REVIEW 



IMPORTANT SPECIES 



pounds (1 1 percent) and S6.2 million (2 percent) com- 

 pared with 1991. Species composition and value of tuna 

 landings continued to change in 1992 in response to 

 changes in fishing areas. Fishing activity moved from the 

 eastern Pacific Ocean to avoid tuna and porpoise con- 

 flicts. The average exvessel price perpound of allspecies 

 of tuna in 1992 was 48 cents compared with 53 cents in 

 1991. 



Bigeye landings in 1992 were 5.1 million pounds- 

 -a decrease of 97.000 pounds (2 percent) compared 

 with 1991. The average exvessel price per pound was 

 $3.83 in 1992 compared with S3.78 in 1991. 



Skipjack landings were 380.6 million pounds-a 

 decrease of 1 1.0 million pounds (3 percent) compared 

 with 1991 . The average exvessel price per pound was 35 

 cents in 1992. compared to 40 cents in 1991. 



Yellowfin landings were 166.5 million pounds-an 

 increase of 61.0 million pounds (58 percent) compared 

 with 1 99 1 . The average exvessel price per pound was 55 

 cents in 1992 compared with 66 cents in 1991. 



Bluefin landings were 4.5 million pounds--an in- 

 crease of 2.6 million pounds (141 percent) compared 

 with 1991. The average exvessel price perpound in 1992 

 was $3.76 compared with $9.1 1 in 1991. 



CLAMS . Landings of all species yielded 142.4 million 

 pounds of meats valued at $ 1 27.3 million-an increase of 

 8.2 million pounds (6 percent) and $2. 1 million (2 percent) 

 compared with 1991. The average exvessel price per 

 pound decreased to 89 cents in 1992 from 93 cents in 

 1991. 



Trend in Commercial Landings, 1983-1992 

 Clams 



Millions (lbs and $) 



160 



1983 1984 198S 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 

 SPounds + Value ♦Deflated Value 



Surf clams yielded 74.6 million pounds of meats 

 valued at $32.4 million-a decrease of 8.4 million pounds 

 (13 percent) and $3.2 million (1 1 percent) compared with 

 1 99 1 . New Jersey was the leading State with 52.9 million 

 pounds (up 15 percent); followed by New York. 12.2 

 million pounds (up 1 percent); and Maryland. 5.8 million 

 pounds (down 14 percent) compared with 1991. The 

 average exvessel price per pound of meats was 48 cents 

 in 1992, down one cent from 1991. 



The ocean auahog fishery produced 50.4 million 

 pounds of meats valued at $ 1 9.5 million-an increase of 

 1.3 million pounds (3 percent) and $492,000 (3 percent) 

 compared with 1991. New Jersey was the leading 

 producer with 39.8 million pounds of meats and ac- 

 counted for 79 percent of the total ocean quahog 

 landings. The value for New Jersey in 1992 was $13.8 

 million-an increase of $2.2 million (19 percent) com- 

 pared with 1991 . The average exvessel price per pound 

 of meats was 34 cents in 1992. compared with 33 cents 

 in 1991. 



The hard clam fishery produced 12.3 million 

 pounds of meats valued at $55.6 million-an increase of 

 35.000 pounds (less than one percent), but a decrease of 

 $2.9 million (5 percent) compared with 1991. Landings in 

 the New England region were 4.9 million pounds of meats 

 (up less than one percent); Middle Atlantic region, 3.5 

 million pounds (down 4 percent); Chesapeake region, 

 1.1 million pounds (down 8 percent); and the South 

 Atlantic region. 1 .7 million pounds (up 2 percent). The 

 average exvessel price per pound of meats decreased 

 from $4.75 in 1991 to $4.50 in 1992. 



Soft clams yielded 3.9 million pounds of meats 

 valued at $ 1 6.0 million-a decrease of 288.000 pounds (7 

 percent), but an increase of $1.1 million (8 percent) 

 compared with 1991 . Maine was the leading State with 

 2.3 million pounds of meats (up 53 percent) followed by 

 Massachusetts with 1.1 million pounds (up 37 percent). 

 The average exvessel price per pound of meats was 

 $4.06 in 1992, compared with $3.51 in 1991. 



CRABS Landings of all species of crabs were 624.3 million 

 pounds valued at $471.3 million-a decrease of 25.7 

 million pounds (4 percent), but an increase of $56.5 

 million (14 percent) compared with 1991. 



Hard blue crab landings were 1 92.7 million pounds 

 valued at $89.0 million-a decrease of 29.4 million pounds 

 ( 1 3 percent) , but an increase of $ 1 5.7 million (2 1 percent) 

 compared with 1991. Louisiana landed 26 percent, while 

 North Carolina and Maryland landed 2 1 percent and 1 5 

 percent respectively of the total U.S. landings. Hard blue 



