More fish, less shrimp and crabs caught in North Carolina last year

Landings of commercial seafood dropped last year in North Carolina, as a larger finfish catch couldn't make up for declines in shrimp and crab, according to a state report released today.

Commercial fishermen landed 68.6 million pounds in 2009, about 4 percent less than the year before, according to the state Division of Marine Fisheries. The value of the commercial catch dropped 11 percent, to $77 million.

The most notable decline was in the shrimp harvest, down 43 percent to 5.4 million pounds. State officials say weather, market conditions and the price of gasoline were all factors in reducing shrimp landings.

Landings of finfish increased 17 percent, led by larger catches of spiny dogfish and bluefish.

Blue crab continued to top the list of commercial seafood landed in the state, at 28.8 million pounds, followed by croaker at 6.1 million pounds.

Recreational fishermen caught 13.6 million pounds of marine fish in 2009, down 15 percent from the year before. Dolphin fish was the most common species caught.