From a North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries News Release:
MOREHEAD CITY – Commercial fishermen that work in the Atlantic Ocean tend to make more money and express more optimism about the future of the industry than their estuarine counterparts, according to an economic analysis of a survey by the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries.
Although 29 percent of the fishermen in this study reported breaking even or losing money in the previous fishing year, 20 percent made more than $30,000.
“While a $30,000 annual income is no fortune in today’s economy, it is higher than was seen in previous surveys of estuarine fisheries in Albemarle, Pamlico and Core sounds,” said Scott Crosson, the division’s Socio-Economics program manager.
A few, 4 percent, reported fishing income in excess of $75,000 per year. ...
Although 29 percent of the fishermen in this study reported breaking even or losing money in the previous fishing year, 20 percent made more than $30,000.
“While a $30,000 annual income is no fortune in today’s economy, it is higher than was seen in previous surveys of estuarine fisheries in Albemarle, Pamlico and Core sounds,” said Scott Crosson, the division’s Socio-Economics program manager.
A few, 4 percent, reported fishing income in excess of $75,000 per year. ...
And high fuel prices don't make it any easier:
When asked their level of concern on a variety of issues impacting commercial fishermen, the oceangoing sector ranked fuel prices at the top of the list. The same was true for the estuarine fisheries surveyed in the past several years. The survey was administered in the summer of 2008, when fuel prices exceeded $4 per gallon.
Plus, overfishing has robbed all the fish and fishing communities are a thing of the past:
Inability to predict the business future ranked second, followed by development on the coast, weather and loss of working waterfronts.
Why do they do what they do?
Note: A copy of the economic analysis can be downloaded ... at http://www.ncdmf.net/download/2009AtlanticOceanReportCrosson.pdf.
