Commercial Fishing Industry Profile

The US commercial fishing industry includes about 2,000 companies with combined annual revenue of $4 billion. No major companies dominate the industry, which is highly fragmented.

The commercial fishing industry includes the wild catching of finfish, shellfish, and other marine products from their natural habitat. Seafood processing and distribution and fish farming (aquaculture) are covered in separate industry profiles.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by domestic trends in fish consumption and competition from imports. The profitability of individual companies depends on maximizing yield without depleting stocks. Industrial fisheries have advantages in fleet size and access to experienced crew members. Small-scale and “artisan” fisheries can compete effectively by serving a local market or by specializing in ultra-fresh fish.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Industry revenue is evenly split between shellfish and finfish. Major shellfish products are crab, shrimp, lobster, and scallops (each with about 10 percent of industry revenue). Major finfish products include Alaskan pollock, salmon, halibut, and cod.

The term "fishery" can refer to a commercial fishing operation and to a region home to a large population of a specific fish; for example, the Alaskan pollock fishery.

The US lands 8 billion pounds of fish and shellfish annually, around 5 percent of the world’s total. The US Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the federal territory that extends 200 miles offshore, accounts for the majority of US landings. Landings from three to 200 miles offshore represent 70 percent of total ...