SECTION 6 - GULF FISHERIES 



189 



Total commercial landings of fish and shellfish at ports in the Gulf States (West Coast of Florida, 

 Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas) were 1.7 billion pounds worth a record $270.6 million, a decrease 

 of 7 percent in quantity, but an increase of 12 percent in value compared with 1974. Smaller landings of 

 menhaden and shrimp was the principal reason for the volume decline. The increased value resulted from the 

 record exvessel prices that fishermen received for shrimp in 1975. 



The Gulf States had 34 percent of the volume and 28 percent of the value of U.S. landings and 

 exceeded all other areas in volume. Louisiana led in volume of landings with 1.1 billion pounds (67 percent); 

 followed by Mississippi with 305.8 million (18 percent); Florida, West Coast, 115.8 milion (7 percent); Texas, 

 86.0 million (5 percent); and Alabama, 31.6 million pounds (2 percent). Compared with 1975, landings declined 

 in all States except Mississippi, which had a 2- percent increase in volume. 



Fishermen and vessels. The Gulf States had 26,560 full-time and part-time fishermen operating 4,670 vessels 

 (5 net tons or more), 10,142 motorboats, and 61 pther boats. Compared with 1974, this was an increase of 

 1,071 fishermen, 693 motorboats, and 3 other boats, and a decrease of 11 vessels. 



According to records of the U.S. Department of Transportation, 121 vessels with home ports in the 

 Gulf of Mexico received first documents as fishing vessels in 1975 compared with 245 vessels in 1974. 



Processed products. In 1975 the value of processed seafood at the plant level was $418.2 million, a decrease 

 of $16 million compared with 1974. Frozen packaged items accounted for 65 percent of the total value of 

 processed products— an increase of 8 percent over the previous year. Louisiana led with products valued at 

 $133.5 million; followed by Florida, West Coast, $109.6 million; Texas, $75.6 million; Mississippi, $58.3 

 million; and Alabama, $41.2 million. The five States had a monthly average of 11,034 persons employed in 

 723 wholesaling and processing plants. 



Hard blue crabs. Landings of 38.7 million pounds valued at a record $5.5 million decreased 1.6 million 

 pounds, but increased $179,000 compared with 1974. Landings increased in Florida, West Coast, but declined 

 in all other States. Florida, West Coast landings were 12.8 million pounds, up 26 percent from 1974. 

 Louisiana landings were 17.1 million pounds (down 17 percent); Texas, 6.0 million (down 2 percent); Alabama, 

 1.6 million (down 10 percent); and Mississippi, 1.1 million pounds (down 32 percent). 



Food finfish. Compared with 1974, landings of most major species decreased. Landings of black mullet were 

 25.3 million pounds (down9 percent); croaker, 12.8 million (down 12 percent); king mackerel, 2.6 million (down 

 57 percent); Spanish mackerel, 6.1 million (down 28 percent); spotted sea trout, 6.2 million (down 11 percent); 

 and red snapper, 7.8 million pounds (down 8 percent). Landings of groupers (7.3 million pounds) increased 13 

 percent, and catfish and bullheads (6.1 million pounds) increased 22 percent. 



Spiny lobster. Landings of 5.1 million pounds valued at $6.8 million declined 24 percent in volume and 18 

 percent in value compared with 1974, the record year for value. AU but 100 pounds were landed at Florida, 

 West Coast ports. Fishermen received an average price of $1.34 per pound, 10 cents more than in 1974. 



Menhaden. Landings of 1.2 billion pounds worth $35.5 million were down 99.0 million pounds (8 percent) and 

 $12.9 million (27 percent) compared with 1974. Fishing effort in the Gulf in terms of thousands of vessel-ton 

 weeks was the highest on record, but poor fishing weather during the season may have been one factor that 

 held landings down. Louisiana landings (984.1 million pounds) declined 9 percent; Mississippi (212.1 million 

 pounds), 2 percent; and Florida, West Coast (466,000 pounds), 34 percent. The Gulf menhaden fishery had 66 

 purse seines operating in 1975, the same number that operated in 1974. 



Oysters. The production of 19.3 million pounds of shucked oyster meats valued at $10.9 million increased 30 

 percent in volume and 11 percent in value compared with 1974. The harvest was the best since 1971. 

 Landings increased 291 percent in Mississippi, 37 percent in Lousiana, and 41 percent in Texas. Landings 

 declined 20 percent along the west coast of Florida and 13 percent in Alabama. 



Louisiana had 71 percent of the total oyster landings with a record 13.7 million pounds. Most of 

 the catch was taken from private bottom and used by the fresh oyster trade. The canned oyster pack was 27 

 percent above 1974, but well below the record pack of 1961. 



