US seafood catch reaches 17-year high

By Associated Press

PORTLAND, Maine — The U.S. seafood catch reached a 17-year high in 2011, with all regions of the country showing increases in both the volume and value of their harvests.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Wednesday that commercial fishermen last year caught 10.1 billion pounds of fish and shellfish valued at $5.3 billion. That’s a 23 percent increase in volume and a 17 percent increase in value over 2010.

New Bedford had the highest-valued catch for the 12th straight year, due largely to its scallop fishery. Dutch Harbor, Alaska, was the No. 1 port for seafood volume.

Alaska led all states in catch volume, followed by Louisiana, California, Virginia, and Washington. Alaska was also tops in the value of its catch, followed by Massachusetts, Maine, Louisiana, and Washington.