October 4, 2022National Seafood Month is Here!

October is National Seafood Month. In recognition of this we would like to let you know about the commercial seafood industry, the men and women that work in the industry, and its importance to Virginia’s economy. Virginia is fourth in the nation and first on the east coast in landing figures and the total landings brought in over $200 million dollars in 2020. Due to Virginia’s prime location on the Atlantic coast the state has a variety of delicious and diverse species providing Virginians with fresh and local seafood options no matter the season. Virginia has over fifty species of seafood that are harvested by the commercial seafood industry. Some of the most valuable Virginia seafood species are Blue Crabs, Clams, Oysters, Scallops, Rockfish, Blue Catfish, and Menhaden, which have health as well as pet food applications.
Virginian’s commercial seafood industry is sustained by our commercial waterman. Since the original settlers first arrived brave men and women have been providing Virginia with all of the wonderful seafood that we’ve grown accustomed to over the years. Many of Virginia’s watermen work in the Atlantic Ocean, the Chesapeake Bay, and the tributaries that feed into it. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest and most biologically diverse estuary in the country. Virginia also has many ports open in close proximity to the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. Combining these with the fact that over 90% of all commercial seafood vessels are day boats, there is always something fresh and tasty waiting to be discovered at your local restaurant or seafood retailer.