IV-297 



In 1958, imports of industrial fishery products accounted for 

 35 percent of the total United States supply; in 1967, imports 

 accounted for 82 percent of the total. This increasing share of 

 imported industrial fish products contributes to the balance of 

 payments problem in the national economy as well as directly affect- 

 ing the economic base of the domestic fishing industry. 



It must be noted, however, that increased harvesting of industrial 

 fish is ultimately dependent on existing renewable supplies of the 

 resource. Although some sizeable stocks of under-utilized species 

 exist, such as the thread herring in the Gulf of Mexico, other 

 stocks may be over-fished, now or in the future. Further degrada- 

 tion or destruction of the estuarinc nursery grounds for menhaden 

 could well reduce or eliminate this major domestic source of 

 industrial fish. 



The Edible Commercial Fishery 



Despite the growth on the industrial fish sector, edible fish 

 continue to dominate the overall fisheries market in terms of value, 

 as Table IV. 3. 4 indicates. 



Shrimp 



Penaeidean shrimp, the most valuable commercial fish resource, are 

 dependent upon the estuary for nursery grounds and are then harvested 



