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Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Rebuilding WASHINGTON, DC, September 2, 2002 (ENS) - Ten fish species of the 12 species from North Carolina to New York that are federally managed are fully rebuilt or are steadily growing under strict fishery management programs that have reversed decades of overfishing, federal fisheries officials announced in August. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) credited effective fisheries management by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Scientists say that Mid-Atlantic scup, a species worth approximately $1.5 million to the region's commercial fishermen, has rebounded this year to record high numbers and is no longer overfished or depleted. In addition, projections show that summer flounder, worth approximately $12.6 million to commercial fishermen, will no longer be overfished by the end of the year. The council and other official bodies have managed scup since 1996 and summer flounder since 1988. "I couldn't be more pleased today with the accomplishments of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, which has made extraordinary efforts to be trustworthy stewards of the marine resources under its jurisdiction," said Dr. Bill Hogarth, director of NOAA Fisheries.
"This is an outstanding example of how federal fisheries management is moving in the right direction to ensure a bountiful, healthy ocean and sustained economic opportunities for America's coastal towns," he said. The Mid-Atlantic council is one of eight regional bodies established by Congress in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The councils, in partnership with the states and the federal government, manage marine fish stocks in their respective geographical areas of responsibility. "Our joint goal is to rebuild overfished stocks and manage fisheries at a sustainable level as we protect critical fish habitats," said Hogarth. "This council has proven its dedication in making the tough management choices necessary to accomplish its mission." There are more fish, and larger ones are left in the ocean after fishing vessels have passed through, the NMFS said in its 2001 Annual Report to Congress on the Status of U.S. Fisheries. The NMFS Office of Sustainable Fisheries reported that the Georges Bank yellowtail flounder stock has risen from about 5,000 metric tons in 1994 to 56,000 metric tons in 2000. Georges Bank haddock has experienced a similar increase rising from 11 thousand metric tons in 1993 to over 64 thousand metric tons in 2000, the agency reported. Similar gains have been seen in the summer flounder stock. The total stock size of summer flounder almost doubled between 1992 and 1999, increasing to about 80 million pounds. This stock has continued to grow since 1999, and was declared to be no longer overfished in 2001. Likewise, the abundance of the Bering Sea tanner crab populations has nearly tripled since 1998.
Even though some stocks remain overfished, similar improvements in the size of the fishes have occurred across the country, such as Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico king mackerel, Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico spanish mackerel, Gulf of Mexico red snapper and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands snow crab. These rebuilding successes are a product of joint management and teamwork by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council working with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and with public constituents and fishermen. In 2000, marine fisheries in the Mid-Atlantic were valued at about $100 million to commercial fishermen. "The councils are diligently turning the picture of America's fisheries from a once grim view of depletion and economic hardship to an encouraging vision of a plentiful ocean for future generations," Hogarth said. "We have a lot of ground to cover with our rebuilding plans but we are moving in the right direction. Taking two Mid-Atlantic species off the overfished species list this year means that two additional species are headed toward full recovery." Hogarth acknowledged the sacrifices fishermen are making in reduced landings to guarantee the success of rebuilding programs. "These sacrifices will exponentially increase the value of overfished species once they become fully rebuilt," he said. "We are proud of our partnerships with America's fishermen, who provide us with information critical to successful management, and we applaud them for their many contributions to the fishery management process." Regional councils develop and submit fishery management plans to NOAA Fisheries for review and approval by the Secretary of Commerce. Council members are made up of citizens who are expert in regional fisheries issues, including commercial and recreational fishermen, environmental advocates, seafood dealers and restaurateurs, and scientists. Councils develop management actions after considering comment from all segments of the public along with input from advisory and scientific panels. Fishery management plans balance commercial and recreational fishing opportunities with conservation measures for the maximum benefit to the nation. Of the nation's 959 federally managed fish species, commercial fisheries target about 304 stocks, 81 of which are classified as overfished. Of these, 67 are rebuilding under restrictive programs that allow for limited, monitored fishing, and the regional councils currently are developing nine additional programs. A common concern of environmental advocates is the long-term rebuilding timeframes for many species. Although recovery may take time for certain species with slow growth and low reproductive potential, NOAA Fisheries, the eight regional councils and the commission are reporting more fishery management successes each year. Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2002. All rights reserved. |
Director of NOAA Fisheries Dr. Bill Hogarth (Photos courtesy 
Scup and black sea bass hover around a reef ledge. 