Report Shows Hope On The Horizon For Saltwater Fisheries & Angling
by Janet Tennyson
More than 70 ocean fisheries are marking a strong comeback, according to an annual scorecard by a U.S. Commerce Department agency on the status of nearly 1,000 fisheries primarily taken as commercial harvest.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Status of U.S. Fisheries Report to Congress for 2002 shows that sound conservation and management can turn the tide on overfishing and ultimately its impact on one of America's fastest growing outdoor pastimes, recreational fishing in saltwater.
"We've only had strong marine fisheries policies in place for less than a decade," said Mike Nussman, President and CEO of the American Sportfishing Association, "but we're starting to see the potential of well implemented management programs, which bodes well for the saltwater fishing experience and the overall health of our oceans."
Although some fish stocks remain in "overfished" status, the overall trend in recovery for many fisheries continues to be positive. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that 70 overfished species show significant progress under special management plans designed to rebuild their populations to healthy levels. Over the last 5 years, 20 species have been removed from the overfished list and are steadily improving, and the trend toward overfishing has been reversed for 25 species. The full report is available on www.nmfs.noaa.gov.
Since 1997, popular sportfish that are also commercially harvested, such as redfish, king mackerel, bluefish, and summer flounder, are showing good signs of recovery. The status of others, such as Gulf of Mexico gag grouper, remain a concern to the sportfishing community due to their unsteady recovery.
The American Sportfishing Association is working with a coalition of industry, conservation, and angler advocacy groups to push for stronger representation for recreational fishing interests within the Commerce Department and on regional councils and interstate commissions that oversee cooperative marine fisheries management. The coalition advocates for more consideration for the social and economic values of recreational fishing when management priorities are made.
The landmark Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996 marked a milestone for ocean fisheries management and called for regional fishery management councils to halt overfishing. The eight regional councils and three interstate fishery commissions, including representatives from states, tribes, recreational and commercial fishing interests, and academia, develop species-specific management plans, with 70 plans now in place.
The American Sportfishing Association is the leading recreational fishing trade association, uniting 500 members of the sportfishing and boating industries, state fish and wildlife agencies, federal land and water management agencies, conservation organizations, angler advocacy groups, and outdoor journalists. The American Sportfishing Association initiates and supports efforts to advance healthy fisheries, fishing opportunities, and a profitable sportfishing industry.
