2013 North Carolina Seafood Statistics

In 2013, North Carolina Commercial fishermen brought in 50 million pounds of fish and shellfish with a dockside value of $79 million, according to the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Trip Ticket Program.

Commercial fishermen in the state landed 21 million pounds of hard blue crabs worth $26.4 million in 2013.

Shrimp was the second most valuable product with landings of 4.9 million pounds and a dockside value of $13 million.

Rounding out the top 5 most valuable species were spiny dogfish (3 million pounds and $302,248), southern flounder (2.2 million pounds and $5.6 million) and Atlantic croaker (1.9 million pounds and $1.7 million).

Commercial finfish landings totaled 22 million pounds in 2013.

Shellfish landings totaled 28 million pounds.

Oyster harvests increased by 33 percent, including a notable increase in landings from the Pamlico Sound.

source: N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries

South Carolina Shrimp Season

Consumers in South Carolina may find greater quantities of fresh local shrimp during the month of May.

NOAA Fisheries recently announced that federal waters within 25 nautical miles of the federal-state water boundary off South Carolina will reopen to fishing for brown, pink, and white shrimp at 12:01 a.m. May 1, 2014. South Carolina state waters will remain closed until the state determines an appropriate reopening date. 

The initial closure was implemented at the request of the state of South Carolina after a prolonged period of cold weather.

source: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council