Commercial Landings Program

To determine the live weight and ex-vessel value of finfish, crabs, oysters, shrimp and other aquatic products purchased by seafood dealers from commercial fishermen as and indication of harvest (fishing mortality) by commercial fishermen to comply with Texas Parks and Wildlife Code.

Reports of commercial landings of marine species from Texas bays and the adjacent Gulf of Mexico (Figure 1) have been collected from seafood dealers since 1887 (Perret et al. 1980). These early data were collected sporadically until 1936 when annual surveys were initiated (Game, Fish and Oyster Commission 1937). Since 1936, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has monitored the landings and value of marine fishes, Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica), crabs and shrimp through a mandatory self-reporting system currently known as the Monthly Aquatic Products Report (MAPR) which is completed by seafood dealers (Figure 2). Bait dealers were included in the system in September 1991. Since 1956, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has collected landings data on shrimp through dealer reports and shrimp vessel crew interviews (Prytherch 1980), while TPWD has continued to collect data on finfish, crabs and Eastern oysters. An informal data exchange between agencies permitted the compilation of total self-reported landings of marine species. Beginning 1 April 1985, TPWD and NMFS instituted a formal cooperative agreement to collect and exchange commercial fisheries statistics.

4200 Smith School Road

Austin, TX 78744

512-389-4489

Mailing Address:

GULF STATES MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION

P.O. Box 726

Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39566-0726

Shipping Address:

2404 Government ST

Ocean Springs, MS 39564

Phone: (228) 875-5912

Fax: (228) 875-6604