151 



only witli numerous assumptions and approximations. Not only is 

 the existence of much of the harvestable crop dependent on the astu- 

 arine habitat, but the estuarine zone also provides the safe harbors 

 without which the ocean fisheries could not exist. In addition, the sea- 

 food processing plants which supply the entire Nation are nearly 

 all located in the estuarine zone and derive economic benefit from 

 the existence of the commercial fishing industry. 



In 1967 U.S. fishermen received $438 million for approximately 

 4.06 billion pounds of commercial fish and shellfish. It has been 

 estimated that two-thirds of the total value, or approximately $300 

 million, can be considered for estuarine-dependent species. This is a 

 conservative estimate of the direct value derived from the estuarine 

 fishery for it does not include the value of fish harvested by foreign 

 vessels off the U.S. coast. Five of the six leading species by weight, 

 representing over one-half of the U.S. commercial fish tonnage in 

 1967 are estuarine dependent (table IV.3.4) . 



Table IV.3.5 shows the weight and values of the major estuarine- 

 dependent commercial fish landings by biophysical region. The Gulf 

 of Mexico region fishery has by far the greatest volume and value, 

 primarily due to landings of shrimp and menhadden, which use the 

 estuarine zone as a nursery area. The anadromous salmon fisheries of 

 Alaska and the Pacific Northwest rank second, and the fisheries of 

 estuarine-resident oysters in the Chesapeake are third in the Nation 

 among the estuarine-dependent species. 



TABLE I V.3.4.— RANKING OF THE 10 MOST IMPORTANT COMMERCIAL FISHERIES IN THE UNITED STATES, 1965 



1967 



Menhaden 1,165,800 



Tuna. 



Crabs' 



Shrimp 



Salmon 



Flatfish 



Haddock 



Sea Herring.. 

 Ocean Perch. 

 Anchovies... 



329, 000 

 316, 000 

 312,200 

 206, 400 

 110, 900 

 98, 500 

 85, 100 

 71,500 

 69, 600 



Total 2,765,000 



1 Shrimp.... 103,100 



2 Salmon 48,600 



3 Tuna 44,514 



4 Oysters 31,600 



5 Crabs 27,100 



6 Lobsters 24,100 



7 Clams 19,000 



8 Menhaden 15,200 



9 Flatfish 13,600 



10 Haddock 10,500 



Total 337,314 



1 The crab landings include the king crab, which is not an estuarine-dependent species. 



Sources: Charles H. Lyies, "Fisheries of the United States * * * 1965," Stat. Dig, 59 (April 1966), p. 4. Charles H. Lyies, 

 'Fisheries of the United States • * * 1967," C.F.S. No. 4700 (April 1968), p. 4. 



42-847 O— 7C 



