U.S. FISH STOCKS ARE REBOUNDING,
ACCORDING TO GOVERNMENT REPORT June 16, 2004 — The “Status of Fisheries of the United States” report, released today by NOAA, shows considerable progress was made in 2003 to address excessive fishing rates and rebuild fish stocks to healthy levels. In 2003, four fish stocks were fully rebuilt, a record ten species were removed from the list of overfished stocks and overfishing practices were stopped for five species. “The American public can feel confident that U.S. fisheries are becoming more sustainable each year as we rebuild fish stocks that were once overfished,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere, and NOAA administrator. “NOAA is committed to improving our environment, as reflected by the progress shown in this year’s report to Congress.”
Over the past several years, NOAA Fisheries has been steadily turning around decades of overuse of its fishery resources. This year’s report to Congress shows that the agency’s partnerships with the regional fishery management councils, commercial and recreational fishermen, environmental groups and the states are working to ensure long-term healthy ocean ecosystems off America’s coasts. The annual report identifies fish stocks that are overfished and in need of rebuilding plans, those where overfishing is occurring and those that have been rebuilt. The report illustrates that fisheries management programs are successfully restoring the nation’s marine resources while providing important economic opportunities for fishing industries. In the report, the term overfished refers to the size of the fish stock. An overfished stock is one whose size is below a prescribed threshold. When a fish stock is overfished, the population is too low to replenish itself if harvest rates are not reduced. An overfished designation triggers fisheries managers to develop a rebuilding plan for that stock. Overfishing refers to harvesting activities on a fish stock. Overfishing occurs when fishermen are taking too many fish for the species to replenish its population. If overfishing were to continue, the stock would become overfished. Of the 894 federally managed fish stocks, 76 are classified as overfished, and 60 are experiencing overfishing. Almost all the overfished stocks are rebuilding under fishery management plans, and plans are under development for the few that are not. NOAA Fisheries is dedicated to protecting and preserving the nation’s living marine resources and their habitat through scientific research, management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public. NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation’s coastal and marine resources. NOAA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Relevant
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