In U.S. waters during 2023, what was the vast difference between commercial landings and recreational landings of Cobia?

Answer

Commercial landings were under 100,000 pounds, while recreational anglers landed nearly 4.9 million pounds.

The data for 2023 illustrates a significant dichotomy in how Cobia is utilized within the U.S. fishing sector. Commercially, cobia are generally not targeted and are instead landed primarily as bycatch, resulting in relatively low figures, just under 100,000 pounds recorded. In stark contrast, recreational anglers highly value the species for sport fishing. The volume landed by recreational anglers in that same year was substantial, reaching nearly 4.9 million pounds. This massive disparity underscores why aquaculture has become the main commercial driver for market availability, as the targeted commercial harvest from wild stocks is minimal compared to recreational take.

In U.S. waters during 2023, what was the vast difference between commercial landings and recreational landings of Cobia?
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