United States yearbook - 1982 (1)

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Section 26
F is h e rie s
This section presents statistics on commercial fishing and the fish processing industry. The principal
sources of these data are Fishery S tatistics o f the U nited States, and Fisheries of the United
States, both issued annually by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The NMFS collects and disseminates data on commercial landings of fish and shellfish, freezings
and holdings of fishery products, fish meal and oil production, and foreign trade in fishery products.
Quarterly data arc published on U.S. output of fish sticks, fish portions, and breaded shrimp. Annual
reports include quantity and value of commercial landings o f fish and shellfish (by species, region,
State, and type of fishing gear), disposition of landings, number of fishermen, and number and
kinds of fishing vessels and fishing gear. Reports for the fish-processing industry Include annual
output of canned, packaged, and industrial products and, for the wholesaling and fish processing
establishments, annual and seasonal employment, and number of firms, by product and State.
Annual data are published on foreign trade in fishery products and per capita consumption of edible
fishery products.
The Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 established a Fisheries Conservation
Zone (FCZ) which gives the Federal Government exclusive authority over domestic and
foreign fisheries within 200 nautical miles of U.S. shores and over certain living marine resources
beyond the FCZ. Within the FCZ, the total allowable level of foreign fishing, if any, is that portion of
the "optimum yield" not harvested by U.S. vessels. Adjustments in the "optimum yield” level may
occur periodically. For details, see Fisheries o f the U nited States, 1981. The NMFS collects and
disseminates data on catches by foreign fishing vessels in the FCZ.
The catch value as presented in various tables is “ ex-vessel,” or value at the dock. It represents
the price received by fishermen and vessel owners for fish, shell-fish, etc.
Historical statistics.—Tabular headnotes provide cross-references, where applicable, to Historic
a l S tatistics o f the U nited States, C olonial Times to 1970. See Appendix I.
Figure 26.1
Fishery Products— Supply: 1965 to 1981
Billions of pounds
15
Domestic catch
Imports
Total
15
1965 1970 1975 1979 1980 1981
Source: Chart prepared by U.S. Bureau of the Census. For data, see table 1258.
1978