U.S. fishermen landed 40.6 million pounds (18,416 metric tons – MT) of bay and sea scallops, valued at USD 488 million (EUR 416.2 million) last year. In volume terms, the catch was up 4.8 million pounds (2,177 MT) or 13 percent compared with 2015, while the value represented an increase of 11 percent or USD 47.6 million (EUR 40.6 million), according to NOAA Fisheries’ report, Fisheries of the United States 2016.
Last year’s average ex-vessel price of scallop meat fell to USD 12.02 (EUR 10.25) per pound from 2015’s average of USD 12.30 (EUR 10.49).
The bay scallop landings totaled 97,000 pounds (44 MT) valued at USD 2 million (EUR 1.7 million), representing decreases of 5 percent and 24 percent respectively. The average ex-vessel price per pound of meat dropped from USD 25.12 (EUR 21.42) in 2015 to USD 20.10 (EUR 17.14) last year.
Meanwhile, U.S. sea scallop landings totaled 40.5 million pounds (18,370 MT) with a value of USD 486.1 million (EUR 414.6 million) last year.
Massachusetts and New Jersey were the leading states in landings of sea scallops with nearly 22.9 million pounds (10,387 MT) and 10.5 million pounds (4,763 MT) of meat respectively, representing 82 percent of the national total.
The average ex-vessel price per pound of sea scallop meat in 2016 was USD 12 (EUR 10.23), compared with USD 12.26 (EUR 10.45) in 2015.
Growth was also seen in U.S. oyster landings last year with the sector supplying 33.3 million pounds (15,105 MT) of the shellfish with a first-sale value of USD 217.2 million (EUR 185.2 million). This volume was 21 percent more than in 2015, while the value was up 2 percent.
The Gulf region led U.S. oyster production with close to 14.6 million pounds (6,622 MT) of meat or 44 percent of the national total, followed by the Pacific Coast with almost 7.5 million pounds (3,402 MT) and the South Atlantic region with nearly 5.5 million pounds (2,495 MT).
Last year’s average ex-vessel price of oyster meat was USD 6.52 (EUR 5.56) per pound, down from USD 7.76 (EUR 6.62) in 2015.
