from$3.0–$4.5 million during the period 1981–1990,to $1.9–$3.9 million during the period 1991–2000, and to $500K–$1.8 million during theperiod 2001–2007.Local ex-vessel prices for crab averaged$1.81 in recent years, an 11% decline fromthe long-term average of $2.04. This change issomewhat unexpected, given the growth in thelive market, which can offer prices twice thosefor cooked crab. However, larger landings in2003, 2004 and 2006, especially early in theseason when most of the product is directed tothe lower-priced cooked and frozen sectionedcrab market, may have kept average prices lowCrescent City Fishing Community Profile 23