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.

Sep 27, 2026 - NC Appeals Ruling Over Fisheries Management

• North Carolina's commercial fishing industry faces continued regulatory uncertainty as the state appeals a court ruling that found it failed to adequately manage and protect coastal fisheries, National Fisherman reports. The lawsuit challenges practices including shrimp trawling, unattended gillnetting, overfishing, and gaps in commercial harvest reporting. The August ruling does not immediately restrict fishing activity, but future court-ordered remedies could lead to tighter rules on fishing gear, harvests, reporting, or access to certain waters. Such changes could raise operating costs or reduce fishing opportunities for shrimpers and other commercial fishermen. At the same time, stronger management and better data collection could support the long-term health of fish stocks that commercial operators depend on. The state's appeal could delay any major changes while the courts determine what fisheries management actions, if any, are required.
• A proposed federal bycatch law could change how Alaska commercial trawlers operate and increase equipment and operating costs, Alaska Public Media reports. The Bycatch Reduction Act, which advanced from the Senate Commerce Committee on September 16, would establish standards aimed at reducing salmon, halibut, and other bycatch and limiting trawl-net contact with the seafloor. It would also require measures such as salmon excluder devices and expand research, monitoring, and testing of new fishing gear. Supporters say the changes could protect fish stocks and habitat, potentially benefiting commercial fishermen targeting salmon, halibut, crab, and other species. Pollock industry groups warn that moving trawl nets higher in the water could increase salmon encounters and require vessels to fish longer, raising fuel use and operating costs. The bill has advanced from committee but has not become law.
• 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.

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).