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NOAA Fisheries Strategic Plan
Sustainable Fisheries - Objective 2
OBJECTIVE 2: Eliminate overfishing and rebuild overfished stocks important to commercial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries
Many fish stocks have declined to levels below those which would support the maximum sustainable yield on a continuing basis. Such declines have many causes, particularly overfishing and habitat degradation. As the carrying capacity of an environment erodes, the fish stocks which inhabit it can no longer support fishing levels which were previously sustainable. Therefore, these are known as overfished stocks, even if habitat degradation rather than fishing effort is the immediate cause of stock decline.
Overfishing is a rate or level of fishing mortality that jeopardizes the capacity of a fishery to produce the maximum sustainable yield on a continuing basis. As of 1995, there were 73 overutilized stocks under the jurisdiction of NOAA Fisheries, according to Our Living Oceans 1995. NOAA Fisheries is in the process of compiling a list of fisheries which are classified as overfished according to the Magnuson-Stevens Conservation and Management Act. This list will be published in the fall of 1997.
The Sustainable Fisheries Act mandates strong action against both overfishing and habitat degradation. It contains provisions which require NOAA Fisheries to end overfishing and rebuild all overfished stocks, as well as to conserve essential fish habitat through consultations on federal and state actions which may adversely affect such habitat. These are among our primary stewardship responsibilities.
Performance Measures:
In the next 5 years, NOAA Fisheries will:
- Eliminate overfishing of all currently overfished stocks and prevent overfishing of all stocks approaching an overfished condition.
- Ensure that all overfished stocks are rebuilding to levels which support the maximum sustainable yield according to rebuilding schedules. These schedules will achieve rebuilding in the shortest time possible but not exceeding 10 years, unless the biology of the stock, other environmental conditions, or international agreements dictate otherwise.
- Protect, conserve, and enhance fish habitat which has been identified as essential, to achieve no net loss of such habitats.
Strategies
- NOAA Fisheries, working with the Councils, will develop objective and measurable criteria for each managed stock to determine if the stock is overfished or approaching an overfished condition.
- For each stock which is overfished or approaching an overfished condition, we will develop, in collaboration with the Councils, measures to eliminate or prevent the overfishing.
- We will develop and implement rebuilding schedules in collaboration with appropriate domestic and international management authorities. As the Sustainable Fisheries Act requires, these schedules will achieve rebuilding in the shortest time possible but not exceeding 10 years, unless the biology of the stock, other environmental conditions, or international agreements dictate otherwise. Existing schedules which do not meet the 10 year requirement will be revised.
- We will rebuild stocks through management regimes and regulations which will include reduced levels of exploitation, stock enhancement, habitat improvement, and bycatch reduction where appropriate.
- We will ensure compliance with these regimes and regulations by implementing monitoring and enforcement programs.
- We will conduct stock assessments in subsequent years to evaluate the response of the stock to the rebuilding measures. We will ensure progress in rebuilding stocks by monitoring the expected improvements in stock status outlined by the interim population targets included in the rebuilding schedules. Rebuilding schedules will be revised as necessary.
- We will allocate harvest restrictions and recovery benefits fairly and equitably among all sectors of the fishing community, as mandated by the Sustainable Fisheries Act.
- We will establish guidelines to assist the Councils in the description and identication of essential fish habitat, as defined and mandated by the Sustainable Fisheries Act.
- We will set forth a schedule for the amendment of FMPs to include these identifications and for the review and up-dating of such identifications based on new scientific evidence or other relevant information.
- We will consult with state and other federal agencies with respect to actions proposed, authorized, funded, or undertaken that may adversely affect any fish habitat identified as essential. This will include recommendations of measures to conserve such habitat.
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