The number of local fish stocks listed as overfished or subject to overfishing remain near all-time lows, according to the 2015 Status of US Fisheries report made to the United States Congress.
The 2015 report noted the United States' continued progress towards managing fish stocks sustainably, which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said is a result of the combined efforts of NOAA Fisheries, commercial and recreational fishermen, the regional fishery management councils, states, and other partners.
A stock is on the overfishing list when the annual catch rate is too high or on the overfished list when the population size of a stock is too low, whether because of fishing or other causes, such as environmental changes.
In 2015, eight stocks came off the overfishing list including greater amberjack, gray triggerfish and hogfish in the Gulf of Mexico, thorny skate and windowpane flounder in the Gulf of Maine, winter skate in Southern New England, and Puerto Rico scups and porgies complex.
In addition, two stocks are no longer listed as overfished – blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic and canary rockfish along the Pacific Coast.
The report also found that two fish stocks – canary rockfish and petrale sole, both on the Pacific Coast – were rebuilt to target levels in 2015. That brings the total number of rebuilt US marine fish stocks to 39 since 2000.