Deep Declines in RI Fishing Industry - See the Numbers

Sales from Catches

2006 to 2010 Change

Reduction: $38.1 million

Percent Change: 38.6%

2006 sales: $98.5 million

2010 sales: $60.4 million

Last year sales were below $60 million: 1982

1982 sales adjusted for inflation: $126 million

Source: Cornell University Cooperative Extension Marine Program

Photo: Flickr/kamsky

State-Licensed Boats

2005 to 2011 Change

Decline in # of Licensed Vessels: 190

Percent Change: -12.7%

Number of State-Licensed Vessels

2005: 1,488

2011: 1,298

Source: Cornell University Cooperative Extension Marine Program

State Licenses Issued

Multi-purpose License

2006 to 2011 Change

Decline in # of Licenses: 150

Percent change: -14.7%

Number of State Licenses Issued By Year

2006: 1,017

2007: 973

2008: 939

2009: 917

2010: 887

2011: 867

Source: Cornell University Cooperative Extension Marine Program

Photo: Flickt/Eric Molina

Federally-Licensed Boats

Decline in # of Licensed Vessels: 8

Percent Change: -2.1%

Number of Federally-Licensed Boats

2005: 367

2010: 359

Source: Cornell University Cooperative Extension Marine Program

Photo: Flickr/James Brooks

Groundfishing Vessels '09

Point Judith Total: 32

Rhode Island Total: 60

Connecticut Total: 8

Massachusetts Total: 312

Northeast Total: 570

Note: Groundfish are those that dwell on the bottom of the sea. They include fish such as cod, halibut, haddock, and flounder. The Northeast includes the coastal New England states along with New York and New Jersey. Only those vessels that had revenue from at least one groundfish trip are counted.

Source: NOAA

Photo: Flickr/Liz West

Groundfishing Vessels '11

Point Judith Total: 28

Rhode Island Total: 49

Connecticut Total: 5

Massachusetts Total: 224

Northeast Total: 420

Note: Groundfish are those that dwell on the bottom of the sea. They include fish such as cod, halibut, haddock, and flounder. The Northeast includes the coastal New England states along with New York and New Jersey. Only those vessels that had revenue from at least one groundfish trip are counted.

Source: NOAA

Photo: Flickr/bob19156

Groundfishing Vessels % Decline

% Change 2009-20011

Point Judith: -12.5%

Rhode Island: -18.3%

Connecticut: -37.5%

Massachusetts: -28.2%

Northeast Total: -26.3%

Note: Groundfish are those that dwell on the bottom of the sea. They include fish such as cod, halibut, haddock, and flounder. The Northeast includes the coastal New England states along with New York and New Jersey. Only those vessels that had revenue from at least one groundfish trip are counted.

Source: GoLocalProv analysis of NOAA data.

Photo: Flick/NickSarebi

Groundfishing Value

Change 2007 to 2010: -$7.8 million

Percent Change 2007 to 2010: -22.4%

Values by Year

2007: $34.7 million

2008: $30.8 million

2009: $23.5 million

2010: $26.9 million

Note: Above data is for groundfishing by permitted vessels which are home-ported in Rhode Island. Annual data corresponds to the fishing year, which is from May 1 of one calendar year to April 30 of the next.

Source: Cornell University Cooperative Extension Marine Program

Photo: Flickr/BrianPocius

Groundfishing Jobs

Change 2007 to 2010: -48

Percent Change 2007 to 2010: -15.9%

Number of Crew Positions by Year

2007: 301

2008: 278

2009: 268

2010: 253

Note: Data above are the totals for the Rhode Island home-ported vessels engaged in groundfishing. Annual data corresponds to the fishing year, which is from May 1 of one calendar year to April 30 of the next.

Source: Cornell University Cooperative Extension Marine Program

Photo: Flickr/Ted Kerwin

Groundfishing Trips

Change 2007 to 2010: -3,492

Percent Change 2007 to 2010: -21.3%

Number of Crew Positions by Year

2007: 16,353

2008: 14,515

2009: 13,676

2010: 12,861

Note: Crew trips provide an indicator of changes in earnings, as crew members are typically paid per trip. A decline in trips corresponds to a decline in opportunities to share in trip earnings. Data above are the totals for the Rhode Island home-ported vessels engaged in groundfishing. Annual data corresponds to the fishing year, which is from May 1 of one calendar year to April 30 of the next.

Source: Cornell University Cooperative Extension Marine Program

Photo: Flickr/Mike Baird

Fish Sales: Economic Value

Total Contribution in 2010

Sales: $150.3 million

Income: $106.3 million

Jobs: 4,968

Economic Areas Benefitting

Harvesting

Primary Dealers/Processors

Restaurants

Grocers

Note: Data shows the economic contributions of sales from catches that are sold in Rhode Island to the state economy. Complete data over a period of time was not available from the sources used. The data is meant simply to show the importance of the fishing industry to the overall economy.

Source: Cornell University Cooperative Extension Marine Program

Photo: Flickr/vv@ldzen

Fish Sales: Value to Restaurants

Economic Contributions in 2010

Sales: $8.7 million

Income: $5.2 million

Jobs: 2,811

Note: Data shows the economic contributions of sales from catches that are sold in Rhode Island to the state economy. The specific contribution made to the restaurant industry is shown above. Complete data over a period of time was not available from the sources used. The data is meant simply to show the importance of the fishing industry to the overall economy.

Source: Cornell University Cooperative Extension Marine Program

Photo: Flickr/A. Davey

Commercial Fishing: Total Economic Value

Comprehensive Estimate of Commercial Fishing’s Total Contribution to RI Economy in 2010

Sales: $763.3 million

Income: $239.9 million

Jobs: 8,995

Note: Data shows the total contribution the commercial fishing industry makes to the Rhode Island economy. Complete data over a period of time was not available from the sources used. The data is meant simply to show the importance of the fishing industry to the overall economy.

Source: Cornell University Cooperative Extension Marine Program

Commercial Fishing: Value to Restaurants

Comprehensive Estimate of Commercial Fishing’s Total Contribution to the Restaurant Industry in 2010

Sales: $34.9 million

Income: $57.6 million

Jobs: 2,811

Note: Data shows the total contribution the commercial fishing industry makes to the Rhode Island economy. Above, the specific contribution the commercial fishing industry makes to the restaurant industry is shown. Complete data over a period of time was not available from the sources used. The data is meant simply to show the importance of the fishing industry to the overall economy.

Source: Cornell University Cooperative Extension Marine Program

RI Seafood Industry Job Decline

Seafood Commercial Establishments and Employees

Change from 2005 to 2008

Change in # Establishments: -6

Change in # Employees: -63

Changes in Jobs by Year

2005: 714

2006: 646

2007: 602

2008: 651

Source: Cornell University Cooperative Extension Marine Program