History and Condition of Food Finfisheries in the Middle Atlantic Region Compared with other Sections of the Coast

Abstract

Abstract The five principal food finfishes that made up more than 50% of the total catch of food finfishes in the Middle Atlantic region, from New York to Virginia, about 25 years ago were: Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus), weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), scup (Stenotomus chrysops), summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), and black sea bass (Centropristis striata). Of these, only black sea bass had not clearly declined in abundance up to that time. Subsequently, the Middle Atlantic region has shown the greatest proportional decline in landings and their total value of any coastal region of the United States, except for the Great Lakes. From 1929 to 1983, 16 different species ranked among the top five by weight. Whereas abundance of many species changed from natural causes, the major species also suffered from overfishing. In their place, new species of lesser value such as silver hake (Merluccius bilinearis) have been harvested more effectively. Even with these additional species the total catch ...