News
New England Fish Stocks Recovering

For the first time in a number of years federal fisheries management programs in New England are experiencing measurable and substantial success in building sustainable fisheries. While the New England Fishery Management Council, charged with developing federal regulations, will face many more challenges as stock rebuilding continues, the improvements to date are noteworthy.

“Commercial and recreational fishermen, as well as the public, need to know that collectively the Council is headed in the right direction --- that fisheries will continue to improve and consumers, fishermen and their communities will benefit over the long-term from responsible and effective management programs,” said Council Executive Director Paul Howard.

Year 2000 calculations show that estimated biomass levels for 11 important groundfish stocks, collectively, have increased almost 2-1/2 times since 1994. Witch flounder (gray sole) and Georges Bank yellowtail flounder have been rebuilt to sustainable levels, while others including Georges Bank haddock, Cape Cod yellowtail flounder and redfish have increased substantially. Even stocks that need further rebuilding such as Georges Bank cod, American plaice, white hake and Southern England yellowtail flounder are stable and showing signs of improvement.

Reports from several of the major fishing ports in New England mirror the good news about the status of groundfish stocks. As of March 9, cod landings in Gloucester, Boston and New Bedford totaled 1.4 million pounds, 400,000 pounds more than the same time a year ago. Haddock (1.1 million pounds) and yellowtail flounder (1.7 million pounds) landings topped 2000’s nine-week total by 100,000 pounds and 200,000 pounds, respectively. The Portland Maine Fish Exchange recorded a 33 percent increase in fish landings last year and is anticipating a banner year in 2001. Further south, Rhode Island ports have seen an approximate 53 percent increase in landings between 1994 and 1999.

The news is even more promising for sea scallop management. The scallop resource on Georges Bank has not only increased to sustainable levels in recent years, but is at record high abundance. In 1998 scallop landings totaled 12.2 million pounds. Measures proposed by the New England Fishery Management Council in Framework 14 to the Scallop Plan are expected to allow landings of sea scallops to increase to as much as 45 million pounds in 2001, while allowing scallop biomass to continue increasing. Net revenues through 2004 are expected to increase by $212 million as a result of the Framework Adjustment 14 measures.

All this good news is the result of a number of years of very difficult decision-making by the Council, but much credit goes to recreational and commercial fishermen and the public. They have lobbied for better management, more and better scientific information and have participated pro-actively in the management process.

Acknowledging that the need for continued regulation may be difficult for some fishermen to understand, Mr. Howard explained the Council’s next steps in developing groundfish management measures. “Without a doubt, many stocks are improving, but for a number of groundfish species, reductions in fishing mortality must still occur to rebuild stocks to sustainable levels. Our collective efforts to date should not be wasted by abandoning our conservation goals mid-stream,” he said. The Council is currently preparing major amendments to its Groundfish and Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plans and new plans for Skate and Red Crab.

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Contact: Patricia M. Fiorelli