May 2, 2013

It was another record-setting year for one of our nation's most valuable resources, our marine fisheries. Today, we are reporting that six more stocks were declared rebuilt in 2012, bringing the total number of stocks rebuilt since 2000 to 32. This year's rebuilt stocks include Southern Tanner crab, Acadian redfish, windowpane, yellowtail flounder, coho salmon, and pink shrimp. In addition, overfishing is at an all-time low with 10 additional stocks removed from the overfishing list since last year. The number of overfished stocks also declined in 2012 with an additional four stocks removed from that list. Overall, of the 284 stocks whose status is known, 255 - or 90% - are listed as not subject to overfishing. The details behind these record-setting trends are included in NOAA Fisheries' new 2012 Report on the Status of U.S. Fisheries which is available online.

This good news on the status of our fisheries comes on the heels of our most recent fisheries economics report, which confirmed that fisheries, including commercial and recreational saltwater fishing and all of the associated supply chain businesses, play an enormous role in driving the U.S. economy, generating more than $199 billion in sales and supporting 1.7 million jobs in 2011.

The significant improvement in the status of U.S. stocks and the recent, positive fisheries economic trends are exciting because they underscore the strength of the U.S. system designed to end overfishing, rebuild our fisheries, and ensure sustainability. They also reflect the high level of collaboration among the agency, the Regional Fishery Management Councils, Congress, researchers, fishing communities, and countless other partners.

NOAA Fisheries will conduct a conference call on the report for stakeholders on Tuesday, May 14, from 3:30-4:30 pm to provide an overview of findings and answer questions. Call-in information will be widely circulated through NOAA Fisheries' newsletters and posted online. The report and data tables are available at NOAA Fisheries and through its Office of Sustainable Fisheries.