US trout growers rake US$79.7 million in 2008

The total value of fish sales received by trout growers in the US totalled US$79.7 million for 2008, a decrease of 9 percent from 2007.

According to a recent report from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, the number of trout 12 inches and longer sold during 2008 totalled 40.4 million, down 31 percent from the previous year, while the average price per pound was US$1.38, up US$0.19 from 2007.

The value of sales of these trout for the 2008 marketing year was US$72.4 million, down 9 percent from 2007.

The total value of sales of these 6 inches to 12 inches trout was US$5.78 million during 2008, down 11 percent from the previous year.

The number of 1 inch to 6 inches trout sold during 2008 totalled US$9.53 million, a 6 percent decrease from the previous year, while the average value per 1,000 fish was US$157 during 2008, down from US$178 in 2007.

The total value of sales was US$1.5 million, down 17 percent from last year's total.

The estimated value of fish distributed for restoration, conservation, and recreational purposes, primarily by State and Federal hatcheries totalled US$103 million, down 9 percent from 2007.

Total losses of all trout intended for sale were 26.3 million fish during 2008, with 87 percent lost to disease, 5 percent lost to drought, and 4 percent lost to predators.