NEW BEDFORD, Mass. – An increase in its already lucrative scallop catch helped make New Bedford the most valuable fishing port in the country for the fifth year in a row.

New Bedford fishermen caught $206 million in fish in 2004, compared with second-ranked Dutch Harbor-Unalaska, Alaska, which caught $155 million in fish.

The Massachusetts city’s catch increased $30.3 million in value from 2003 after a 35 percent increase in the sea scallop catch, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service.

It was the fifth straight year the value of the port’s landings increased.

Jim Kendall, a fishing industry consultant from New Bedford, said the strong revenues reflect the good health of the stock.

He added that next year, revenues could be significantly higher after a major price increase this year. Sea scallop prices rose from about $6 per pound in 2004 to an average of about $9 a pound this year, he said.

Dutch Harbor caught by far the most fish of any port in the country, recording 886.4 million pounds in 2004.

Next was Reedville, Va., with 400.5 million pounds. New Bedford was seventh, with 175.1 million pounds.

The only other New England port in the top 10 for the amount of the catch was Gloucester at No. 10, with 113.3 million pounds. That was up from 88.8 million pounds in 2003.