SECTION 7 

 PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES 



Landings by U.S. commercial fishermen in the Pacific Coast States of Alaska, California, 

 Oregon, and Washington were 1.6 billion pounds valued at $352 million in 1975, up 12 percent in quantity, but 

 down 8 percent in value compared with 1974. The increase in quantity m&inly was due to record landings of 

 anchovies in California. The decrease in value primarily was caused by depressed exvessel prices for most 

 species. 



Alaska led the other States in value of landings with $129.7 million, followed closely by 

 California with $134.7 million. Washington landings were $61.6 million, and Oregon landings were $26.0 

 million. In terms of quantity, however, California led with 875.0 million pounds; followed by Alaska, 444.1 

 million pounds; Washington, 146.0 million pounds; and Oregon, 86.2 million pounds. 



Tuna was the leading species in terms of quantity, but second to salmon in value. Landings of 

 tuna were 380.5 million pounds valued at $100.6 million. Landings of salmon were 202.0 million pounds valued 

 at $107.0 million. Salmon ranked third in quantity behind anchovies (329.4 million pounds). 



The total foreign catch in 1975 from Pacific Coast waters was 2.0 million metric tons (4.4 

 billion pounds), down 11 percent from 1974, but still almost three times the domestic catch. This was the 

 fourth year that foreign catches have declined since 1971, the peak year. The catch of all foreign countries 

 declined; and the catch declined in aU areas except the Gulf of Alaska where it increased slightly. 



Two factors have been at work to reduce foreign catches in recent years. The first, and 

 probably most important, was a market reduction in abundance of Alaska pollock and other target species. 

 The second factor was the decision by various foreign governments to reduce fishing. In part this decision 

 was a result of reduced catches caused by low abundance and in part a result of international agreements 

 between the fishing nations and the United States to reduce fishing to preserve the stocks. 



In 1975, Japan was the leading nation, accounting for 66 percent of the foreign catch off Pacific 

 Coast States; the U.S.S.R. accounted for 31 percent; Poland, 3 percent; and Canada, South Korea, and China 

 (Taiwan) for less than 1 percent. Catches from waters off Alaska accounted for almost 89 percent of the 

 foreign catch off Pacific Coast States; catches off California, Oregon, and Washington accounted for the 

 remainder. 



Alaska pollock was the leading species in the foreign catch, accounting for more tonnage than 

 all other species combined. In 1975, the foreign catch of Alaska pollock was 2.9 billion pounds (1,295,000 

 metric tons). The catch of Pacific hake was 434 million pounds (197,000 metric tons); flounders, turbots, and 

 other flatfish, except halibut, 299 million pounds (136,000 metric tons); rockfishes, except ocean perch, 129 

 million pounds (58,000 metric tons); cod, 128 million pounds (58,000 metric tons); Pacific ocean perch, 103 

 million pounds (47,000 metric tons); atka mackerel, 92 million pounds (42,000 metric tons); sablefish, 72 

 million pounds (33,000 metric tons); sea herring, 38 million pounds (17,000 metric tons); and snow (tanner) 

 crab, 22 million pounds (10,000 metric tons). The bulk of the remainder consisted of miscellaneous groundfish 

 species. Catches of salmon and shrimp were negligible. 



Fishermen and craft . The Pacific Coast fleet of fishing vessels (craft of 5 net tons or over) continued to 

 increase in number and total tonnage, a trend unbroken since 1964. The number of fishing boats (craft of less 

 than 5 net tons) and fishermen on boats and shore, however, declined for the second year in a row. 



In 1975, the number of fishing vessels was 7,031 with a total tonnage of 269,413, up 5 percent in 

 number and 2 percent in tonnage over 1974. The number of fishermen aboard these vessels in 1975 rose to 

 22,741, up 7 percent compared with the previous year. The number of boats declined to 13,336 in 1975, down 

 10 percent from 1974. The number of fishermen on boats and shore in the Pacific Coast States declined to 

 22,099 in 1975, down 5 percent from 1974. 



Processed products . Pacific Coast production of processed fishery products was $835.2 million in 1975, down 

 8 percent from 1974. California accounted for over half of the total with $472.3 million; Alaska was next 

 with $240.4 million; Washington, $75.6 million; and Oregon, $46.9 million. The production of canned products, 

 mainly tuna and salmon, was $514.4 million in 1975 and accounted for 62 percent of the total. Of the total 

 value, frozen products accounted for 25 percent; industrial, 6 percent; fresh, 4 percent; and cured, 3 percent 

 of the total. 



