![[photo, Red and yellow crab pots (traps), Chesapeake Beach, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/37mun/chesapeakeb/images/1198-1-312.jpg)
A prominent producer and processor of seafood, Maryland is a national leader in supplying blue crabs and soft clams. Indeed, fifty percent of the total blue crab harvest in the United States is provided by the Chesapeake Bay. Besides blue crabs, important commercial species in Maryland include striped bass, oysters, soft clams, flounder, perch, spot, croaker, catfish, sea trout, and bluefish.
Red & yellow crab pots (traps), Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, December 2002. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
![[photo, Yellow crab pots (traps), Chesapeake Beach, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/37mun/chesapeakeb/images/1198-1-310.jpg)
Each year, the Maryland seafood industry contributes nearly $600 million to the State's economy. In 2016, the commercial landings value of Maryland's seafood industry was $90,361,277. Annual commercial landings have averaged 56.9 million pounds since 2000.
Within the Department of Agriculture, the Seafood Marketing Advisory Commission promotes increased distribution and consumption of Maryland seafood.
Yellow crab pots (traps), Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, December 2002. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
COMMERCIAL LANDINGS | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
| Blue Crabs* | 24,179,216 lbs. | 24,689,994 lbs. | 28,674,124 lbs. | 36,734,436 lbs. |
| Striped Bass | 2,018,231 lbs. | 2,352,749 lbs. | 1,751,838 lbs. | 1,718,135 lbs. |
| Eastern Oysters | 787,889 lbs. | 1,196,279 lbs. | 1,190,857 lbs. | 886,953 lbs. |
| Clams & Bivalves** | 607,104 lbs. | 1,939,584 lbs. | 1,982,741 lbs. | 1,918,688 lbs. |
| Total | 27,592,440 lbs. | 30,178,570 lbs. | 33,599,560 lbs. | 41,258,212 lbs. |
DOCKSIDE VALUE | 2013 | 2014
20152016Blue Crabs* |
$49,955,586 |
$52,848,225 |
$52,025,556 |
$54,534,041 |
Striped Bass |
$9,930,965 |
$8,091,939 |
$6,357,267 |
$7,130,593 |
Eastern Oysters |
$7,356,746 |
$15,686,743 |
$15,092,751 |
$12,264,902 |
Clams & Bivalves** |
$359,040 |
$1,107,264 |
$1,915,150 |
$1,202,672 |
Total |
$67,602,337 |
$77,734,171 |
$75,390,724 |
$75,132,208 |
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COMMERCIAL LANDINGS | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
| Blue Crabs* | 38,800,803 lbs. | 66,261,697 lbs. | 51,162,684 lbs. | 43,736,813 lbs. |
| Striped Bass | 2,812,222 lbs. | 2,509,849 lbs. | 2,343,044 lbs. | 2,541,260 lbs. |
| Eastern Oysters | 497,980 lbs. | 431,856 lbs. | 356,001 lbs. | 618,008 lbs. |
| Clams & Bivalves** | 6,291,808 lbs. | 6,971,147 lbs. | 3,012,672 lbs. | 1,905,632 lbs. |
| Total | 66,818,584 lbs. | 76,174,549 lbs. | 56,874,401 | 48,801,713 |
DOCKSIDE VALUE | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
| Blue Crabs* | $52,049,315 | $79,054,861 | $60,325,851 | $60,466,893 |
| Striped Bass | $5,180,445 | $5,425,011 | $5,622,975 | $6,932,528 |
| Eastern Oysters | $3,849,000 | $4,384,918 | $3,690,887 | $5,709,679 |
| Clams & Bivalves** | $4,402,816 | $5,399,988 | $1,924,384 | $1,365,088 |
| Total | $75,892,194 | $94,264,778 | $71,564,097 | $74,474,188 |
COMMERCIAL LANDINGS | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Blue Crabs* | 34,914,418 lbs. | 29,445,503 lbs. | 30,777,751 lbs. | 34,871,783 lbs. |
| Finfish & Other | 24,800,754 lbs. | 12,563,039 lbs. | 21,559,067 lbs. | 18,618,896 lbs. |
| Eastern Oysters | 737,853 lbs. | 273,894 lbs. | 317,078 lbs. | 249,447 lbs. |
| Clams & Bivalves | 6,111,972 lbs. | 7,755,776 lbs. | 7,947,496 lbs. | 8,600,128 lbs. |
| Total | 66,564,997 lbs. | 50,038,212 lbs. | 60,601,392 lbs. | 62,340,254 lbs. |
DOCKSIDE VALUE | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Blue Crabs* | $39,961,549 | $31,140,947 | $41,689,710 | $50,115,295 |
| Finfish & Other | $10,666,479 | $9,843,628 | $12,135,960 | $11,077,041 |
| Eastern Oysters | $3,434,963 | $1,237,726 | $3,146,107 | $2,277,039 |
| Clams & Bivalves | $4,783,720 | $4,889,357 | $5,074,247 | $5,436,048 |
| Total | $58,846,711 | $47,111,658 | $62,046,024 | $68,905,423 |
COMMERCIAL LANDINGS | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
| Blue Crabs* | 25,933,144 lbs. | 26,480,553 lbs. | 27,816,215 lbs. | 33,826,132 lbs. |
| Finfish & Other | 15,663,264 lbs. | 14,582,463 lbs. | 13,042,303 lbs. | 8,054,637 lbs. |
| Eastern Oysters | 1,274,210 lbs. | 566,990 lbs. | 158,873 lbs. | 42,791 lbs. |
| Clams & Bivalves | 11,910,622 lbs. | 10,662,803 lbs. | 7,526,751 lbs. | 7,270,048 lbs. |
| Total | 54,781,240 lbs. | 52,292,809 lbs. | 48,544,142 lbs. | 49,193,608 lbs. |
DOCKSIDE VALUE | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
| Blue Crabs* | $34,680,693 | $30,338,384 | $34,532,409 | $39,104,452 |
| Finfish & Other | $8,322,203 | $7,985,439 | $8,005,798 | $4,670,030 |
| Eastern Oysters | $3,789,301 | $2,172,418 | $706,256 | $181,003 |
| Clams & Bivalves | $8,073,297 | $8,002,233 | $5,169,695 | $4,653,632 |
| Total | $54,865,494 | $48,498,474 | $48,414,158 | $48,609,117 |
COMMERCIAL LANDINGS | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
| Blue Crabs* | 45,575,161 lbs. | 30,870,447 lbs. | 35,371,030 lbs. | 22,847,019 lbs. |
| Finfish & Other | 21,651,919 lbs. | 20,904,815 lbs. | 21,025,958 lbs. | 15,736,924 lbs. |
| Eastern Oysters | 1,429,409 lbs. | 2,460,954 lbs. | 2,439,995 lbs. | 2,368,236 lbs. |
| Clams & Bivalves | 5,820,203 lbs. | 6,454,480 lbs. | 6,644,162 lbs. | 7,111,271 lbs. |
| Total | 74,476,692 lbs. | 60,690,696 lbs. | 65,481,145 lbs. | 48,063,450 lbs. |
DOCKSIDE VALUE | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
| Blue Crabs* | $43,579,383 | $34,269,494 | $38,858,674 | $30,842,600 |
| Finfish & Other | $10,255,368 | $10,880,969 | $11,171,221 | $9,907,977 |
| Eastern Oysters | $4,507,620 | $7,635,153 | $7,111,469 | $7,192,089 |
| Clams & Bivalves | $5,071,901 | $4,817,068 | $5,221,216 | $5,094,249 |
| Total | $63,414,272 | $57,602,684 | $62,362,580 | $53,036,915 |
*Includes soft shell crabs.
**Due to reclassification of data collection from 2011 - 2013, statistics reflect only landings for Atlantic Surf clam, the largest landed single species reported by the Office of Science and Technology, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Source, 1997-2000: Fisheries Service [now Fishing & Boating Services], Department of Natural Resources
Source, 2001-: Office of Science & Technology, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
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