The state seafood landing report was released Tuesday, a day after a national study said the effects of three hurricanes and record flooding would linger a long time in Pamlico Sound. Pamlico Sound is a major nursery for seafood on the East Coast and North Carolina leads the nation in crab production.
Blue crabs are the most lucrative catch for North Carolina commercial fishermen.
The decline in crab harvest pushed the entire commercial harvest to its second lowest poundage levels in 27 years. Marine fisheries officials said the annual seafood harvest fluctuates with changes in fish stocks, regulations, market conditions and weather. Harvests of other fish were consistent with previous years. Recreational fishermen had their largest catch in 12 years, about 21.2 million pounds, that included record amounts of yellowfin tuna, dolphin and southern flounder. The drop in the blue crab harvest was especially evident in areas that caught flood waters from Hurricanes Dennis, Floyd and Irene in 1999.