Despite unmatched natural assets, America's heavily-regulated fisheries continued to underperform in global competition, with landings down a bit more in 2009, according to the annual report of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Covering 2009, the findings reflect a two decade trend in which conservation has trumped productivity.
Landings in edible and commercial fish were down 6 percent to 7.9 billion pounds, and the value of the landings fell by 11 percent to $3.9 billion — adding up $2.2 billion to a federal season of trade deficit of more than $280 billion.
Read the complete story from the Gloucester Daily Times.