Oregon’s Commercial Fishing Booms in 2008

Oregon's commercial fishing industry had a great year in 2008. Total landings and revenue were the third highest since 1980. Gains in pink shrimp and groundfish (bottomfish) harvests led the way. The pink shrimp harvest more than doubled from 2007 to 48 million pounds and the groundfish harvest shot up from 30 million pounds in 2007 to 80 million in 2008.

Crab harvests in 2008 were down to a more typical level from recent record highs, and the sardine harvest declined to about half its high point of 2005. The closure of part of the salmon grounds resulted in a harvest of only 1.9 million pounds - about half its average level since 2000 - although higher prices kept the value of the salmon fishery greater than it was for most of the 1990s. The landed value of all fish in 2008 dollars increased from about $100 million in 2007 to $143 million in 2008

Estimated employment in commercial fishing seems to have increased a bit in 2008, to 1,619 from 1,557 in 2007. Although the number of fishing vessels is declining, fishing is generating more revenue per boat and is probably becoming a higher-paying occupation.

In addition to direct employment, commercial fishing provides the resource for processors. There were 28 seafood processors in Oregon in 2008, about the same number as the previous year. Their average annual employment was 1,063. Some ports, such as Florence and Reedsport, have fish buyers who now transport the harvest to be processed elsewhere.

Read the full report, by Regional Economist Erik Knoder, to learn more about the fishing industry and its impact on Oregon's coastal communities.