DUTCH HARBOR-UNALASKA, ALASKA, AND NEW BEDFORD, MASS., LAND TOP U.S. FISHING PORTS RANKINGS FOR 2004

Nov. 14, 2005 — Commercial fishermen unloaded 886.4 million pounds of fish and shellfish at the port of Dutch Harbor-Unalaska, Alaska, last year, making it the country's top port for landings in 2004, the NOAA Fisheries Service announced today. The port of New Bedford, Mass., claimed the top spot for value of landings, bringing in $206.5 million in 2004. The total domestic commercial landings for 2004 were 9.6 billion pounds, valued at $3.7 billion dollars. (Click NOAA image for larger view of Dutch Harbor in Unalaska Island, Alaska. Click here for high resolution version. Please credit “NOAA.”)

(Click here for table of top 10 commercial fishery landings at major U.S. ports, 2003-2004. [PDF])

This is the 16th consecutive year that Dutch Harbor-Unalaska has held the top landings
position, according to the NOAA Fisheries Service. Total fish and shellfish landings there were down 21.7 million pounds from the record 2003 level of 908.7 million pounds, due to a decrease in groundfish catch.

Reedville, Va., moved into the number two position with 400.5 million pounds, up from
375.3 million pounds in 2003. Empire-Venice, La., fell to third at 379.0 million pounds, down from 400 million pounds in 2003.

The value of landings at New Bedford was up $30.3 million from 2003, due to a 35
percent increase in sea scallop catch. This was the fifth year in a row that the dollar value of landings at New Bedford increased.

Dutch Harbor-Unalaska was ranked second in value of landings at $155.0 million, a
decrease of $1.9 million from 2003. Hampton Roads Area, Va., brought in $100.6 million in 2004, an increase of $21.6 million, landing the third-highest value spot.

The port of Dutch Harbor-Unalaska holds the records for both quantity and value of
landings. In 2003, commercial fishermen there caught 908.7 million pounds of fish and shellfish. The record for value was set in 1994, when the port raked in $224.1 million from landings.

The NOAA Fisheries Service is dedicated to protecting and preserving the nation's living marine resources and their habitat through scientific research, management and enforcement. The NOAA Fisheries Service provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public.

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Relevant Web Sites
NOAA Fisheries Service

Media Contact:
Alicia Pimental or Susan Buchanan, NOAA Fisheries Service, (301) 713-2370