The value of the U.S. state of Maine’s commercial fisheries hit an all-time high in 2021, earning over USD 890 million (EUR 845 million) in the year and rebounding strongly from 2020.
The value total, released by the Maine Department of Marine Resources, represents a dramatic USD 366 million (EUR 347 million) increase from the USD 524 million (EUR 497 million) earned in 2020. It also surpasses the previous record of USD 733 million (EUR 696 million) set in 2016 by over USD 150 million (EUR 142 million).
"The hard work of Maine fishermen, aquaculturists, and dealers once again resulted in tremendous economic benefit for our state," Maine Governor Janet Mills said in a release. "On the heels of a global pandemic that has challenged every link in the supply chain, the men and women who harvest, cultivate, process, and sell seafood from Maine continue to ensure that the highest-quality products find their way to market."
Maine's lobster haul alone nearly brought in USD 730.5 million (EUR 693 million) in 2021. The year's catch exceeded 108 million pounds and fishermen received an average price-per-pound at the dock of USD 6.71 (EUR 6.37), nearly USD 2.50 (EUR 2.37) more per pound than they received in 2020.
Maine's second-most valuable fishery was soft-shell clams, with harvesters earning more than USD 25 million (EUR 23 million) on a harvest of 7.5 million pounds.
Maine's elver fishery brought in USD 16.6 million (EUR 15.7 million) in 2021, a dramatic increase from 2020, when the fishery earned just USD 5 million (EUR 4.7 million), despite higher landings. The increase was due to a significant jump in average price, which increased from USD 525 (EUR 498) in 2020 to USD 1,831 (EUR 1,739) in 2021.
Maine-grown oysters saw a more modest price increase of USD 0.12 (EUR 0.11) per pound, but still saw a USD 4 million (EUR 3.7 million) increase in value to USD 10 million (EUR 9.4 million) with a total harvest of 6.2 million pounds. That value made it the fourth-most valuable seafood product in the state in 2021.
Maine's menhaden catch also saw an increase in value, totaling USD 9.5 million (EUR 9 million)in 2021, making it the fifth-most valuable seafood product for the state. Scallops which saw a per-pound value increase of 51 percent and earned USD 8.3 million (EUR 7.8 million) for the state's fishermen.
"The consistent increase in per-pound value is a reflection of strong demand for the products harvested here in Maine's coastal waters," Maine DMR Commissioner Patrick Keliher said. "This industry has once again proven that dedication to quality pays off, and that the best seafood in the world comes from Maine."
Photo courtesy of Kate Sfeir/Shutterstock
