Commercial Fishing
Commercial fishing is a worldwide industry. Commercial fishermen harvest wild fish, crabs, lobsters, shrimp, clams, oysters, mussels, squid and other seafood.
In the United States, the bulk of commercial fishing landings come from Alaska, Washington, Oregon, New England, Virginia, the Carolinas, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Canada's commercial fishing industry is also strong, with much of its seafood harvests coming from B.C on the West Coast and the Canadian Maritimes on the East Coast.
The Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act
The Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 established a U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) between 3 and 200 miles offshore, and created eight regional fishery councils to manage the living marine resources within that area. The bill was amended on October 11, 1996 and re-named the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
The Act was passed principally to address heavy foreign fishing, promote the development of a domestic fleet and link the fishing community more directly to the management process. Each Council was directed to prepare fishery management plans for implementation by the Secretary of Commerce. The eight councils are administered by NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service).
American Seafood Facts
Seafood is generally low in fat, high in protein and nutrients, and high in Omega 3.
Americans now spend over $50 billion a year for fishery products, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
U.S. seafood consumption has exceeds 16 pounds per person per year. Shrimp has been America's favorite seafood since 2001.