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MISSISSIPPI MARKETMAKER NEWSLETTER

Trend analysis of data from 2000 to 2023 shows that the number of licenses sold to saltwater recreational fishing mostly declined after major disaster events such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Bonnet Carre Spillway openings in 2011 and 2019, and the and the COVID-19 global pandemic. These disasters severely impacted the number of shrimp and oyster recreational fishermen and have not recovered to pre-disaster levels. Mean-difference analysis showed the direct losses in the number of licenses sold, averaging about 280 saltwater sport fishermen annually from 2019 to 2023, representing almost three out of ten fishermen. Fewer saltwater fishermen were harvesting crab, shrimps, and oyster for their own consumption. Each recreational fishing license not sold implies lesser purchases of fuel, food and drinks, fishing gear, bait, and other fishing-related expenditures.

Direct losses were observed in the total number of vessel licenses sold from 2019 to 2023 as compared to the benchmark means. Direct losses were observed on the number of vessel licenses sold to crab, shrimp, oyster, and hook and line vessels. Severe impacts have been observed on the shrimp and oyster fishing fleets which have not recovered to pre-disaster levels. The total direct losses in licenses sold averaged more than 400 vessels per year from 2019 to 2023, representing about 31 percent of the commercial fleet. Each license not sold implies that one fishing vessel is removed from commercial fishing. One captain and at least one crew are out of work and unable to provide the means to support their households.

Total Mississippi saltwater fishing trips decreased by 8% and 7% in 2019 and 2020. No losses in total fishing trips were observed in 2021 and 2022. The number of trips made by Mississippi charter boats for hire fell about 15%, 62%, 47%, and 51% in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively. The Mississippi private boat saltwater fishing trips decreased by about 13%, 8%, and 3% in 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. The Mississippi saltwater shore fishing trips decreased by 6% and 5% in 2019 and 2020.

The Mississippi seafood processing produced $108.2 million in total sales impacts, contributing 0.62% of the U.S. seafood processing industry. The seafood processing industry created 1,451 jobs in Mississippi, adding 1.14% to the U.S. seafood processing industry.

The Mississippi commercial fishing industry produced about $78 million in total sales impacts in 2022. The Mississippi commercial fishing industry created 1,646 jobs in 2022.