UNIT 21 

 NEARSHORE FISHERIES 



long-term average level (Rugolo et al., 1997). Har- 

 vest levels in Chesapeake Bay, which comprise 

 about 85% of the region's total, declined nearlv 

 40% from a high in 1993 to 1996, but improved 

 about 23-30% in 1997. In contrast, blue crabs 

 have been unusually abundant in Delaware and 

 Raritan Bays, where landings have increased. 



Sea urchins, second highest in northeast 

 nearshore species landings (recent average yield oi 

 1 1 ,400 t), have been subjected to increasing fish- 

 ing pressure ever since a major fishery began in 

 Maine waters in 1987 to supply the Iresh roe mar- 

 ket in lapan. Landings increased from about 700 

 t in 1987 to a high of 19,200 t in 1993, but have 

 declined to only 8,500 t in 1997. Abundance, as 

 measured by catch-per-unit-effort, has steadily de- 

 clined. At the peak ol the fishery there were 2,800 

 harvesters delivering product to 85 buying stations 

 along Maine's coast (Robert Morrill, Personal 

 Communication') As local areas are intensively 

 harvested by divers, traps, rakes, and drags, the 

 fishery has expanded to other areas. In the 1997- 



Landings 

 (X 1.000 t) 



1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 



Blue crab. Atlantic & Gulf 



Blue crab. Atlantic only 



Blue crab. Gulf only 



Sea Urchin, Atlantic only 

 Oyster, Atlantic only 



'Robert C. Morrill, NMFS, Suite 212. M.iriiiL Ir.iJc Center, 

 2 Portland Fish Pier, PortLind. ME U-ilUl, 



Year 



98 fishing season (September-April) in Maine, 

 harvesting was restricted to 1 20 days because o( 

 concerns about the continued decline in abun- 

 dance and the need tor conservation. 



Oysters, one of the most valuable nearshore 

 species (commercial landings valued at nearly 

 $40,000,000 in 1997), have increased slightly in 

 abundance in Delaware and Chesapeake Bays. 

 Harvest levels had reached all-time lows in recent 

 decades in both areas (Figure 21-1 ) because of sub- 

 stantial mortalities caused by the diseases MSX and 

 Dermo. Long Island Sound continues to be the 

 region's largest oyster producer. In 1997, MSX 

 caused mortalities of around 30% in some Con- 

 necticut beds, but production should be sustained 

 because large supplies of live oysters easily exceed 

 the quantity that markets will take. In most areas, 

 oyster supplies in estuaries still exceed the current 

 market demand. 1 he James River is the most con- 

 sistent oyster-producing habitat in Virginia, and 

 abundance has increased there about 25% in the 

 past 4 years. Improved abundance in traditional 

 oyster-producing areas which had earlier suffered 

 major declines due to disease will be dependent to 

 a large extent on the successful development of 

 improved broodstock of disease-resistant native 

 eastern oysters, restocking programs, and habitat 

 enhancement. 



Landings and abundance of hardshell clams 

 from the traditional harvesting grounds have risen 

 in Narragansett Bay, Long Island Sound (Con- 

 necticut) and Raritan Bay, but have declined 



Figure 21-1 



Landings of blue crab from 

 the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts, 

 and sea urchin and oyster 

 from the Atlantic Coast, in 

 metric tons (t). 



2 1 5 



