Dutch Harbor tops US fishing ports

The rankings were revealed last week by NOAA Fisheries as part of its popular annual report on U.S. Fisheries. Reedville, Va., followed Dutch Harbor as the No. 2 port for seafood landings; Empire-Venice, La., ranked third. The major product landed in both of those ports is menhaden, used for fish oils and feeds. Kodiak held the No. 4 spot for landings at 320 million pounds.

For the eighth consecutive year, pricey scallops pushed New Bedford, Mass., to the top spot for catch value at $268 million. Dutch Harbor ranked second at $174 million, up $8.9 million. Kodiak was No. 3 with landings valued at $126 million, an increase of $25 million from 2006.

Other Alaska fishing ports making the nation's 2007 top 10 list for seafood values: No. 7 Naknek-King Salmon at $61.8 million, an increase of $10.5 million; No. 8 Seward at $57 million, up $6 million; and No. 10 Sitka at $50.8 million.

Alaska leads the nation in seafood landings at 5.3 billion pounds, more than double the catches of all other states combined. Alaska also leads for seafood values at $1.5 billion annually.

SEAFOOD DIP

Americans ate slightly less seafood last year, reversing a three-year trend. NOAA Fisheries, which has been tracking per capita consumption since 1910, said each American ate 16.3 pounds of seafood on average, down from 16.5 pounds in 2006. The highest laverage was 16.6 pounds per capita in 2004.

But the decrease might not be due to waning interest in or recession-related belt tightening. Market expert John Sackton of Seafood.com points to a downward supply of America's favorite seafood: shrimp.

"Import restrictions on shrimp from China reduced shipments to the United States by nearly 30 percent," Sackton said.

Shrimp imports to the United States were down overall by nearly 6 percent -- 1.2 billion pounds -- last year.

MORE FISH FACTS.

Also from the 2007 report:

U.S. seafood landings totaled 9.2 billion pounds, down 3 percent, valued at $4.1 billion at the docks.

Alaska pollock was the nation's No. 1 catch.

Americans spent $65 billion for seafood products last year.

The U.S. imports nearly 84 percent of its seafood, up from 63 percent a decade ago.

U.S. aquaculture, mostly catfish, meets 5 percent to 7 percent of the nation's seafood demand.

The average price paid to U.S. fishermen in 2007 was 44 cents, compared to 42 cents in 2006.

The "2007 US Fisheries Report" can be found at www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/index.html.

Laine Welch is a Kodiak-based fisheries journalist. Her Fish Radio programs can be heard on stations around the state. Her information column appears Sunday. This material is protected by copyright. For information on reprinting or placing on your Web site or newsletter, contact msfish@alaska.com.