ANNUAL STATUS OF U.S. FISHERIES REPORT FOR 2006
On June 22, 2007, NOAA released its annual report, "2006 Report of
Status of U.S. Fisheries" which tracks both population levels and
harvest rates for marine species caught in federal marine waters,
between three and 200 miles off U.S. coasts.
In 2006, the report shows population levels for 187 fish stocks and
multi-species groupings known as complexes. Of these, 47 were
overfished. NOAA scientists also assessed harvest rates for 242 stocks
and found that 48 were subject to overfishing. [Refer to "2006 Report
of Status of U.S. Fisheries" to obtain the identities of the fish
stocks:
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/domes_fish/StatusoFisheries/2006/2006RTCFin
al_Report.pdf .]
The first step to rebuilding a fish stock is to end overfishing. Last
year, the Bush Administration gained bipartisan support in Congress to
rewrite and strengthening the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which has governed
management of America's fisheries for 30 years. The reauthorized act now
requires fishery managers to revise fishery management plans to end
overfishing by 2010, a call made by the Bush Administration in the 2004
U.S. Ocean Action Plan. Each year, NOAA issues a report on the state of
U.S. fisheries to inform Congress and the American public of the
agency's progress in restoring fish stocks to sustainable population
levels. The annual report tracks the population and harvesting status of
marine fisheries in the United
States.
NOAA recently completed nine public meetings and a 45-day comment period
to hear ideas from fishing communities about ways to end overfishing.
NOAA is evaluating all the public comments and will release a range of
proposals for further public review and comment this summer.
NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety
through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related
events and information service delivery for transportation, and by
providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine
resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of
Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 60
countries and the European Commission to develop a global monitoring
network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and
protects.
Source: Susan Buchanan (NOAA) (301) 713-2370 June 22,
###
Definitions:
Approaching Overfished Condition - Based on trends in harvesting effort,
fishery resource size, and other appropriate factors, it is estimated
that the fishery will become overfished within 2 years.
Overfished - Stock size is below a prescribed biomass threshold.
Overfishing - Harvest rate is above a prescribed fishing mortality
threshold.
Source: 2006 Report of Status of U.S. Fisheries, NOAA
Consult these web sites for additional information:
Status of Stocks Report to Congress - 2006:
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/statusoffisheries/SOSmain.htm
2006 Report of Status of U.S. Fisheries
<http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/domes_fish/StatusoFisheries/2006/2006RTCFi
nal_Report.pdf> :
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/domes_fish/StatusoFisheries/2006/2006RTCFin
al_Report.pdf
NOAA Fisheries Service: www.nmfs.noaa <http://www.nmfs.noaa/>
NOAA: www.noaa.gov <http://www.noaa.gov/>
Pamela Tom
University of California
Food Science and Technology Department
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616 USA
E-mail: pdtom@ucdavis.edu Fax: 530/752-4759
Web: http://seafood.ucdavis.edu
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