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National and regional stories, both print and broadcast, about
Pfiesteria piscicida in several rivers in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem have economic effects on the following:
For more information on economics, please contact Dr. Douglas W. Lipton.
Commercial Fishing and Seafood
- Maryland's fish harvest in 1996 was 70.5 million pounds, dominated by blue crab at 38.9 million pounds (55%).
- The total value paid to watermen for Maryland's harvest was $53.6 million in 1996. Blue crab harvest was $33.8 million (63% of the total).
- Value-added to Maryland seafood from processing, wholesaling and retailing is approximately 2.5 times the landed value, so the total economic impact of Maryland's seafood harvest is approximately $134 million.
- The greatest commercial fishing impact from the Pocomoke closure and scare will be due to decreased demand for seafood in general which will result in lower prices paid to watermen and lower sales and profits at seafood stores and restaurants. Baseline data on seafood sales and prices up the marketing chain are not routinely collected, making it difficult to determine the impact except from the anecdotal information from retailers and restaurants.
Recreational Fishing
- Total value to anglers of fishing in Maryland waters was $118.5 million per year. This is loss in value to anglers, not expenditures, that would occur if the entire state were shut down to fishing. This figure does not include losses in profits to businesses supporting angling.
- The value of recreational fishing in Maryland is greatest from July-October, averaging $22 million per month.
- There were 892,784 saltwater fishing trips taken in Maryland in 1996.
- Five percent (5%) of Maryland's fishing trips occur in Somerset County, or roughly, 45,000 trips. The bulk of those trips, however, are made in the July-August period. Roughly 32,000 fishing trips are made during that period.
Somerset County includes fishing in several areas that are not directly affected by the closures on the Pocomoke and Manokin Rivers, including Monie Bay, and Big Annemessey River.
Recreational Boating
- Maryland has approximately 204,000 registered boats.
- Less than one percent (1,682) of registered boats are in Somerset County.
- Total boating expenditures in Maryland were $887 million in 1996.
- Somerset County expenditures were $6.8 million in 1996.
Tourism and Related Business Impacts
- Businesses tied directly to regional recreation and tourism, such as boat and kayak rentals, bait and tackle shops, etc., will feel the losses more than the tourists and anglers who can substitute alternative recreation activities. The lost profits of these firms would be the appropriate measure of the impacts. This information would have to be gathered from special surveys of these firms.
For More Information About The Economic Impacts
Please contact:
Dr. Douglas W. Lipton
Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics
Coordinator and Marine Economic Specialist,
Maryland Sea Grant Extension Program
office: (301) 405-1280
fax: (301) 314-9032
email: dlipton@arec.umd.edu
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