A juvenile coho salmon is held by a fish biologist at the Lostine River, March 9, 2017, in Lostine, Ore. The number of fish on the government’s overfishing list sunk to a new low in 2023, a sign of healthy U.S. fisheries, federal officials said. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus, File
Animals United StatesThere’s Plenty of (Recovering!) Fish in the Sea
The United States government’s overfishing list has sunk to an all-time low, indicating healthy fisheries nationwide.
“By ending overfishing and rebuilding stocks, we are strengthening the value of U.S. fisheries to the economy, our communities, and marine ecosystems,” says Rich Spinrad, administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Following an annual NOAA report, the United States removed several important fish species from its overfishing list, including the mackerel and snapper fish. This comes after the government and other non-governmental organizations have cracked down on illegal and unregulated fishing in the country. Similar practices are occurring worldwide, and fish populations are recovering. The “overfishing” list reflects species with an unsustainable high harvest rate, which may eventually cause the population to become endangered or even extinct. According to the most recent report, 80 per cent of fish stocks in the United States are not overfished.
