NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FROM: Virginia Marine Products Board
554 Denbigh Blvd., Suite B
Newport News, VA 23608
info @ vaseafood.org

CONTACT: Shirley Estes
Executive Director
Tel: 757-874-3474
Fax: 757-886-0671

FACTS ABOUT THE VIRGINIA SEAFOOD INDUSTRY 2007

• The Virginia seafood industry is one of the oldest industries in the United States and one of the Commonwealth's largest. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science reported the annual economic impact to be over one half of a billion dollars.
• Virginia is the nation's fourth largest producer of marine products with total landings of over 426 million pounds in 2006 and is only out paced by Alaska, Washington and Louisiana. The dockside value to watermen alone was $110 million. We also rank as the largest production state on the East Coast. Reedville, VA is the third largest U.S. fishing port based on landings. Hampton Roads was the ninth wealthiest seafood port in the nation.
• Virginia's watermen harvest 50 commercially valuable species from some 620,000 acres of water. Among these traditional species in order of economic value, are sea scallops, blue crabs, striped bass, summer flounder, croaker, spot and clams. Watermen are also harvesting more non-traditional products for the international market such as eel, conch, monkfish, and Chesapeake ray.
• Continued growth of the shellfish aquaculture industry in Virginia has added significant value to the state's seafood marketplace. Virginia's watermen-farmers are providing consumers with a growing quantity of hard clams and oysters that represents $30,950,000 dockside value.
• According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Virginia ranked number eight in the United States based on economic value of aquaculture. Virginia's clam farms lead the nation in the culture of hard clams and growth continues in both clam and oyster aquaculture with over 410 licensed aquaculturist in the state.
• Virginia is home to over 158 seafood companies. Approximately 3,200 Virginians work on the water as licensed watermen, mates and helpers.
• The total industry provided approximately 11,000 full and part-time jobs for Virginians.
• Virginia commercial watermen annually harvest enough seafood to produce over 123,000,000 meals.
• Ninety percent of the seafood harvested in Virginia is harvested by day boats. Fish and shellfish are harvested, processed and shipped within 24 hours to domestic and international markets.
• Based on the College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science research, forty-five counties and cities in Virginia have substantial economic dependency on the seafood industry.
• According to Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service's statistics, Virginia seafood exports totaled $33 million in 2006 to 71 countries, an increase of over 61% from 2001. The top countries where Virginia seafood is exported are Canada, France, Hong Kong, Cameroon, Belgium and Australia.
• Watermen and processors in Virginia work under economic conditions, environmental conditions and regulations that provide sustainable seafood for current customers and for future generations in the business. State and federal law set standards and regulations to ensure sustainable use and equitable distribution of the resource. The Potomac River Fisheries Commission, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission all manage our fisheries.
• Virginia's quality control and regulatory standards for water quality and processing plants are recognized among the most stringent in the nation. Virginia's water and product are policed by a number of regulatory agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration; Department of Agriculture; Virginia Department of Health, Division of Shellfish Sanitation; and Virginia Marine Resources Commission. All plants have a HACCP-trained seafood safety inspector on staff. Additionally, Virginia Tech scientists and engineers work with processors to monitor and improve control procedures in shellfish and finfish plants throughout the state.
• According to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Americans consumed 16.5 pounds of fish and shellfish per person. Crab and clams are among the “Top Ten” most popular seafood items.
• Virginia is one of the largest US suppliers of fish oil and protein products from menhaden. This herring-like fish is found in abundant quantities in coastal waters off the US mid-Atlantic. According to the federal National Marine Fisheries Service, the nation's menhaden resource is healthy and self-renewing.
  
  Menhaden oil, which is rich in long-chain Omega-3 essential fatty acids, is used as a food ingredient and is available in capsules as a nutritional supplement.

ABOUT THE VIRGINIA MARINE PRODUCTS BOARD

• The Virginia Marine Products Board is the marketing arm of the seafood industry. In this capacity, the board conducts a comprehensive marketing program designed to upgrade and expand both domestic and foreign sales and markets to further the overall economic development of the industry.
• It is an internationally recognized marketing board within the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services comprised of eleven members appointed by the Governor including representatives from large and small processing firms, the menhaden industry, commercial harvesters, wholesale/distributors and exporters.
• All funds are received from industry license fees not from general funds of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Budgets for 2006/2007 seafood marketing organizations of competitive states are: Alaska, $68 million; Florida, $1.85 million; Louisiana, $1.7 million; Maryland, $504,000; North Carolina, $420,000. Virginia's seafood marketing budget is approximately $250,000.
• The board staff conducts trade advertising, direct marketing, trade shows, international video conferences, marketing calls and merchandising programs for wholesale distributors, retailers and restaurateurs. The board has launched an in-state public education program to help the Commonwealth citizens understand the part the seafood industry plays in the state's tradition and economy, as well as the part citizens can play in keeping Virginia's waterways clean. The staff also maintains an up-to-date web site at www.virginiaseafood.org.
• Virginia Marine Products Board has developed cooperative programs with numerous groups such as Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, The Virginia Waterfront, The Virginia Wine Board, The Southern United States Trade Association, The Napa Valley Vintner's Association and The Virginia Tourism Corporation to open new markets and increase seafood demand without increasing costs to the board.
• The Board's promotional programs have earned a number of awards, including two internationally prestigious Marketing Excellence Awards from Seafood Business magazine, numerous ADDY awards and international exhibit design awards.
• Industry “firsts” have included the first point-of-purchase video for the industry, a unique seafood quality video, the first direct marketing program in the industry, the first state-branded seafood program, the first chef's Seafood Challenge and consumer recipe contest, and the first retail value added program.

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