Introduction

Introduction

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his report describes the state of our nation’s marine fisheries and the effectiveness of fisheries management under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) as amended in 1996 by the Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA). The SFA emphasized the need to end overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, and establish management plans designed to ensure biologically and economically sustainable fisheries. A stock above an established fishing mortality (harvest) rate is said to be subject to overfishing. A stock below its prescribed biological threshold is considered overfished.

Significant progress continues in our scientific knowledge of marine fisheries and our ability to use that knowledge to manage the sustained use of the Nation’s marine fish resources. This report is prepared annually in response to a Congressional requirement to report on the status of marine fisheries within each Council’s geographic area of authority and to identify those fisheries overfished or approaching an overfished condition.

This report identifies managed marine fish stocks in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone[1], including stocks that straddle international boundaries and highly migratory stocks. In response to the Congressional requirement, the report categorizes stocks according to their individual status. The report also provides answers to four questions to help gauge the effectiveness of management measures designed to meet the provisions of the SFA:

1. What stocks are subject to overfishing?

2. What stocks are overfished?

3. What stocks are approaching an overfished condition?

4. How do this year’s determinations compare to previous years?

Using the Best Available Data

To categorize marine fish stocks for this report, NMFS reviewed each stock relative to the status determination criteria (SDC) contained in the relevant fishery management plan (FMP). Sometimes the SDC do not apply to each individual stock, but rather are applied broadly to a group of similar species harvested together or sharing a similar life history. These groups are referred to as “stock complexes” or assemblages and may be particularly useful when data are sparse or lacking. A stock complex is measured either against the SDC for its proxy stock or against the complex as a whole, depending on the data and assessment tools available to the scientists. For the first time, this years’ report includes these stock complexes, rather than listing species individually.

Based on a review of the best scientific information available against the SDC for each stock or stock complex, NMFS determined the overfishing and overfished condition, including whether or not it is approaching an overfished condition. NMFS used many resources to make these determinations, including final, peer-reviewed documents such as Stock Assessment Review Committee reports and recommendations of each Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee. For species not included in a federal FMP (i.e., species managed by international agreement), the stock status determination was made using other official sources of information, as adopted in accordance with the relevant FMP.

More information on stock complexes and the methodology used to include them in this report can be found in Appendix 1 located on the NMFS website. Stock complexes are used in the Pacific Islands and the Alaska Regions, as well as by the NMFS Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) division.

Changes to Determinations

This report is based on assessments completed as of December 31, 2004. Results from fishery stock assessments in progress on December 31, 2004 will be captured in next year’s report. Changes in status determinations from 2003 to 2004 appear in Table 1 below. These changes are fully illustrated in Tables 10 and 11 at the end of this report.

Table 1. Changes in Status Determinations from 2003 to 2004 in number of stocks. “Known to known” means the stock had a known determination in 2003 and 2004. “Unknown to Known” means the stock was listed in 2003 as “unknown” and in 2004 has a known determination.

Status Category in 2004	Known to known	Unknown to known	Total
Overfishing	5	2	7
Not overfishing	3	13	16
Overfished	3	2	5
Not overfished	6	7	13

The MSA requires action to end overfishing and to develop rebuilding plans for overfished stocks. A summary of the management actions, where required, is listed below for those stocks with new overfished and overfishing determinations.

Management action is being taken on the seven stocks newly listed as subject to overfishing.

· The Atlantic sea scallop stock is currently at a high biomass level. The New England Fishery Management Council implemented measures for the 2005 fishing year, starting March 1, 2005, including revised access area trip and days-at-sea allocations, implementation of the Georges Bank Closed Area Access Program in full, that are expected to eliminate overfishing for this stock.

· Summer flounder is a rebuilding stock that continues to increase in biomass. The stock size is at the highest level in the past 25 years but is not yet fully rebuilt. The most recent assessment determined that overfishing is occurring for this stock. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council was notified of the change in status for this stock on May 11, 2005. The Council will recommend action to reduce the fishing mortality rate and end overfishing as part of their annual specification setting process.

Shortspine thornyhead was determined to be subject to overfishing in 2004 following analysis of 2003 harvest data, since data were not yet available for the full 2004 fishing year to make a determination. The Pacific Fishery Management Council took action to prevent continued overfishing on shortspine thornyhead, by implementing a 35% reduction in participating vessels through a December, 2003 vessel/permit buyback program and by expanding the trawl Rockfish Conservation Area. This area now includes greater coverage of continental slope areas to provide stronger protection for overfished darkblotched rockfish, which co-occurs with other slope species like shortspine thornyhead.
Black rockfish - North was determined to be subject to overfishing in 2004 following analysis of 2003 harvest data. Black rockfish is an abundant nearshore species targeted by commercial and recreational fisheries. Our state partner in managing black rockfish, Oregon, implemented a commercial license limitation program to constrain the capacity of their nearshore commercial fisheries for several rockfish species, including black rockfish. Further, black rockfish was separated out of the State’s minor nearshore rockfish species complex in order to give it more targeted management, including area-specific harvest set asides that facilitated State monitoring and harvest constraints and inseason closures in their recreational fisheries.

· A March, 2005, update of data for Gulf of Mexico greater amberjack shows catches are close to the rebuilding levels for 2004 and only moderately over for 2003, although the overfishing level was exceeded. In response to the overfishing determination, an increase in the target catch level for greater amberjack planned for 2005 was cancelled, and the stock will be assessed again in 2005 to determine if overfishing has ended or if further management measures are needed to reduce fishing mortality. The stock assessment for greater amberjack is currently underway.

The Bottomfish Multi-species Complex – Hawaiian Archipelago contains up to 19 species previously listed as unknown. The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (WPFMC) was notified on May 27, 2005, that this complex is subject to overfishing. NMFS published a notice of a control date for this fishery on July 13, 2005 (70 FR 40305). The WPFMC is currently analyzing management options to reduce fishing effort in the EEZ around the main Hawaiian Islands, and will prepare an amendment to the Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish FMP.
The assessment for the Large Coastal Shark Complex is based on 22 stocks. Management of this complex includes measures to reduce fishing mortality in both the commercial (retention limits, landing restrictions, seasons, quotas, and gear restrictions) and recreational (minimum size, bag limits, and landing restrictions) sectors. An assessment of this complex’s status is scheduled for 2006 to determine if these measures have successfully reduced overfishing. Further action will be taken if necessary.

Management action, as appropriate, is being taken on the five stocks newly listed as overfished.

· Blue king crab – St Matthew Island and Tanner crab – Eastern Bering Sea are in rebuilding plans and directed fisheries are closed. The biomass for both stocks is near their threshold levels. Both stocks had been declared not overfished in the 2003 report after being listed as overfished for several years. Fluctuation around the threshold level could result from environmental conditions or from variability in assessment results. Since a rebuilding plan is in place and the fisheries are closed, no further action is needed at this time.

· The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council was notified of the overfished status of Atlantic butterfish on February 11, 2005. Management measures to rebuild this stock are under development.

Pelagic armorhead complex – Hancock seamount is a complex that was previously listed only by its indicator stock, pelagic armorhead. This stock complex uses pelagic armorhead as the indicator species of a three-species seamount groundfish complex that includes raftfish and alfonsin. This stock complex does not have a formal rebuilding plan or time period for rebuilding. The fishery in the U.S. EEZ has been closed under sequential 6-year moratoria since the inception of the FMP in 1986. The current moratorium is effective until 2010. These moratoria have been treated by NMFS as a de facto rebuilding plan, and previous versions of this report referred to the cumulative period of these moratoria as the time period for rebuilding. The WPFMC is currently considering more permanent conservation and management measures for this stock complex.
The assessment for the Large Coastal Shark Complex is based on 22 stocks. Management of this complex includes measures to rebuild the stock for both the commercial (retention limits, landing restrictions, seasons, quotas, and gear restrictions) and recreational (minimum size and bag limits, and landing restrictions) sectors. An assessment of this complex’s status is scheduled for 2006 to determine if these measures have resulted in rebuilding as anticipated. Further action will be taken if necessary.

The status of all 688 stocks and stock complexes is summarized in Table 2.

Overview of Overfishing in 2004[2]

· 236 stocks or stock complexes are known with respect to their overfishing status. Of these:

o 192 stocks or stock complexes are not subject to overfishing.

o 44 stocks or stock complexes have a fishing mortality rate that exceeds the overfishing threshold (i.e., subject to overfishing).

· 452 stocks or stock complexes have overfishing thresholds not defined or applicable, or are unknown with respect to their overfishing status.

Changes in overfishing status in 2004

Changes in overfishing status determinations for 2004 are listed below. Specific changes from 2003 to 2004 by region are found in Table 10, at the end of this report.

· In the Northeast Region -

o Sea scallop is subject to overfishing.

o Summer flounder is subject to overfishing.

o Black sea bass is no longer subject to overfishing.

o Deep-sea red crab is not subject to overfishing, having been listed previously as unknown.

· In the Southeast Region -

o Gulf of Mexico greater amberjack is subject to overfishing.

o Gulf of Mexico red drum is no longer subject to overfishing.

o Dolphin is not subject to overfishing, having been listed previously as unknown.

o Cobia is not subject to overfishing, having been listed previously as unknown.

· In the Southwest Region

o Skipjack tuna – Eastern Pacific is not subject to overfishing. This stock was listed previously as unknown in the Pacific Islands Region.

· In the Northwest Region -

o Shortspine thornyhead is subject to overfishing.

o Black rockfish - North is subject to overfishing.

o Pacific whiting is no longer subject to overfishing.

· In the Pacific Islands Region –

o The Bottomfish multi-species complex – Hawaiian archipelago is subject to overfishing. This complex contains up to 19 species listed previously as unknown.

· In the Alaska Region –

o BSAI Other Rockfish complex is not subject to overfishing. This complex contains 8 species, 6 of which were listed previously as unknown.

o BSAI Other Flatfish complex is not subject to overfishing. This complex contains 12 species, all of which were listed previously as unknown.

o BSAI Other Species complex is not subject to overfishing. This complex contains 63 species, 26 of which were listed previously as unknown. The remainder are newly listed.

o BSAI shortraker rockfish is not subject to overfishing, having been listed previously as unknown.

o BSAI rougheye rockfish is not subject to overfishing, having been listed previously as unknown.

o GOA Thornyhead Rockfish complex is not subject to overfishing. This complex contains 2 species, 1 of which was listed previously as unknown.

o GOA Pelagic Shelf Rockfish complex is not subject to overfishing. This complex contains 4 species, 2 of which were listed previously as unknown and 1 is newly listed.

o GOA Shallow Water Flatfish complex is not subject to overfishing. This complex contains 14 species, 5 of which were listed previously as unknown.

o GOA Skates complex is not subject to overfishing. This complex contains 9 species, 7 of which were listed previously as unknown.

· For the Atlantic HMS division –

o Large Coastal Sharks complex is subject to overfishing. This complex is assessed as 22 species, 16 of which were listed as subject to overfishing in 2003.

Overview of overfished status in 2004

· 200 stocks or stock complexes are known with respect to their overfished status. Of these:

o 144 stocks or stock complexes are not overfished.

o 56 stocks or stock complexes are overfished.

· 487 stocks or stock complexes have overfishing thresholds not defined or applicable, or are unknown with respect to their overfished status.

Changes in overfished status in 2004

Changes in overfished status determinations are listed below. Specific changes from 2003 to 2004 by region are found in Table 11, at the end of this report.

· In the Northeast Region –

o Butterfish is overfished.

o Black sea bass is no longer overfished and is rebuilding.

· In the Southeast Region –

o Tilefish, listed as golden tilefish in previous reports, is no longer listed as overfished.

o King mackerel - Gulf group is no longer overfished and is rebuilding.

o Dolphin is not overfished, having been listed previously as unknown.

o Cobia is not overfished, having been listed previously as unknown.

· In the Southwest Region

o Skipjack tuna – Eastern Pacific is not overfished. This stock was listed previously as unknown in the Pacific Islands Region.

· In the Northwest Region –

o Lingcod is no longer overfished and is rebuilding.

o Pacific ocean perch is no longer overfished and is rebuilding.

o Pacific whiting, which was estimated to be above the target rebuilding biomass in 2003, is no longer considered overfished and is rebuilt.

o Cabezon is not overfished, having been listed previously as unknown.

· In the Pacific Islands Region –

o The Seamount Groundfish complex – Hancock seamounts is overfished. Previous determinations had indicated that pelagic armorhead is overfished. In this year’s report, that stock is assessed as the indicator species of this 3-species complex that includes raftfish and alfonsin.

· In the Alaska Region –

o Blue king crab - Saint Matthew Island is overfished.

o Tanner crab - Eastern Bering Sea is overfished.

o BSAI Northern rockfish is not overfished, having been listed previously as unknown.

o GOA Deep Water Flatfish complex is not overfished. This complex contains 3 species, all of which were listed previously as unknown.

o GOA flathead sole is not overfished, having been listed previously as unknown.

· For the Atlantic HMS division –

o Large Coastal Sharks complex is overfished. This complex is assessed as 22 species, 15 of which were listed as overfished in 2003.

Approaching an overfished condition

The basis for determining whether a stock is approaching an overfished condition is an examination of the current stock biomass and trends in fishing effort. Unless the status of the stock is known, a determination about whether the stock will become overfished within 2 years cannot be made with any certainty. Therefore, the definition for the biomass threshold in the FMP, along with trends in fishing effort, should be the determining criteria in evaluating whether a stock is approaching an overfished condition. In some cases, the pre-SFA definition has remained in the FMP and was used as the basis for the determinations. Also, for Pacific salmon stocks, the determining criteria are based on maximum sustainable yield/maximum spawner potential objectives for natural stocks or stock complexes.

· One stock is listed as approaching an overfished condition: HMS yellowfin tuna - Atlantic.

Table 2. Description of Major and Minor Stocks by Council, 2004.

Jurisdiction*	Stock Group	Number of Stocks	Overfishing					Overfished					Approaching Overfished Condition
Jurisdiction*	Stock Group	Number of Stocks	Yes	No	Not Known	Not Defined	N/A	Yes	No	Not Known	Not Defined	N/A	Approaching Overfished Condition
NEFMC	Major	27	9	12	5	1	0	10	15	2	0	0	0
	Minor	9	0	2	6	1	0	5	4	0	0	0	0
	Total	36	9	14	11	2	0	15	19	2	0	0	0
MAFMC	Major	11	3	8	0	0	0	3	7	1	0	0	0
	Minor	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total	11	3	8	0	0	0	3	7	1	0	0	0
NEFMC/ MAFMC	Major	3	2	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	0
	Minor	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total	3	2	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	0
SAFMC	Major	24	8	9	7	0	0	5	11	8	0	0	0
	Minor	64	3	13	46	2	0	6	5	46	7	0	0
	Total	88	11	22	53	2	0	11	16	54	7	0	0
GMFMC	Major	22	4	7	9	2	0	4	6	9	3	0	0
	Minor	33	0	7	26	0	0	2	0	26	5	0	0
	Total	55	4	14	35	2	0	6	6	35	8	0	0
SAFMC/ GMFMC	Major	9	0	9	0	0	0	0	9	0	0	0	0
	Minor	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	1	1	0	0
	Total	11	0	9	1	1	0	0	9	1	1	0	0
CFMC	Major	4	1	1	2	0	0	1	1	2	0	0	0
	Minor	175	0	8	152	15	0	2	0	136	37	0	0
	Total	179	1	9	154	15	0	3	1	138	37	0	0
PFMC	Major	65	3	36	14	1	11	4	34	13	3	11	0
	Minor	102	0	4	56	0	42	2	1	57	0	42	0
	Total	167	3	40	70	1	53	6	35	70	3	53	0
WPFMC	Major	13	1	4	8	0	0	0	5	8	0	0	0
	Minor	22	0	3	17	2	0	1	1	18	2	0	0
	Total	35	1	7	25	2	0	1	6	26	2	0	0
PFMC/ WPFMC	Major	5	1	1	3	0	0	0	2	3	0	0	0
	Minor	5	0	1	4	0	0	0	1	4	0	0	0
	Total	10	1	2	7	0	0	0	3	7	0	0	0
NPFMC	Major	53	0	49	3	1	0	1	31	0	21	0	0
	Minor	17	0	9	8	0	0	3	1	0	13	0	0
	Total	70	0	58	11	1	0	4	32	0	34	0	0
PFMC/ NPFMC	Major	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
	Minor	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
HMS	Major	15	6	7	2	0	0	4	8	2	0	0	1
	Minor	7	3	0	4	0	0	3	0	4	0	0	0
	Total	22	9	7	6	0	0	7	8	6	0	0	1
TOTAL	Major	252	38	145	53	5	11	32	131	48	29	11	1
	Minor	436	6	47	320	21	42	24	13	292	65	42	0
	Total	688	44	192	373	26	53	56	144	340	94	53	1

* NEFMC = New England Fishery Management Council; MAFMC = Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; SAFMC = South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; GMFMC = Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; CFMC = Caribbean Fishery Management Council; PFMC = Pacific Fishery Management Council; WPFMC = Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; NPFMC = North Pacific Fishery Management Council; HMS = Atlantic Highly Migratory Species.

Status Determinations by Region

Northeast Region

NMFS and the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils manage stocks through thirteen FMPs: Atlantic Sea Scallop; Northeast Multispecies; Northeast Skate; Atlantic Herring; Red Crab; Monkfish; Spiny Dogfish; Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass; Atlantic Bluefish; Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish; Tilefish; and Atlantic Salmon. A Hagfish FMP is under development. Within these FMPs, 14 stocks subject to overfishing, 18 stocks[3] are overfished, and no stocks are approaching an overfished condition. Stocks are identified in Table 3.

Table 3. Northeast Region stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, or approaching an overfished condition.

Council	FMP	Stock	Overfishing?	Overfished?	Approaching?
NEFMC	Atlantic salmon	Atlantic salmon	-	Y	-
	Atlantic Sea Scallop	Atlantic sea scallop	Y	-	-
	Northeast Multispecies	cod - Gulf of Maine	Y	Y	-
	Northeast Multispecies	cod - Georges Bank	Y	Y	-
	Northeast Multispecies	haddock - Gulf of Maine	-	Y	-
	Northeast Multispecies	haddock - Georges Bank	-	Y	-
	Northeast Multispecies	American plaice	Y	Y	-
	Northeast Multispecies	witch flounder	Y	-	-
	Northeast Multispecies	yellowtail flounder - Southern New England (SNE)/Mid-Atlantic	Y	Y	-
	Northeast Multispecies	yellowtail flounder - Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine	Y	Y	-
	Northeast Multispecies	white hake	Y	Y	-
	Northeast Multispecies	windowpane flounder – SNE/Mid-Atlantic	-	Y	-
	Northeast Multispecies	winter flounder – SNE	Y	Y	-
	Northeast Multispecies	ocean pout	-	Y	-
	Northeast Multispecies	Atlantic halibut	-	Y	-
	Northeast Skate	barndoor skate	-	Y	-
	Northeast Skate	thorny skate	-	Y	-
NEFMC/ MAFMC	Monkfish	monkfish - North	Y	^-	^-
	Monkfish	monkfish – South	Y	-	-
MAFMC	Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass	summer flounder	Y	-	-
	Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass	scup	Y	-	-
	Bluefish	bluefish	-	Y	-
	Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish	butterfish	-	Y	-
	Tilefish	golden tilefish	Y	Y	-

Southeast Region

NMFS and the South Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils manage stocks through eighteen FMPs: South Atlantic Golden Crab; South Atlantic Shrimp; South Atlantic Snapper Grouper; Atlantic Coast Red Drum; Coral, Coral Reefs, and Live/Hard Bottom Habitats of the South Atlantic Region; Pelagic Sargassum Habitat of the South Atlantic Region; Dolphin Wahoo; Coastal Migratory Pelagics of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Gulf of Mexico/South Atlantic Spiny Lobster; Gulf of Mexico Stone Crab; Gulf of Mexico Shrimp; Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico; Gulf of Mexico Red Drum; Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico; Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Spiny Lobster Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Queen Conch Resources of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; and Corals and Reef Associated Invertebrates of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition, a Calico scallops FMP is under development. Within these FMPs, 16 stocks are subject to overfishing, 20 stocks are overfished, and no stocks are approaching an overfished condition. Stocks are identified in Table 4.

Table 4. Southeast Region stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, or approaching an overfished condition.

Council	FMP	Stock	Overfishing?	Overfished?	Approaching?
SAFMC	South Atlantic Snapper Grouper	vermilion snapper	Y	-	-
	South Atlantic Snapper Grouper	red snapper	Y	Y	-
	South Atlantic Snapper Grouper	snowy grouper	Y	Y	-
	South Atlantic Snapper Grouper	red grouper	Y	Y	-
	South Atlantic Snapper Grouper	black sea bass	Y	Y	-
	South Atlantic Snapper Grouper	gag	Y	-	-
	South Atlantic Snapper Grouper	speckled hind	Y	Y	-
	South Atlantic Snapper Grouper	Warsaw grouper	Y	Y	-
	South Atlantic Snapper Grouper	tilefish	Y	-	-
	South Atlantic Snapper Grouper	black grouper	Y	Y	-
	South Atlantic Snapper Grouper	goliath grouper	-	Y	-
	South Atlantic Snapper Grouper	Nassau grouper	-	Y	-
	South Atlantic Snapper Grouper	red porgy	-	Y	-
	Atlantic Coast Red Drum	red drum	Y	Y	-
GMFMC	Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico	red snapper	Y	Y	-
	Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico	red grouper	Y	-	-
	Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico	vermilion snapper	Y	Y	-
	Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico	greater amberjack	Y	Y	-
	Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico	Nassau grouper	-	Y	-
	Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico	goliath grouper	-	Y	-
	Gulf of Mexico Red Drum	red drum	-	Y	-
CFMC	Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the USVI	Nassau grouper	-	Y	-
	Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the USVI	goliath grouper	-	Y	-
	Queen Conch Resources of Puerto Rico and the USVI	queen conch	Y	Y	-

Southwest Region

NMFS and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage stocks through two FMPs: Coastal Pelagic Species and the new West Coast Highly Migratory Species. Within these FMPs, 1 stock is subject to overfishing (see Table 5), no stocks are overfished, and no stocks are approaching an overfished condition.

Table 5. Southwest Region stocks subject to overfishing, overfished, or approaching an overfished condition.

FMP	Stock	Overfishing?	Overfished?	Approaching?
West Coast Highly Migratory Species	bigeye tuna - Pacific ^*	Y	-	-

^* This stock also appears in Table 7 as a stock subject to overfishing in the Pacific Islands Region’ s Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region FMP. Each of the 10 stocks shared between these two FMPs is listed only once in the support tables as a single stock managed under both FMPs. The Southwest and the Pacific Islands Regions, along with the Pacific and Western Pacific Fishery Management Councils, are working together to end overfishing in this stock.
Northwest Region

NMFS and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage stocks through two FMPs: West Coast Salmon and Pacific Coast Groundfish. Within these FMPs, 3 stocks are subject to overfishing, 6 stocks are overfished, and no stocks are approaching an overfished condition. The stocks are identified in Table 6.

Table 6. Northwest Region stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, or approaching an overfished condition.

FMP	Stock	Overfishing?	Overfished?	Approaching?
Pacific Coast Groundfish	lingcod	Y	-	-
Pacific Coast Groundfish	black rockfish - North	Y	-	-
Pacific Coast Groundfish	shortspine thornyhead	Y	-	-
Pacific Coast Groundfish	Bocaccio	-	Y	-
Pacific Coast Groundfish	canary rockfish	-	Y	-
Pacific Coast Groundfish	darkblotched rockfish	-	Y	-
Pacific Coast Groundfish	widow rockfish	-	Y	-
Pacific Coast Groundfish	Cowcod<