REVIEW 



IMPORTANT SPECIES 



percent) compared with 1 995. The average exvessel 

 price perpound ot meats was 60 cents in 1 996, down 

 2 cents from 1995. 



The ocean quahog fishery produced 46.5 

 million pounds of meats valued at $20.6 million-a 

 decrease of 2.5 million pounds (5 percent) and 

 $162,000 (1 percent) compared with 1995. New 

 Jersey had landings of 1 7.8 million pounds (down 1 8 

 percent) valued at $7.3 million (down 15 percent) 

 while Massachusetts production was 17.5 million 

 pounds (up 20percent) valued at $7.3 million (up 23 

 percent). Together, they accounted for 76 percent 

 of the total ocean quahog production in 1 996. The 

 average exvessel price per pound of meats in- 

 creased from 42 cents in 1995 to 44 cents in 1996. 



32 percent of the total; Louisiana, 17 percent; 

 Maryland, 16 percent; and Virginia, 15 percent of 

 the total U.S. landings. Hard blue crab landings in 

 the Chesapeake region were 68.3 million pounds- 

 adecrease of 4 percent; Gulf region, 56.9 million, 

 increased 20 percent; and the South Atlantic region 

 with 86.6 million pounds, increased 30 percent. The 

 Middle Atlantic region with 7.2 million pounds val- 

 ued at $5.0 million showed a decrease of 8.9 million 

 pounds (55 percent) compared with 1995. The 

 average exvessel price per pound of hard blue 

 crabs was 67 cents in 1 996, five cents less than 1 995. 



Trend in Commercial Landings, 1987-1996 

 Crabs 



The hard clam fishery produced 10.0 million 

 pounds of meats valued at $49.3 million-a decrease 

 of 7.8 million pounds (44 percent) and $18.1 million 

 (27 percent) compared with 1995. Landings in the 

 New England region were 1 .5 million pounds of 

 meats (down 52 percent); Middle Atlantic region, 

 4.6 million pounds (up 1 1 percent); Chesapeake 

 region, 796,000 pounds (down 14 percent); and the 

 South Atlantic region, 1 .8 million pounds (up 64 per- 

 cent). The average exvessel price per pound of 

 meats increased from $3.78 in 1995 to $4.94 in 1996. 



Softclamsyielded 2.2 million poundsof meats 

 valued at $8.3 million-a decrease of 234,000 pounds 

 (10 percent) and $2.9 million (26 percent) com- 

 pared with 1 995. Maine was the leading state with 

 1 .6 million pounds of meats (down 16 percent) fol- 

 lowed by Maryland with 319,000 pounds (down 13 

 percent) and New York with 205,000 pounds (up 26 

 percent). The average exvessel price per pound of 

 meats was $3.75 in 1996, compared with $4.57 in 

 1995. 



CRABS . Landings of all species of crabs were 391 .8 

 million pounds valued at $426.7 million-an increase 

 of 28.2 million pounds (8 percent), but a deincrease 

 of $85.3 million (17 percent) compared with 1995. 



Hard blue crab landings were 219.0 million 

 pounds valued at $ 1 47. 1 million-an increase of 1 7.4 

 million pounds (9 percent) and $2.4 million (2 per- 

 cent) compared with 1995. North Carolina landed 



Millions (lbs and $) 



1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 

 IPounds *Value ♦Deflated Value 



Dungeness crab landings were 65.0 million 

 pounds valued at $87.9 million-an increase of 1 7.2 

 million pounds (36 percent) and $8.3 million (10 

 percent) compared with 1995. Washington land- 

 ings of 27.5 million pounds (up 29 percent) led all 

 states with 42 percent of the total landings. Alaska 

 landings were 5.9 million pounds, up 8 percent com- 

 pared with 1995. Oregon landings were 19.3 million 

 pounds (up 62 percent) and California landings 

 were 1 2.3 million pounds (up 34 percent) compared 

 with 1995. The average exvessel price per pound 

 was $1 .35 in 1996 compared with $1 .66 in 1995. 



U.S. landings of king crab were 21 .0 million 

 pounds valued at $62.6 million-an increase of 6.3 

 million pounds (43 percent) compared with 1995. 

 The average exvessel price per pound in 1996 was 

 $2.98 compared with $3.10 in 1995. 



XI 



