EDFish

Selected tag(s): NOAA

Tech solutions to meet the challenges of a changing ocean

By EDF Oceans / Published: September 13, 2022

By Janelle Hangen and Huff McGonigal

Climate change will continue to have serious impacts on oceans, fish stocks and fishing communities. If we continue to emit carbon at the current rate, landings of sustainably caught fish will decline by as much as a 25% by the end of the century due to shifting stocks and decreases in productivity. To meet this challenge, a suite of new and emerging technologies can help fishers, managers and communities to fish smarter and to become more climate-resilient in an uncertain future. EDF’s new publication, Technologies for Climate-Resilient Fisheries, identifies four primary climate challenges and the technologies available to meet them. Read More »

Posted in International, Science/Research / Also tagged Abalobi, Aruna, Berring Data Collective, Climate change, Coastal Communities, fish stocks, Fisheries, Navcast, Oceans, resilient fisheries, technology, Woods Hole Group | Comments are closed

Something ‘fishy’ is happening in Congress

By Adena Leibman / Published: November 19, 2021

If you follow the goings-on of the U.S. Congress, you know that the final months of the year have become a sprint to the finish line marked by bursts of legislative energy and must-pass bills. This year is even more energetic than most. Read More »

Posted in Mid-Atlantic, New England, Pacific, Policy / Also tagged Alaska fisheries, Alaskan Crab, Bering Sea, Bering Sea crab fisheries, Build Back Better, Climate change, Coastal Communities, Congress, Conservation, Domestic, House Committee on Natural Resources, Magnuson Stevens Act, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Oceans, oceans technology, Rep. Don Young, Rep. Ed Case, Rep. Jared Huffman, snow crab, sustainability, sustainable fisheries, United States fisheries | Comments are closed

The State of U.S. Fisheries is Strong

By Matt Tinning / Published: April 20, 2016

We have a lot to be proud of in the United States when it comes to fisheries management. This week the New York Times highlighted the comeback of U.S. fisheries with an inspiring story of recovery. And today, NOAA Fisheries released its annual Status of Stocks report, confirming that the management reforms implemented over the last decade are continuing to deliver remarkable results.

For fish geeks, the annual Status of Stocks report is our “State of the Union.” It’s an opportunity to take a big-picture look at where things stand, as well as to consider at a more granular level specific regions and fisheries where further reforms may be needed.

At a big-picture level, today’s report is another clear indication that “the state of our fisheries is strong.” Indeed, it reveals that in 2015 the Fish Stock Sustainability Index (FSSI) – the composite index that tracks the health of key commercial and recreational stocks that account for 85% of total catch – hit an all-time high. The relentless upward march of the index since 2000 is stunning, and reflects the success of fishermen, managers and conservationists working region by region, fishery by fishery, to end unsustainable open-access management and implement reforms that incentivize conservation. Read More »

Posted in New England, Pacific, Policy, Seafood / Also tagged Domestic, Status of the Stocks, Status of U.S. Fisheries 2015 Report | Comments are closed

Congress Take Note: New Reports Show Progress for US Fisheries

By Matt Tinning / Published: May 6, 2014

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) last week released two reports pointing to continued improvements in US fish stocks. Taken together, they send a clear message: that fisheries nationally are turning the corner as sustainable and more innovative management approaches take hold. Congress should take note.

The first report, the so-called Status of Stocks report to Congress revealed that seven stocks were removed from the overfishing list last year and four from the overfished list. Two more stocks were declared “rebuilt,” bringing the total number of rebuilt stocks to 34 since 2000. Twenty-eight species are still on the report’s overfishing list, reminding us that there is still work to be done. But after decades of mismanagement that depleted fisheries and hurt coastal communities, the positive momentum of recent years is unmistakable.

The second report released concurrently by the agency, Fisheries Economics of the US 2012, underscored the critical role that healthy fisheries play in our nation’s economy. According to the report, U.S. commercial and recreational saltwater fishing generated more than $199 billion in sales in 2012, a gain of 7% over the previous year. It also found that the economic impact of fishing jobs increased 3% from 2011 to 2012. Such year-on-year growth is to be welcomed. Read More »

Posted in Uncategorized / Also tagged Catch Shares, Domestic, fishery economics, MSA, Status of stocks, US fisheries | Comments are closed

It’s Official: U.S. fisheries continued their upward trend in 2012

By EDF Oceans / Published: November 1, 2013

Photo Credit: NOAA

Each year, the National Marine Fisheries Service provides the public with a “statistical snapshot” of fish landings in the United States. This week, the numbers for 2012 were released via the agency’s Fisheries in the United States report. The national picture in terms of the quantity and value of fish landed was once again encouraging. And although we didn’t quite reach the historic level of 2011—which set a new record for landings value —the upward trend enabled by improved fisheries management is unmistakable.

The raw numbers in the report are another reminder of the critical role fishing plays as an economic driver in the United States. U.S. commercial fishermen landed 9.6 billion pounds of seafood in 2012, valued at $5.1 billion. The ex-vessel value of seafood landed in Alaska alone was $1.7 billion; $618.2 million in Massachusetts; $448.5 million in Maine. Those figures don’t include economic benefits derived throughout the value chain, with jobs created and supported at the docks, in processing, transportation and sales. Read More »

Posted in Policy / Also tagged Domestic, Fisheries, fisheries report, Fishing, Seafood | Comments are closed

Sharing the catch means more for everyone

By Beia Spiller / Bio / Published: September 5, 2013

It may seem counter-intuitive that sharing the catch yields more fish and economic benefits for fishermen and coastal communities, but that is exactly what catch shares are proven to do.

NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) recently released its first national report assessing the economic performance of catch share programs in the United States. This report further validates the findings outlined in a 2011 Marine Policy Paper, “Assessing Catch Shares’ effects evidence from Federal United States and associated British Columbian Fisheries (Grimm et. al), which examined 15 catch share programs in the U.S and British Columbia before and after catch share implementation.

While these two studies differ slightly in selected fisheries, variables and time frame, they both conclude that catch shares consistently outperform conventional management systems across the board. Graduating to catch shares yields a robust return on investment: longer seasons, fewer risks, higher revenues, less waste and more full time jobs. An overview of the findings from Grimm et al. is presented in the table below.

[Chart summarizing catch share benefits. Data adapted from Grimm et.al ]

Posted in Policy / Also tagged economics, Fisheries, fishing jobs, increased revenue, job stability, NMFS, US Fishermen | Comments are closed