September 30, 2024Celebrate National Seafood Month With The VMPB!

October is National Seafood Month and the VMPB would like to highlight the importance of Virginia’s Commercial Seafood Industry. Virginia is currently third in the nation and first on the East Coast in total seafood landings. Based off the latest available data provided to the VMPB Virginia’s Commercial Seafood Industry contributes over 1 billion dollars annually to the states economy. The VMPB would also like to highlight Virginia’s hard working Aquaculture growers, commercial watermen, and women. Thanks to their efforts, along with Virginia’s processors, distributors, restaurants, and retailers, you can find fresh and local Virginia Seafood year-round.

Virginia has over 50 commercially targeted species of seafood that are landed yearly. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States, is located between the mainland and the Eastern Shore of Virginia and is one of the reasons for the wide variety of Virginia’s native species. Some of Virginia’s most popular commercially landed species include Menhaden, Oysters, Blue Crab, Hard Clams, Sea Scallops, Summer Flounder, Striped Bass, Blue Catfish, Conch, and Spot. Continue following Virginia Seafood all month long to celebrate National Seafood Month with the VMPB!