US commercial fishing revenue fell to $4.9 billion in 2024, down 3.6% year on year

The latest edition of the "Fisheries of the United States" report from NOAA Fisheries shows that US commercial fishermen landed a total of 3.5 million metric tons of seafood in 2024, valued at $4.9 billion (€4.4 billion). Compared with 2023, landing revenue fell 3.6%, and landings by weight decreased 9.2%.

Even as total volume declined, unit prices rose. The average ex-vessel price received by commercial fishermen in 2024 was $0.64 per pound (€0.57), up 6.7% from the previous year.

By species or species group, the highest landing values in 2024 were, in order: lobster at $776.4 million (€693.7 million), crabs at $694.4 million (€620.4 million), walleye pollock at $432.5 million (€386.4 million), salmon at $394.1 million (€352 million), and scallops at $332 million (€296.6 million).

By weight, the species with the highest landings were, in order: walleye pollock at 3.1 billion pounds, menhaden at 1.2 billion pounds, salmon at 421.2 million pounds, Pacific cod at 373.9 million pounds, and Pacific whiting at 316.5 million pounds.

By major category, finfish remained the largest component of landings by weight, accounting for 88% of all landings in 2024.

The report also provides aquaculture data: US aquaculture production was valued at $1.6 billion (€1.4 billion) in 2024.

On trade, the United States imported 6.4 billion pounds of seafood in 2024, valued at $25 billion (€22.3 billion); it exported 2.3 billion pounds of seafood, valued at $4.4 billion. The trade deficit was $20.6 billion (€18.4 billion), narrowing 1.4% from the previous year. By value, the largest single imported item was shrimp, accounting for 24% of all edible imports; the largest single export item was whole lobster.

NOAA Fisheries' companion report, "Fisheries Economics of the United States," shows that the US commercial seafood industry supported 1 million full-time and part-time jobs in 2024, a slight decrease from 2023 but down 20.7% from 2022.