Sustainable fisheries are vital to healthy marine ecosystems, the longevity of our marine resources, and a prosperous economy. NOAA Fisheries recently released the 2022 Status of Stocks report, which highlights the progress made by NOAA Fisheries and partners toward rebuilding and sustaining healthy U.S. fisheries.
NOAA Fisheries’ 2022 report includes information on 492 fish stocks or stock complexes, including 32 newly added Caribbean stocks. Currently, 24 stocks/complexes are at risk of overfishing, and 48 are overfished, showing improvements from the 2021 report. The difference between “overfishing” and “overfished” is substantial despite the words appearing to be synonymous. Overfishing is a rate-related metric used when a stock is being harvested at an unsustainable rate that will eventually lead to depletion. Overfished is a biomass-related metric used when the population size decreases to an unsustainable level. This can be caused by overfishing, habitat depletion, disease outbreak and many other factors.
The annual Status of Stocks report is an important tool used by scientists and policymakers to inform management plans and legislation that support thriving fisheries. The challenges faced by marine fisheries are continually changing. Over time, persisting challenges may improve or worsen, and new challenges may emerge. In this dynamic environment, comprehensive reports like this one play a crucial role in ensuring healthy and sustainable fisheries for generations to come.
Meet the author
(J.) Marcus Drymon, Ph.D.
Marine Fisheries Extension Lead
Marcus is a marine fisheries ecologist, and his research interests are in applied fisheries ecology. The bulk of his research has focused on coastal sharks. He works on many commercially and... Read more
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