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Vol. 14, No. 12. Economic Impacts of Disaster and Economic Events on Mississippi Saltwater Licenses Sold to Fishermen
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Vol. 14, No. 11 / Direct Losses on the Number of Mississippi Commercial Licenses Sold to Fishing Vessels
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