Introduction
Seafood and fishing has been part of the Gulf of Mexico’s long, rich history. The intricate web of bays, bayous, inlets, tidal rivers and islands along the Gulf coast provides 17, 141 miles of total shoreline. This extensive coastal habitat and the warm subtropical waters of the Gulf are responsible for some of the world’s most highly productive fisheries. This bounty of natural resources is vital to communities across the Gulf States.
The Gulf of Mexico is the second largest area of landings in the U.S., second only to Alaska. In 2013, 1.1 billion pounds of fish were landed with a dockside value of a little over $1 billion. The economic impact of commercial fisheries extends beyond just landings to the processors, dealers, retailers, restaurateurs that transport seafood from the ocean to our plate.