New Bedford Was Nation’s No. 1 Fishing Port in 1987

A scallop boom helped make New Bedford, Mass., the nation’s richest fishing port last year, while problems in the shrimp industry led to a poorer year for gulf ports, government and industry officials said Monday.

New Bedford led with catches valued at $143.7 million, up nearly 36% from $106 million in 1986, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The 1987 figure was a record, the agency said.

Lee Weddig, executive vice president of the National Fisheries Institute, a trade association, attributed New Bedford’s big increase to strong scallop harvests and scallop price increases.

Alaskan ports also enjoyed a profitable year. Kodiak was second to New Bedford, with catches valued at $132.1 million, up from $89.8 million.

Weddig said the healthy Pacific Northwest industry benefited from strong salmon and crab harvests and a sharp increase in exports resulting from the fall of the dollar overseas.

Texas and Louisiana ports suffered from decreased shrimp production lower prices that resulted from increasing international competition.

Cameron, La., led the nation for the 10th consecutive year in the amount of fish caught, NOAA reported. Cameron landings rose from 616.8 million pounds to 672.4 million pounds, bringing it nearly back to its 1985 level. The record was 848.2 million pounds landed in Los Angeles in 1960.

While New Bedford enjoyed a robust year, most of the other major New England fishing ports suffered declines in both volume and value, primarily because of decreases in the catch of cod, haddock and flounder.