While still below the highs of the 1950s and early 1960s, Atlantic herring landings by commercial fishermen have been relatively consistent since the early 1990s in a range of 75 to 95 million pounds. More Videos! facebook Since 2002 the total value of the landings has increased substantially. In the same period herring was returning…
After almost forty years of basically flat lobster landings at about 20,000,000 pounds, the catch has trended upward since 1990. While the value has increased consistently in current dollars, its rate of increased accelerated with higher catch figures. Landings vary by location: counties, towns, and specific ports. YEAR POUNDS POUNDS (millions) VALUE PRICE/LB 1950 18,352,600…
Lobster landings occur all along Maine’s long coastline. Stonington in Hancock County is by far the port receiving the largest amount and value of this commercial fishery. Lobster’s $435 million plus ex-vessel value accounted for 77% of the total value of commercial fish landings in 2011. Historical landings have increased substantially in recent years. The…
Historically Lobsters, now a major factor in Maine’s commercial fisheries, were once so plentiful that Native Americans used them to fertilize fields and to bait fish hooks. According to Colin Woodward, in 1608 with the Popham Colony failing, Lobsters were everywhere. On their way to the Kennebec, Raleigh Gilbert’s men caught fifty lobsters “of great…
Mahogany Quahog (also known as “mahogany clams” or “hardshell clams”) harvests by commercial fishermen, in recent times, peaked in 1986. A drop in the mid-1990s recovered for about ten years, then dipped to about $2.5 million in recent years. Since the early 1990s, the price per pound has averaged about $.40, ranging from $.30 to…
Commercial fishermen who harvest monkfish, also known as American goosefish, have had substantial landings for most of the period 1974 through 2011. However, the recent rapid decline since the peak in 2005 is troubling and may signal several year of closure unless the resource rebounds. As usual, prices per pound rise with declining landings. They…
Harvesting Northern Quahogs by commercial fishermen has been a rocky business over the period for which data is available. (Gaps are related to quota regulations to protect the resource.) Otherwise known as “hard clams,” these shellfish are sometimes completely absent from the harvest rolls, sometimes overflowing. Until the year 2001, the price per pound only…
Historically low periwinkle harvests by commercial fishermen (averaging about 118,000 pounds per year) suddenly spiked in 1989 to 3.8 million pounds, then crashed to a level after 1993 of averaging about 616,000 pounds. The decade ending 2016 rebounded to an average of 852,041. In a narrow range of 6 to 8 cents a pound from 1950…
Scallop landing by commercial fishermen spiked in 1961 and in 1991, followed in each case by years of reduced landings. Total value was low from 1950 through 1970, regardless of the volume of meat obtained. Since 1970 total value has generally followed the trend of the landings. Price per pound has remained above $5.00 since…
Despite an increasing tonnage of shrimp landings by commercial fishermen in recent years, the 2013 season will feature a landing quota equal to about 25% of the 2012 season’s landings. Historically the shrimp populations have varied substantially. Marine scientists believe that the resource is again under pressure with the threat of another population decline. …
`Do you know why it’s called a whiting?’ [said the Gryphon] `I never thought about it,’ said Alice. `Why?’ `It does the boots and shoes.’ the Gryphon replied very solemnly. Alice was thoroughly puzzled. `Does the boots and shoes!’ she repeated in a wondering tone. `Why, what are your shoes done with?’ said the Gryphon. `I mean, what…
Since 1973 the commercial fishery for skate had two, short lived, peaks. It has yet to recover from the decline that began in 1995. The return had been modest at best, reaching $.25 per pound briefly. No landings were recorded from 2006 to 2009, and 2011-2016. YEAR POUNDS VALUE PRICE/LB 1973 3,320 $268 $0.08…
Tidal flats are a substantial resource harboring a variety of species, including clams, quahogs, marine worms, lobster larvae, and crabs. These resources are endangered by polluted water runoff from residential and commercial activities. The video clip below shows clam survey activity and small crabs scampering under an incoming tide during an educational event in 2012.…
The following indicates the total value of all landings from commercial fisheries in Maine. It includes shellfish as well as fin fish. Since about 1975, the rate of change in current dollars has increased, especially since 1990. YEAR TOTAL 1950 $13,781,792 1951 $14,757,348 1952 $17,034,440 1953 $16,036,300 1954 $16,187,634 1955 $15,323,204 1956 $16,397,465 1957 $16,008,084…
Once little exploited by commercial fishermen, urchin harvesting began in earnest in the mid-1980s. After reaching a peak in 1993, harvests declined to less than one-tenth of that in the peak year, with the total value falling in step. As urchins became scarce, the price per pound has tripled from the peak harvest year of…
From 1950 through 2005, commercial fishermen have taken an average of 4.5 million pounds of white hake per year. Since 2005 that average has dropped to 1 million pounds, lower than any other period since 1950. Begginning in 1985 the price per pound value of these fish began to increase so that current prices are…
The boom and bust cycle of winter flounder landings by commercial fishermen has “busted” after a peak in 1982. With the scarcity, price per pound had been climbing until the fishery was closed in 2007. No landings have been recorded since then. According to NOAA’s FishWatch program, Heavy fishing pressure and habitat destruction caused winter…
Commercial fishermen are landing fewer pounds of Witch Flounder than ever since 1950. Very high unusual landings in the 1980s have been followed by a severe decline that has practically eliminated the fishery. In response, the price per pound has doubled since the 1980s. YEAR POUNDS VALUE PRICE/LB 1950 1,207,900 $62,872 $0.05 1951 1,634,700 $105,900…
After declining from 1950 to 1977, landings spiked then crashed with a consistent decline until the fishery was suspended in 2010. No landings have been recorded through 2016. During the decline in landings and total value, the price per pound continued to rise. In the deep ocean waters off New England’s coast lives one of…
This species of the commercial fishery has a post-1950 history familiar to many others: moderate or low production, then a spike with several years of substantial landings, then a crash followed by a forced closure to rebuild the stock. It appears that once the good landings created a wide market, the price per pound moved…