Commercial Fishing

The 2,627 commercial fishing operations in the US harvest fish and shellfish from their natural habitats in fresh water, tidal areas, rivers, and oceans. The approximately 300 target species vary by region and require differing methods, vessels, and equipment for their catch. Imports currently represent about 80% of US consumption of fish and shellfish.

Hazardous Weather

Fishing is a seasonal occupation and catch is highest during the summer and fall, as winter fishing is particularly hazardous.

Overfishing

Overfishing occurs when a stock has a harvest rate higher than the rate that produces its maximum sustainable yield.

Jul 27, 2026 - Trump Moves to Cut Commercial Fishing Regulations

• In July, the Trump administration announced a broad effort to reduce regulations affecting the US commercial fishing industry, including plans to reopen portions of New England's Georges Bank to scallop fishing and review fishing restrictions, permit policies, catch accountability measures, and management boundaries nationwide, Reuters reports. The federal initiative aims to boost domestic seafood production, improve access to productive fishing grounds, and strengthen the competitiveness of America's $320 billion seafood industry. If implemented, the changes could increase harvest opportunities and revenues for commercial fishermen, processors, and seafood suppliers. However, the proposals are expected to face scrutiny from regional fishery managers and conservation groups concerned that easing restrictions could threaten long-term fish stock sustainability, particularly in historically overfished areas such as Georges Bank, according to Reuters.
• New research from the University of Maine finds consumers would pay an average of $3.42 more for a lobster roll made with lobster caught using ropeless fishing gear designed to reduce North Atlantic right whale entanglements, suggesting a potential market premium for sustainably harvested seafood, National Fisherman reports. The study lands amid an ongoing and contentious debate over whether the gear is safe or practical for working fishermen. Maine's lobster industry, which supplies about 90% of US lobster, continues to oppose widespread adoption because of safety, cost, and operational concerns. Industry groups estimate a fleet-wide transition would cost at least $45 million and warn it could accelerate consolidation among commercial fishing businesses. The findings highlight growing consumer demand for environmentally responsible seafood but underscore the financial and practical challenges commercial fishers face as regulators, conservation groups, and the commercial fishing industry balance whale protection with maintaining profitable fishing operations.
• Louisiana's crawfish industry is struggling with labor shortages after delays and limits in the federal H-2B guest worker visa program left many processors without seasonal foreign workers during the peak spring crawfish season, Food Manufacturing reports. The $300 million industry relies heavily on workers from Mexico and Central America to peel and package crawfish, jobs producers say local workers are unwilling to fill. At least 15 of Louisiana's 20 major crawfish processors reportedly received no guest workers this season, creating production bottlenecks and threatening higher crawfish prices for restaurants, retailers, and consumers. Operators warn the labor shortage could reduce product availability, disrupt seafood supply chains, and hurt profitability even if additional visas are approved later in the season. Louisiana's labor shortage adds to the list of US industries that rely on seasonal foreign labor and are feeling the pinch of the Trump administration's clampdown on legal avenues for immigration.
• Growing pressure to ban bottom trawling in waters off Alaska could significantly reshape the commercial fishing industry there, National Fisherman reports. More than 5,000 residents are urging federal action, citing concerns that industrial trawling causes high bycatch, including salmon, halibut, and crab, which are critical to many fisheries. For commercial fishers, especially smaller and subsistence fisheries, a ban could improve fish stock health and long-term sustainability, potentially reopening restricted fisheries and supporting more stable harvests. Many fishermen argue current practices are inequitable, as smaller fisheries face strict limits while trawlers continue operating with high bycatch levels. However, a ban would likely disrupt trawl fleets targeting species like pollock, forcing operational changes or reducing output in that segment. Overall, the issue reflects a broader industry shift toward balancing industrial fishing efficiency with conservation, with potential economic trade-offs between large-scale operators and smaller, community-based fisheries.

Industry size & Structure

The average commercial fishing company employs 2 workers and generates nearly $1 million in annual revenue.

• There are about 2,627 companies in commercial fishing, with about 5,344 people employed as commercial harvesters, according to NOAA Fisheries.

• Companies in commercial fishing vary in size, from small vessel and family operations that operate as a fishing community to local and regional markets to large corporate fleets that supply regional, national, and export markets.

• Total annual revenue or "landings value" for commercial fishers ranges from $8-9 billion.

• The largest firms are typically integrated, moving from managing their own fishing fleet to processing and distribution. These firms include: Nissui USA (formerly Nippon Suisan Kaisha USA), Tri Marine International, and Trident Seafoods Corp.

• Eight regional fishery management councils under NOAA oversee about 45 fishery management plans that control approximately 492 major fish stocks, making up over 90% of annual revenue.

• Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and New Bedford, Massachusetts, are the top ports in value and volume of commercial landings, according to NOAA Fisheries.

• The three species with the highest landings value are salmon ($827 million), lobster ($581 million), and crab ($570 million).