Toward Rebuilding America s Marine Fisheries ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS ON THE STATUS OF U. S. FISHERIES   2001 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Sustainable Fisheries As mandated by the Sustainable Fisheries Act amendments to the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1996 Toward Rebuilding America s Marine Fisheries ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS ON THE STATUS OF U. S. FISHERIES   2001 As mandated by the Sustainable Fisheries Act amendments to the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1996 April 2002 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Sustainable Fisheries An online version is available at http:// www. nmfs. noaa. gov/ sfa/ reports. html This publication may be cited as:

NMFS. 2002. Annual Report to Congress on the Status of U. S. Fisheries   2001, U. S. Dep. Commerce, NOAA,

Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., Silver Spring, MD, 142 p.

F/ V Pat San Marie outward bound, Cape Flattery, Washington State. Photo: Allen Shimada, NMFS. v 1 5 5 6 6 6 7 7 7 8 8 8 9 Table of Contents A Message from the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA Executive Summary Introduction Historical Review Listing of Stocks Major and Minor Stocks Format Changes Results Overfishing Overfished Approaching an Overfished Condition Major and Minor Stocks Rebuilding Programs Specific Stock Determinations iii 11 13 15 27 99 100 103 104 109 136 137 139 140 List of Tables and Appendices Table 1. Summary of Stocks by Council Area, 2000 and 2001 Table 2. Description of Major and Minor Stocks by Council, 2001 Table 3. Summary of Stock Status for Principal Species Contained in Federal Fishery Management Plans Table 4. Summary of Stock Status for Species Contained in the Management Unit of Federal Fishery Management Plans Table 5. Summary of Stock Status for Species Contained in Federal Fishery Management Plans, but not Contained in a Management Unit Table 6. Summary of Stock Status for Species not Contained in Federal Fishery Management Plans Table 7. Species Contained in Federal Fishery Management Plans Under Development Appendix 1. Report Format and Description of Methodology for Determining Stock Status Appendix 2. Overfishing Definitions Contained in Fishery Management Plans Appendix 3. Overfishing Definitions for Species not Contained in Federal Fishery Management Plans Appendix 4. Overfishing Definitions from Fishery Management Plans Under Development Appendix 5. Six Tiers Comprising the Overfishing Definition for Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea / Aleutian Islands Groundfish Appendix 6. Acronyms used in Appendices.

iv A Message from the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA Welcome to NOAA s report on the status of the marine fisheries of the United States for 2001. In 1996,

Congress put America s marine fisheries on a new path, one aimed at emphasizing the need to prevent overfishing and to rebuild depressed fish stocks. Over the past five years,

NOAA and the eight Regional Fishery Management Councils have worked hard, and at times struggled, to turn the conception of the Sustainable Fisheries Act ( SFA)

into a reality. Slowly but ever surely, we are making progress toward achieving Congress  far reaching vision.

I believe that we in NOAA and the Regional Fishery Management Councils, along with our colleagues and partners in the states and fisheries constituencies, can point with pride to the many successes that our joint efforts have yielded. The framework for the new standard for fisheries management under the SFA has been established we have improved our knowledge of the stocks,

partly through cooperative research efforts with industry and we have instituted new management programs in nearly all of our fisheries that will achieve the higher standard of the SFA.

Our efforts have begun to bear fruit. The size of many fish stocks around the country has begun to increase,

while we have halted the decline of other stocks and have begun rebuilding them. This includes many of our most important species. The number of stocks with sustain

able harvest rates rose by 45% between 1999 and 2001,

and those with sustainable stock sizes increased by a third.

The Atlantic sea scallop resource has been rebuilt, as have some of the mackerel stocks in the Southeast. Other stocks, such as New England groundfish, Atlantic summer flounder, red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska tanner and snow crab have seen significant improvements in recent years, although in some cases significant additional growth is needed before the stocks can be considered healthy.

And yet the challenges that still await us are enormous. I believe that it is essential that our fishery management planning and regulatory activities must become more transparent and more timely. We in NOAA will need to work smarter and become more efficient in providing the policy oversight and regulatory implementation that reflect our responsibilities under the law. And we will need to work even more closely with the Regional Fishery Management Councils to find better ways of meeting the requirements of the various laws that govern our processes

Meeting our challenges will take more than improving our ability to serve our customers. In too many fisheries we must do more to address the SFA s goal of reducing bycatch, including revising many of our regulatory pro

visions that may actually be contributing to the problem.

We have to work harder to meet the requirements of re

building plans for overfished resources. We have to do more to improve how we designate and conserve essential fish habitat. And we will have to work to attain even better, more complete scientific information that serves as the basis for all our management activities.

We have initiated a 5 year review of the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Act. We will be looking at how well we and the Councils do our jobs, and what improvements we can make. We will be taking a comprehensive look at how well our fishery management plans conform to the policies of the Act and our guidelines.

Future reports on the status of stocks will benefit from this analysis. Our goal is to fully meet the many challenges of the law for the conservation and management of this Nation s marine fisheries.

In this report, which is based on current fishery management plans and stock assessments, you will find both evidence of our success, and the challenges that still await.

I know that the pace of our progress thus far has often been frustrating for all of us   in NOAA, the Councils,

the states, the fishing industry, and the public.

Successful completion will require even more patience and de

termination from all of us. NOAA is committed to fulfilling the goals of the Sustainable Fisheries Act, and to the ongoing conservation of fully sustainable U. S.

fisheries We will be successful only with the assistance of our colleagues and partners.

William T. Hogarth, Ph. D.

v Executive Summary The passage of the Sustainable Fisheries Act in 1996 ( SFA), reauthorizing the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation Management Act ( MSA) of 1976, marked a significant change in the Agency s legislative authority to manage living marine resources. The SFA provided the National Marine Fisheries Service ( NOAA Fisheries) with strengthened management tools to better address human impacts in the marine environment. These new tools included more stringent requirements to rebuild overfished fisheries and manage against overfishing, and a greater recognition of essential fish habitat. Since 1987 NOAA Fisheries has required the eight Fishery Management Councils to establish definitions for overfishing. How

ever, under the SFA, Congress raised the overfishing standard by providing the mandate for the Councils to specify objective and measurable criteria and management measures to end overfishing and rebuild overfished stocks to levels consistent with producing the maximum sustain

able yield from each fishery. This report is in response to Congressional interest for an annual report on the progress of addressing overfishing and rebuilding over

fished fisheries in the United States. This is the fifth annual report and contains reporting data for the year 2001.

This report describes in a series of tables the status of marine fish stocks under federal management in the U. S.

Exclusive Economic Zone ( EEZ), an area of vast diversity and richness of living marine resources. The EEZ extends to 200 miles offshore and covers more than 2 million square miles, equivalent to approximately two

thirds of the U. S. continental landmass. Although the SFA passed into law less than six years ago, significant progress has been made and continues to be made in both the level of scientific knowledge and, more importantly,

our ability to manage fisheries based on that knowledge.

Most of these fishery management successes share common characteristics   they represent species that mature quickly, have high reproductive rates and occur primarily in relatively healthy marine habitats. On the other hand we would not expect certain species to rebuild in the short term, such as those that migrate through inter

national waters or have different life histories that re

quire long time frames to rebuild. Some will take as long as 30 years or more. As such, the information contained in this report should be considered under the international and biological constraints that influence the progress and timelines of our management regimes and their success. A review of the determinations contained in this report finds that significant progress has been made in recent years. Two stocks were declared to be fully rebuilt in 2001. In addition, the number of stocks with sustainable harvest rates and stock sizes have risen sharply since 1999. The stocks with sustainable harvest rates rose by 45 percent between 1999 and 2001, while those with sustainable stocks sizes increased by a third. The number of stocks with harvest rates above the approved threshold level, i. e., stocks with overfishing occurring, have been reduced by 15 percent, and those whose stock size is be

low minimum acceptable levels, i. e., overfished stocks,

have declined by 12 percent in the last year. Rebuilding programs are in place or under development for virtually all overfished stocks, and have largely resulted in the gains just noted.

In reviewing the information presented it is important to understand that this report has undergone an evolution since first being published in 1997. The Status of Stocks Reports in 1997 and 1998 relied on pre SFA definitions for overfishing. Since implementing the SFA s more stringent criteria in 1999, nearly all Fishery Management Plans ( FMPs) have been amended, and the Secretary has approved most of the revised definitions for   overfishing,

and   overfished  criteria, as well as   rebuilding  pro

grams for overfished stocks. The change in overfishing definitions caused some additional stocks to be identified as overfished. Thus, the reader will note a shift in the reported numbers between the years 1999 and 2000.

1000 800 600 400 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 660 716 448 959 904 844 727 Known 544 Unknown 655 905 Figure 1. Known and unknown stock status, 1997 2001.

1 Annual Report to Congress 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2001 535 120 Major Stocks Minor Stocks Figure 2. Number of major and minor stocks of unknown status in 2001.

The years 2000 and 2001, however, are based on the same criteria. Fisheries management regimes and the collection of data is a dynamic process. As such, direct comparability from year to year is sometimes difficult.

Nonetheless as SFA criteria nears full implementation, NOAA Fisheries anticipates that standardization of the data year

to year will become easier.

The number of stocks in this report has gradually risen since 1997 to a high of 959 stocks listed in 2001 ( Figure 1). The number of stocks whose status is known has also risen over the years and now stands at 304, compared to 279 stocks in 1997. A large number, however, have a relatively small maximum stock size and little is known about them. We are collecting more information on some of these stocks, and the number of stocks whose status is unknown has begun to decline, falling from 716 in 1999 to 655 in 2001.

250 200 150 100 50 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 183 122 86 64 92 148 200 163 90 81 Overfished Not Overfished Figure 3. Number of stocks by   overfished  criteria, 1997 2001. The reader should also note the difference between

major and   minor  stocks and its relevance to   known  or   unknown  status ( Figure 2). Of the 304 stocks whose status is known, 175 are major stocks with over 200,000 pounds in landings. Of the remaining 655 whose status is unknown, only 120, or 18 percent, are major. While minor stocks may be important in an ecosystem context,

they are not the primary target species of directed fisheries Therefore, due to funding constraints and other management concerns, these stocks cannot be given the same level of priority that targeted fisheries must be given to stop or prevent overfishing and to rebuild overfished stocks.

The report examines stocks according to their individual status and attempts to answer several questions in an effort to meet the requirements of the MSA.

1. Is a stock found to have overfishing occurring ( the harvest rate was above a prescribed threshold as established within a FMP)?

2. Is a stock determined to be overfished ( the stock size was below a prescribed biological threshold)?

3. How do this year s determinations compare to previous year s report to gauge changes in the status of the stocks?

4. How many rebuilding programs have been approved,

and what is the status of those not yet approved?

Significant improvements have been realized for stocks whose status was determined to be overfished ( Figure 3).

As noted earlier, it is difficult to compare the first two years after passage of the SFA in 1996 with subsequent years since revised management programs to rebuild over

fished stocks were not required until the end of 1998.

Therefore, it is most appropriate to evaluate changes from 1999. The number of stocks that were found to be healthy has steadily risen from 122 in 1999 to 163 in 2001, a gain of 34 percent. As for stocks that are overfished, the number declined in the past year to 81, compared to 92 in 2000.

While there has been significant progress overall regarding overfished stocks, there have been notable gains in the stock size for specific stocks or stock complexes,

including those that remain overfished. For example, the Georges Bank yellowtail flounder stock has risen from about 5 thousand metric tons in 1994 to 56 thousand metric tons in 2000. Georges Bank haddock has experienced a similar increase rising from 11 thousand metric 2 Status of United States Fisheries   2001 70 70 60 60 50 50 40 40 30 30 20 20 10 10 00 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 ! 996 1998 2000 Figure 4. Improvement in spawning stock biomass for Georges Bank haddock and yellowtail flounder, 1984 2000. Georges Bank ( Stock Biomass, Age 1+, 1000 mt)

Yellowtail Flounder Haddock tons in 1993 to over 64 thousand metric tons in 2000 (

Figure 4). Similar gains have been seen in the summer flounder stock. The total stock size of summer flounder almost doubled between 1992 and 1999, increasing to about 80 million pounds. This stock has continued to grow since 1999, and was declared to be no longer overfished in 2001. Likewise, the abundance of the Bering Sea tanner crab stocks has nearly tripled since 1998. Even though some stocks remain overfished, similar improvements in the size of the stock have occurred across the country,

such as Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico king mackerel,

Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico spanish mackerel, Gulf of Mexico red snapper and Bering Sea/ Aleutian Islands snow crab.

The situation concerning the status of stocks is constantly changing. For example, since the material for this report was compiled, new assessments for many New England groundfish stocks and Pacific whiting have been completed and reviewed. These assessments may change the overfished status of some of these stocks. These changes will be reviewed in the next status of stocks report.

NOAA Fisheries will be directly notifying the relevant Council of the change in status for any of their stocks.

The report also finds that stocks not experiencing over

fishing have steadily risen in recent years ( Figure 5). Whereas, 159 stocks in 1999 had no overfishing, by 2001 the number had risen to 230, almost a 45 percent gain.

At the same time, the number of stocks with overfishing occurring has declined. In 1999, 77 stocks had overfishing but by 2001 the number had declined to 65, a 15 percent decrease.

NOAA Fisheries has approved rebuilding programs for the vast majority of overfished stocks. In 2001, an addi

250 200 150 100 50 0 1999 2000 2001 159 210 77 72 65 230 Overfishing No Overfishing Figure 5. Number of stocks by   overfishing  criteria, 1999 2001.

3 Annual Report to Congress 100 Other*

80 Not Required Under Development 60 Pending Development 40 Approved * Commission Plan or 20 Disapproved Rebuilding Plan 0 2000 2001 Figure 6. Status of rebuilding plans for overfished stocks, 2000 2001.

tional rebuilding program was approved, and the total number of approved programs stands at 74, including 67 rebuilding programs for currently overfished stocks, and an additional 7 rebuilding programs for stocks whose stock size is now above overfished thresholds but must continue to be rebuilt to levels consistent with producing maximum sustainable yield. In some cases, particularly for highly migratory species, rebuilding programs have been approved but not yet implemented pending approval of an international rebuilding regime or additional court

ordered stock surveys. Of the 81 total stocks that are overfished, most either have a rebuilding program approved or are under development. As noted in ( Figure 6), 67 rebuilding programs are in place for currently over

fished stocks, and an additional 9 programs are under development In addition, many Councils have been refining a number of previously approved rebuilding programs to better achieve the intent of the SFA.

4 Annual Report to Congress on the Status of U. S. Fisheries   2001 INTRODUCTION This report to Congress responds to section 304( e)( 1) of the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( MSA), as amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act ( SFA) on October 11, 1996:

( 1) The Secretary shall report annually to the Congress and the councils on the status of fisheries within each council s geographic area of authority and identify those fisheries that are overfished or are approaching a condition of being overfished. For those fisheries managed under a fishery management plan or international agreement, the status shall be determined using the criteria for overfishing specified in such plan or agreement. A fishery shall be classified as approaching a condition of being over

fished if, based on trends in fishing effort,

fishery resource size, and other appropriate factors,

the Secretary estimates that the fishery will be

come overfished within two years.

This is the fifth annual report on the status of stocks and overfishing that NOAA Fisheries has provided to Congress and the councils. It serves to describe the status of stocks and it also contains information on the status of rebuilding plans.

The format and content of this year s report is similar to last year s report, including a basis for each stock s classification denoting which stocks are major and which ones are minor, and appendices that contain detailed sections on methodology for classification of stocks.

The report is arranged around seven tables. The first two provide summary information, the third table is a list of principle species, and the last four tables provide more detailed information on each listed stock and FMP.

Table 1. Summary of stocks by Council area, 2000 and 2001.

Table 2. Description of major and minor stocks by Council, 2001. Table 3. Summary of stock status for principal species contained in Federal fishery management plans.

Table 4. Summary of stock status for species contained in the management unit of Federal fishery management plans.

Table 5. Summary of stock status for species contained in Federal fishery management plans, but not contained in a management unit.

Table 6. Summary of stock status for species not contained in Federal fishery management plans.

Table 7. Species contained in Federal fishery management plans under development.

The tables are followed by five appendices that provide greater detail on methodology and overfishing definitions,

as well as a guide to acronyms used in the tables.

Appendix 1. Report format and description of methodology for determining stock status.

Appendix 2. Overfishing definitions contained in fishery management plans.

Appendix 3. Overfishing definitions for species not contained in Federal fishery management plans.

Appendix 4. Overfishing definitions from fishery management plans under development.

Appendix 5. Six tiers comprising the overfishing definition for Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea / Aleutian Islands groundfish.

Appendix 6. Acronyms used in appendices.

Historical Review The Report on the Status of Fisheries in the United States has evolved over the past five years as changes in the 5 Annual Report to Congress management process have been implemented in accordance with the SFA. Although the SFA was passed on October, 11 1996, revised management programs,

including new overfishing definitions and criteria, were not required until two years later. However, the report on the status of stocks was not afforded such a delay. NOAA Fisheries, therefore, developed reports for 1997 and 1998 using existing overfishing definitions in the FMP that were based either on the rate of fishing or the size of the stock, but seldom both. A stock was determined to be overfished if the criteria in the FMP was exceeded,

regardless of whether they pertained to the rate of fishing or the size of the stock. FMP amendments to incorporate the requirements of the SFA were submitted in the latter part of 1998 and early 1999. However, these provisions were generally not implemented until mid 1999, and were not reflected in the status of the stocks report for that year. In an effort to be consistent with the requirements of the SFA, the 1999 report included separate determinations for the rate of fishing ( mortality) and size of the biomass for each stock. If either component was found to violate the criteria, the entire stock was declared to be overfished. Beginning in 2000, most of the overfishing definitions had been revised to conform to the SFA and included both fishing mortality and biomass components.

The 2000 and 2001 reports, therefore, included determinations for each component, i. e., the determination that a stock was overfished was based solely on whether the size of the biomass was above the threshold, and the determination of overfishing was solely based on whether the rate of fishing ( mortality) was below the threshold.

It is expected that this basis of determination will continue in future reports.

Listing of Stocks A substantial portion of a domestic stock must occur within the U. S. Exclusive Economic Zone ( EEZ) for it to be identified in this report. Most stocks are managed under a Council or joint Council FMP. There are 42 approved and implemented federal FMPs, six federal FMPs under development, and numerous other EEZ fisheries under no federal FMP. Some FMPs contain only one or a few stocks in the management unit, while others contain more than 100 stocks. To the extent possible, individual stocks for each fishery or FMP were assessed separately.

This year s report includes 72 new stocks. Fifty nine additional natural and hatchery stocks contained in the WA,

OR, and CA Salmon FMP are now listed in the report.

Eleven stocks have been added to the Gulf of Alaska Groundfish FMP, and two stocks were added to the Bering Sea / Aleutian Islands Groundfish FMP. Eighteen stocks have been deleted from the report. Chi

nook salmon ( Dungeness River) is no longer contained in the WA, OR, CA Salmon FMP, and the categories   other chinook salmon stocks  and   other coho salmon stocks  are no longer used in the report because they consist of significant numbers of stocks form small tributaries that cannot be tracked in the ocean fisheries. There

fore, determinations cannot be made for these stocks.

Northern rockfish, sharpchin rockfish, shortraker rock

fish, rougheye rockfish, roughtail skate, sandpaper skate,

starry Skate, blue shark, sixgill shark, and soupfin shark are no longer contained in the Bering Sea / Aleutian Is

lands Groundfish FMP, and flathead skate, roughtail skate, sandpaper skate, and starry skate are no longer contained in the Gulf of Alaska Groundfish FMP. South Atlantic rock shrimp was inadvertently listed in Table 3 and Table 6, and has now been deleted from Table 6.

Major and Minor Stocks This year s report distinguishes major from minor stocks.

Landings for each stock include published and unpublished commercial and recreational catches from various sources. The use of landings allows both commercial and recreational sectors to be readily incorporated into this evaluation. Landings are used as a proxy to reflect the relative size of the stock and/ or the value assigned by the marketplace ( limited landings may indicate a lack of a market for the stock). Based on landings for all stocks,

200,000 pounds appeared to be a suitable, albeit approximate dividing line for separating major and minor stocks.

Landings data that were used in last year s report ( 1999 landings) are the same used in this report and do not reflect the most current information available on pounds of fish landed. While landings will likely change some

what from year to year, major and minor designations will likely remain the same, therefore, it is not necessary to update landings figures every year. These totals are used merely to divide stocks into their respective categories.

Major stocks are now listed in boldface type and capital lettering.

Major and minor stock designations using a 200,000 pounds criteria is not applicable for Pacific coast salmon under the Pacific Fishery Management Council Salmon FMP. The Salmon FMP uses exploitation rates to classify those natural stock components that are subject to harvest impacts in ocean fisheries under Council jurisdiction Major west coast salmon stocks are classified as those with a cumulative adult equivalent exploitation rate more than 5 percent in ocean fisheries under Council jurisdiction during base periods utilized by the fishery regu

6 Status of United States Fisheries   2001 lation assessment models ( 1979 1982 for chinook and 1979 1981 for coho).

Format Changes The only changes to the format of this year s report was the addition of the column labeled   N/ A.  This was added for salmon stocks contained in the WA, OR, CA Salmon FMP that qualify as exceptions to the application of the overfishing criteria identified in Amendment 14.

Amendment 14 was approved by NOAA Fisheries on September 27, 2000, which provided three exceptions to the application of overfishing criteria and subsequent Council actions for stocks or stock complexes with conservation objectives: ( 1) hatchery stocks, ( 2) stocks for which Council management actions have inconsequential impacts and ( 3) stocks listed under the Endangered Species Act ( ESA).

Salmon stocks important to ocean fisheries and comprised exclusively of hatchery production generally have conservation objectives expressed as a measure of the eggs harvested from returning spawners, or the actual number of spawners returning to the hatchery to meet program objectives. The Salmon FMP recognizes these objectives and strives to meet them. However, these artificially produced stocks generally do not need the protection of over

fishing criteria and special Council rebuilding programs to maintain long term production. Because hatchery stocks can generally sustain significantly higher harvest exploitation rates than natural stocks, ocean fisheries rarely present a threat to their long term survival. There

fore, hatchery stocks that meet this criteria are the first exception to the application of overfishing criteria.

Several natural stock components identified within the Salmon FMP are subject to minimal harvest impacts in Council fisheries because of migration timing and/ or distribution and therefore are exceptions to the application of overfishing criteria. As a result, the Council s ability to affect the overall trend in the abundance of these components through harvest restrictions is limited.

Components in this second exception are identified by a cumulative adult equivalent exploitation rate of less than 5 percent in ocean fisheries under Council jurisdiction during base periods utilized by the fishery regulation assessment models ( 1979 1982 for chinook and 1979 1981 for coho).

The FMP regards stocks listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act ( ESA) as a third exception to the application of overfishing criteria of the Magnuson Stevens Act. The ESA requires federal agencies whose actions may jeopardize listed salmon to consult with NOAA Fisheries. Because NOAA Fisheries implements ocean harvest regulations, it is both the action and consulting agency for actions taken under the Salmon FMP. To ensure there is no jeopardy, NOAA Fisheries conducts internal consultations with respect to the effects of ocean harvest on listed salmon. The Council implements NOAA Fisheries  guidance as necessary to avoid jeopardy, as well as in recovery plans approved by NOAA Fisheries. As a result of NOAA Fisheries

consultation an incidental take statement may be issued which authorizes take of listed stocks under the FMP that would otherwise be prohibited under the ESA. It is believed that the requirements of the ESA are sufficient to meet the intent of the Magnuson Stevens Act overfishing provisions. Those provisions are structured to maintain or rebuild stocks to levels at or above maximum sustainable yield and require the Council to identify and develop rebuilding overfished stocks.

RESULTS Overfishing The number of stocks for which harvest rates exceed the overfishing threshold declined from 72 in 2000 to 65 in 2001. The number of stocks found to have no overfishing increased from 210 in 2000 to 230 in 2001. The number of stocks for which harvest rates were unknown or for which overfishing thresholds were not defined declined from 623 in 2000 to 607 in 2001. This pattern occurred for stocks managed by the New England, South Atlantic, Pacific, and North Pacific Councils.

Overfished The number of stocks determined to be overfished de

creased from 92 in 2000 to 81 in 2001. Many of these changes were a result of Amendment 14 to the WA, OR,

CA Salmon FMP, rather than a significant change in the size of the biomass of those stocks. Eight salmon stocks that were previously listed as overfished are now listed as   N/ A  because they meet the criteria of exceptions two or three under Amendment 14 to the Pacific Coast Salmon Plan. A ninth stock was previously listed as over

fished ( chinook salmon / Dungeness River) and is no longer contained in the FMP. Six additional stocks were added to the overfished list and eight stocks were removed from the list.

The number of stocks found to be not overfished increased in 2001. Stocks found to be not overfished increased 7 Annual Report to Congress from 148 in 2000 to 163 in 2001. This increase occurred for stocks managed by the Mid Atlantic, South Atlantic,

and Pacific Councils.

Overall, the number of stocks for which the biomass was either unknown or undefined, declined by 5 stocks to 655.

In addition, there was a significant shift from stocks that were listed as unknown in 2000 to a listing of undefined in the Caribbean, Pacific, and Western Pacific Council areas this year. Some of the stocks contained in FMPs managed by these Councils have never had overfishing or overfished definitions. Such stocks are usually minor and are contained in FMPs in which existing overfishing definitions do not apply to these stocks. Since these stocks are contained in an FMP and specific overfishing definitions are required, but are not available, the status of such stocks should be listed as undefined. While their status may be unknown, it would be more accurate to list them as undefined until overfishing criteria are approved for them.

Approaching an Overfished Condition Three stocks were found to be   approaching an overfished condition,  two fewer than 2000. The basis for deter

mining if a stock is approaching an overfished condition is the status and trend of the stock. Unless the status of the stock is known, a determination that the stock will become overfished within two years cannot be made with any certainty. Therefore, the definition for the biomass component in the FMP should be the determining criterion in evaluating whether a stock is approaching an over

fished condition. In some cases, the pre SFA definition has remained in the FMP and was used as the basis for the determinations. Also, for Western Pacific salmon stocks, the determining criteria is based on maximum sustainable yield/ maximum spawner potential objectives for natural stock or stock complexes. More information regarding determinations for Western Pacific salmon can be found in Appendix one. It should also be noted that the number of stocks in the   Approaching Overfished Condition  column should always be added to the   Over

fished  columns to arrive at the final count of total stocks,

because all determinations are based on the stock size or equivalent.

Major and Minor Stocks Stocks are separated into major and minor categories. The division was based on whether a stock had annual landings of more than 200,000 pounds. In 2001, 295 stocks that were classified as major accounted for the vast majority of landings, totaling more than 8 billion pounds, compared to only 9 million pounds for the 664 minor stocks.

Of the 959 stocks in the report, the status of more than 600 were either unknown or undefined, and 82 percent of those stocks were categorized as minor. The data also reveal that of the total of major 295 stocks, 40 were determined to have overfishing occurring, 159 had accept

able harvest rates, 44 were found to be overfished, and 118 were not overfished. For minor stocks, 25 were experiencing overfishing, 71 stocks had acceptable harvest rates, 37 were overfished, and 45 were not overfished.

The three stocks that were approaching an overfished condition were major stocks.

Rebuilding Programs This report identifies 74 rebuilding programs that are either currently implemented or approved. Seven of these rebuilding plans are in effect for stocks that are currently listed as not overfished, but have not been rebuilt to a level that is consistent with producing the maximum sustainable yield. The remaining 67 rebuilding plans in effect are for stocks that are currently listed as overfished.

This year s report includes 29 rebuilding programs that are Pre SFA. Forty five of all programs are consistent with SFA guidelines, however, 27 of those have not been implemented, pending international agreement on management programs. The programs not implemented involve highly migratory species. In some cases the re

building programs are pending the adoption of international agreements. For other stocks, the rebuilding pro

gram was delayed pending a court ordered peer review of the stocks assessment upon which the program was based. Based on the review, a new stock assessment will be conducted in early 2002, and a revised rebuilding pro

gram will be subsequently developed.

There are three stocks ( Gulf of Mexico greater amber

jack, WA, OR, CA darkblotched rockfish, and WA, OR,

CA widow rockfish) that have been identified as over

fished since last year s report, and the Councils have one year from the date they were notified of their status to submit rebuilding plans. Redfish and white hake have also been identified as overfished since last year s re

port, and the Council will be notified upon publication of this report. Rebuilding programs have not been submitted for five stocks, but they are currently indirectly growing under the rebuilding program for other ground

fish stocks; two of these stocks are listed as overfished ( Mid Atlantic yellowtail flounder and ocean pout), and three are listed as not overfished, but have not rebuilt to levels consistent with MSY ( Gulf of Maine haddock, Cape xvi8 Status of United States Fisheries   2001 Cod yellowtail flounder and Georges Bank winter flounder One program has been disapproved ( scup), and there is one stock for which a formal rebuilding program was not required to be submitted because no fishing is allowed in this fishery ( Atlantic salmon). Finally, there is one overfished stock contained in a FMP managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission ( Atlantic sturgeon).

Three of the rebuilding programs listed in last year s re

port have been temporarily set aside pending a recent court ruling ( lingcod, Pacific ocean perch, and bocaccio).

Two rebuilding plans are no longer in effect because re

building has been achieved under the plan ( Georges Bank Atlantic sea scallop and Middle Atlantic sea scallop), and another stock was incorrectly identified as overfished and rebuilding under a plan ( Southern Georges Bank / Middle Atlantic red hake). Five post SFA rebuilding plans have been approved since last year s report ( golden tilefish,

canary rockfish, cowcod, Saint Matthews Island blue king crab, and Bering Sea snow crab).

Any stock that has previously been listed, or is currently listed, as overfished is required to have a rebuilding pro

gram until the stock has been rebuilt to levels that are consistent with supporting MSY on a sustainable basis.

Overfished stocks that do not have a rebuilding program are listed as   rebuild program  in the management action required column, which indicates that a rebuilding program is required for this stock. Overfished stocks that are listed as   continue rebuilding  in the management action required column are currently rebuilding under an approved rebuilding program.

Stocks that are listed as not overfished   rebuilding were previously below the minimum stock size threshold, are now above that level, but have not been rebuilt to the target levels specified in their rebuilding plans. These stocks are currently rebuilding under an approved rebuilding plan, and are listed as   continue rebuilding  in the management action required column. Three exceptions are Cape Cod yellowtail flounder, Gulf of Maine had

dock, and Georges Bank winter flounder, which are re

building under rebuilding programs for other groundfish stocks.

The status of these stocks is likely to improve as a result of these measures, but because they were previously listed as overfished, a formal rebuilding program is still required for them. It is important to note that the status of previously overfished stocks should not be considered as fully healthy until they have been rebuilt to levels consistent with producing the maximum sustainable yield. Specific Stock Determinations Changes from 2000 Eight stocks listed as overfished in 2000 ( Gulf of Maine haddock, Georges Bank haddock, Southern Georges Bank / Middle Atlantic red hake, Northern monkfish, summer flounder, Atlantic croaker, winter skate, and smooth skate)

were removed from the overfished list. Gulf of Maine haddock, Georges Bank haddock, Northern monkfish, and summer flounder are now classified as not overfished because the biomass level exceeds the minimum stock size threshold, but they have not been rebuilt to levels consistent with producing MSY as required by the Magnuson Stevens Act. Therefore, the Councils must continue their rebuilding programs until the stocks are rebuilt. The most recent survey index for winter skate and smooth skate determined that the current biomass is above the minimum stock size threshold, and therefore,

they are now listed as not overfished.

For Southern Georges Bank / Middle Atlantic red hake,

last year s determination of overfished was incorrect;

there is no definition contained in the FMP to make a determination relative to the stock level. Atlantic croaker was previously listed as overfishing occurring and over

fished based on status determinations contained in the publication Our Living Oceans ( OLO). These status de

terminations were likely based on regional stock assessments that were conducted prior to 1995, not a coast wide assessment of the stock. Since no coastwide assessment has been conducted and determinations contained in OLO are outdated, it would be more accurate to list the status as unknown, until more information becomes available.

Seven stocks have been removed from the overfishing list because recent analyses have determined that the fishing mortality rates are now below the established thresholds The stocks include Cape Cod yellowtail flounder,

bluefish ( except Gulf of Mexico), loligo squid, WA, OR,

CA darkblotched rockfish, WA, OR, CA yelloweye rock

fish, WA, OR, CA silvergrey rockfish, and winter skate.

An eighth stock, Atlantic croaker, was previously listed as overfishing occurring, but is now listed as unknown.

Five stocks contained in the Alaska Crab FMP ( St.

Lawrence Island blue king crab, Aleutian Islands red king crab, Bering Sea Triangle tanner crab, Adak tanner crab,

and Western Aleutian Islands grooved tanner crab) were changed from unknown to no under overfishing. For these stocks, there is no fishing mortality because the fishery in the EEZ is closed.

9 Annual Report to Congress 2001 Determinations The 2001 report identifies four additional stocks for which overfishing is occurring: Gulf of Maine haddock, North

ern shrimp, Gulf of Mexico red drum, and thorny skate.

Six additional stocks are identified as being overfished:

1. New England / Middle Atlantic redfish and white hake 2. South Atlantic black sea bass 3. Gulf of Mexico greater amberjack 4. Pacific darkblotched rockfish and widow rockfish Two additional stocks are identified as approaching an overfished condition: Southern New England / Middle Atlantic windowpane flounder and WA, OR, CA yelloweye rockfish. Five stocks were listed as approach ing an overfished condition in 2000, and Gulf of Mexico gag remains on the list.

Loligo squid has been removed from the list because it is no longer approaching an overfished condition, North ern shrimp is now listed as unknown, and darkblotched rockfish and widow rockfish are now listed as overfished.

The status determination for Northern shrimp was previously based on the results of Northeast Fishery Science Center and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission trawl surveys. Because the Northern shrimp FMP does not contain reference points to measure the status of the biomass relative to the level at which the stock becomes overfished, determinations regarding the approaching or overfished status cannot be made, and previous listings were in error.

The Councils and the Secretary are required to submit measures to end overfishing and rebuild stocks that are overfished, and to prevent overfishing for those stocks that are approaching an overfished condition, managed under these FMPs and FMPs under development, within a year of being notified. For those stocks that have been removed from the overfished list, but are not at levels consistent with producing MSY, rebuilding plans must continue until rebuilding targets are met.

10 Table 1. SUMMARY OF STOCKS BY COUNCIL AREA, 2000 AND 2001 Jurisdiction Year Nu mb er of Stocks Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching Overfished Condition Yes No Not Known Not Defined N/ A Yes No Not Known Not Defined N/ A NEFMC 2000 37 10 17 10 0 0 13 19 4 1 0 0 2001 37 7 23 7 0 0 10 21 3 2 0 1 MAFMC 2000 11 6 5 0 0 0 5 3 1 1 0 1 2001 11 4 7 0 0 0 4 5 1 1 0 0 NEFMC/ MAFMC 2000 3 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 2001 3 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 SAFMC 2000 89 13 21 55 0 0 14 2 67 6 0 0 2001 88 13 21 52 2 0 15 4 61 8 0 0 GMFMC 2000 57 4 14 39 0 0 5 5 40 6 0 1 2001 57 5 13 37 2 0 6 4 38 8 0 1 SAFMC/ GMFMC 2000 10 0 6 4 0 0 1 5 4 0 0 0 2001 10 0 6 3 1 0 1 5 3 1 0 0 CFMC 2000 179 1 9 169 0 0 3 1 153 22 0 0 2001 179 1 9 154 15 0 3 1 138 37 0 0 SAFMC/ GMFMC/ CFMC 2000 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 SAFMC/ GMFMC/ CFMC 2001 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 PFMC 2000 112 3 35 70 4 0 14 22 72 2 0 2 2001 168 0 41 68 2 57 7 30 69 4 57 1 WPFMC 2000 64 0 15 3 46 0 1 48 15 0 0 0 2001 64 0 15 2 47 0 1 48 14 1 0 0 NPFMC 2000 244 0 73 166 5 0 2 31 211 0 0 0 2001 243 0 82 161 0 0 2 32 209 0 0 0 PFMC/ NPFMC 2000 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2001 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 11 Table 1. SUMMARY OF STOCKS BY COUNCIL AREA, 2000 AND 2001, CONTD.

Jurisdiction Year Number of Stocks Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching Overfished Condition Yes No Not Known Not Defined N/ A Yes No Not Known Not Defined N/ A HMS 2000 83 29 8 46 0 0 29 8 46 0 0 0 2001 83 29 8 46 0 0 29 8 46 0 0 0 ASMFC 2000 12 3 5 4 0 0 2 3 4 2 0 1 2001 12 3 3 5 1 0 1 3 5 3 0 0 GSMFC 2000 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2001 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 Total 2000 905 72 210 568 55 0 92 148 619 41 0 5 2001 959 65 230 537 70 57 81 163 589 66 57 3 * Determination based on fishing mortality rate ** Determination based on stock level 1. This total does not include the species designated as Approaching an Overfished Condition to avoid double counting 12 TABLE 2. DESCRIPTION OF MAJOR AND MINOR STOCKS BY COUNCIL, 2001 Jurisdiction Stock Group Number of Stocks 1999 Landings ( 1,000 Pounds) Overfishing? Overfished? Appro aching Overfished Condition Yes No Not Known Not Defined N/ A Yes No Not Known Not Defined N/ A NEFMCMajor 32 346,453721 4 0 0 721 1 2 0 1 Minor 5 145 0 2 3 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 Total 37 346,598 7 23 7 0 0 10 21 3 2 0 MAFMC Major 11 241,536 4 7 0 0 0 4 5 1 1 0 Minor 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 11 241,536 4 7 0 0 0 4 5 1 1 0 NEFMC / MAFMC Major 3 56,539 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 Minor 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 3 56,539 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 SAFMC Major 25 50,738 9 10 6 0 0 9 2 13 1 0 Minor 63 1,823 4 11 46 2 0 6 2 48 7 0 Total 88 52,561 13 21 52 2 0 15 4 61 8 0 GMFMC Major 22 275,584 5 6 9 2 0 4 4 10 3 0 Minor 35 1,043 0 7 28 0 0 2 0 28 5 0 Total 57 276,627 5 13 37 2 0 6 4 38 8 0 SAFMC / GMFMC Major 9 44,247 0 6 3 0 0 1 5 3 0 0 Minor 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Total 10 44,247 0 6 3 1 0 1 5 3 1 0 CFMC Major 2 411 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 Minor 177 974 0 8 154 15 0 2 0 138 37 0 Total 179 1,385 1 9 154 15 0 3 1 138 37 0 SAFMC/ GMFMC/ CFMC Major 1 1,183 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 SAFMC/ GMFMC/ CFMC Minor 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 SAFMC/ GMFMC/ CFMC Total 1 1,183 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.

13 TABLE 2. DESCRIPTION OF MAJOR AND MINOR STOCKS BY COUNCIL, 2001, CONTD.

Jurisdiction Stock Group Number of Stocks 1999 Landings ( 1,000 Pounds) Overfishing? Overfished? Appro aching Overfished Condition Yes No Not Known Not Defined N/ A Yes No Not Known Not Defined N/ A PFMC Major 73 1,019,532 0 39 22 2 10 6 29 23 4 10 1 Minor 95 2,375 0 2 46 0 47 1 1 46 0 47 0 Total 168 1,021,907 0 41 68 2 57 7 30 69 4 57 1 WPFMC Major 11 27,066 0 2 0 9 0 0 11 0 0 0 0 Minor 53 783 0 13 2 38 0 1 37 14 1 0 0 Total 64 27,849 0 15 2 47 0 1 48 14 1 0 0 NPFMC Major 76 4,317,010 0 59 17 0 0 2 31 43 0 0 0 Minor 167 1,215 0 23 144 0 0 0 1 166 0 0 0 Total 243 4,318,225 0 82 161 0 0 2 32 209 0 0 0 PFMC / NPFMC Major 1 81,099 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Minor 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 1 81,099 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 HMSMajor17 36,10384 5 0 084 5 0 0 0 Minor 66 840 21 4 41 0 0 21 4 41 0 0 Total 83 36,943 29 8 46 0 0 29 8 46 0 0 0 0 ASMFCMajor10 891,86832 4 1 003 4 3 0 0 Minor 2 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 Total 12 891,872 3 3 5 1 0 1 3 5 3 0 0 0 GSMFCMajor 2 1,283,52101 1 0 001 1 0 0 0 Minor 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 2 1,283,521 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 TOTAL Major 295 8,672,890 40 159 72 14 10 44 118 105 15 10 3 Minor 664 9,202 25 71 465 56 47 37 45 484 51 47 Total 959 8,682,092 65 230 537 70 57 81 163 589 66 57 0 3 14                                                                                Table 3. Summary of Stock Status for Principal Species Contained in the Management Unit in Federal Fishery Management Plans Note: Refer to endnotes after Table 4                                                                                Fishery Management Plan Stock ( Species in Bold are Major Stocks) Jurisdiction Overfishing?

( Is Fishing Mortality above Threshold?) Overfished?

( Is Biomass below Threshold?) Approaching Overfished Condition? Management Action Required Rebuilding Program Progress Pre SFA Post SFA Pre SFA Post SFA Atlantic Sea Scallop ATLANTIC SEA SCALLOP GEORGES BANK NEFMC No No No N/ A rebuilt under plan MIDDLE ATLANTIC NEFMC Yes No No reduce mortality rebuilt under plan Northeast Multispecies COD GULF OF MAINE NEFMC Yes No  rebuilding No reduce mortality continue rebuilding2 year 6 of plan*

GEORGES BANK NEFMC No No  rebuilding No continue rebuilding2 year 6 of plan*

Northeast Multispecies HADDOCK GULF OF MAINE NEFMC Yes No  rebuilding No reduce mortality continue rebuilding2 not submitted3 GEORGES BANK NEFMC No No  rebuilding No continue rebuilding2 year 6 of plan*

Northeast Multispecies WITCH FLOUNDER NEFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Northeast Multispecies YELLOW

TAIL FLOUNDER GEORGES BANK NEFMC No No No N/ A N/ A SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND NEFMC No Yes N/ A continue rebuilding year 6 of plan*

Northeast Multispecies WHITE HAKE NEFMC Yes Yes5 N/ A reduce mortality rebuild program under development4 15                                                                                Fishery Management Plan Stock ( Species in Bold are Major Stocks) Jurisdiction Overfishing?

( Is Fishing Mortality above Threshold?) Overfished?

( Is Biomass below Threshold?) Approaching Overfished Condition? Management Action Required Rebuilding Program Progress Pre SFA Post SFA Pre SFA Post SFA Northeast Multispecies POLLOCK NEFMC Unknown Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A Northeast Multispecies WINTER FLOUNDER GULF OF MAINE NEFMC Unknown Undefined Unknown N/ A N/ A GEORGES BANK NEFMC No No  rebuilding No continue rebuilding2 not submitted3 Northeast Multispecies SILVER HAKE GULF OF MAINE /

NORTHERN GEORGES BANK NEFMC Unknown No  rebuilding No continue rebuilding2 3/ 10 year plan SOUTHERN GEORGES BANK / MIDDLE ATLANTIC NEFMC Unknown Yes N/ A continue rebuilding 3/ 10 year plan Monkfish MONKFISH ( NORTH) NEFMC /

MAFMC Yes No  rebuilding No reduce mortality continue rebuilding2 3/ 10 year plan Monkfish MONKFISH ( SOUTH) MAFMC /

NEFMC Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 3/ 10 year plan Spiny Dogfish SPINY DOGFISH NEFMC /

MAFMC Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 2/ 5 year plan Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass SUMMER FLOUNDER MAFMC Yes No  rebuilding No reduce mortality continue rebuilding2 7/ 10 year plan Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass SCUP MAFMC Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality rebuild program disapproved Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass BLACK SEA BASS MAFMC Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 6/ 10 year plan 16                                                                                Fishery Management Plan Stock ( Species in Bold are Major Stocks) Jurisdiction Overfishing?

( Is Fishing Mortality above Threshold?) Overfished?

( Is Biomass below Threshold?) Approaching Overfished Condition? Management Action Required Rebuilding Program Progress Pre SFA Post SFA Pre SFA Post SFA Atlantic Bluefish BLUEFISH ( EXCEPT GULF OF MEXICO) MAFMC No Yes N/ A continue rebuilding 3/ 9 year plan Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog SURFCLAM MAFMC No Undefined Unknown N/ A N/ A Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog OCEAN QUOHOG MAFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Atlantic Mackerel, Squid,

and Butterfish SQUID ILLEX MAFMC No Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A LOLIGO MAFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Tilefish GOLDEN TILEFISH MAFMC Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 1/ 10 year plan South Atlantic Golden Crab GOLDEN CRAB SAFMC No Undefined Unknown N/ A N/ A South Atlantic Shrimp WHITE SHRIMP SAFMC No Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A South Atlantic Shrimp ROCK SHRIMP SAFMC No Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A South Atlantic Shrimp BROWN SHRIMP SAFMC No Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A South Atlantic Shrimp PINK SHRIMP SAFMC No Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A South Atlantic Snapper Grouper VERMILION SNAPPER SAFMC Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 3/ 10 year plan**

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Red Porgy SAFMC Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 2/ 18 year plan**

17                                                                                Fishery Management Plan Stock ( Species in Bold are Major Stocks) Jurisdiction Overfishing?

( Is Fishing Mortality above Threshold?) Overfished?

( Is Biomass below Threshold?) Approaching Overfished Condition? Management Action Required Rebuilding Program Progress Pre SFA Post SFA Pre SFA Post SFA South Atlantic Snapper Grouper GAG SAFMC Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 11/ 15 year plan**

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper RED SNAPPER SAFMC Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 11/ 15 year plan**

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper SNOWY GROUPER SAFMC Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 11/ 15 year plan**

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Warsaw Grouper SAFMC Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 11/ 15 year plan**

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper GOLDEN TILEFISH SAFMC Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 10/ 15 year plan**

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper YELLOWTAIL SNAPPER SAFMC Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 10/ 10 year plan**

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper RED GROUPER SAFMC Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 11/ 15 year plan**

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Black Grouper SAFMC Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 2/ 15 year plan**

18                                                                                Fishery Management Plan Stock ( Species in Bold are Major Stocks) Jurisdiction Overfishing?

( Is Fishing Mortality above Threshold?) Overfished?

( Is Biomass below Threshold?) Approaching Overfished Condition? Management Action Required Rebuilding Program Progress Pre SFA Post SFA Pre SFA Post SFA South Atlantic Snapper Grouper BLACK SEA BASS SAFMC Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 2/ 10 year plan**

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Goliath Grouper ( Jewfish) SAFMC No7 Yes N/ A continue rebuilding 11/ 15 year plan**

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Nassau Grouper SAFMC No7 Yes N/ A continue rebuilding 11/ 15 year plan**

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper MUTTON SNAPPER SAFMC No No No N/ A N/ A South Atlantic Snapper Grouper GREATER AMBERJACK SAFMC No No No N/ A N/ A South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Wreckfish SAFMC No No Unknown8 N/ A N/ A South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Yellowedge Grouper SAFMC No No Unknown8 N/ A N/ A Atlantic Coast Red Drum RED DRUM SAFMC Yes7 Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding year 11 of plan*

South Atlantic Corals9 Fire Corals SAFMC No7 Undefined Unknown N/ A N/ A South Atlantic Corals9 Hydrocorals SAFMC No7 Undefined Unknown N/ A N/ A South Atlantic Corals9 Octocorals SAFMC No7 Undefined Unknown N/ A N/ A South Atlantic Corals9 Stony Corals SAFMC No7 Undefined Unknown N/ A N/ A South Atlantic Corals9 Black Corals SAFMC No7 Undefined Unknown N/ A N/ A Gulf of Mexico Stone Crab STONE CRAB GMFMC No No No N/ A N/ A 19                                                                                Fishery Management Plan Stock ( Species in Bold are Major Stocks) Jurisdiction Overfishing?

( Is Fishing Mortality above Threshold?) Overfished?

( Is Biomass below Threshold?) Approaching Overfished Condition? Management Action Required Rebuilding Program Progress Pre SFA Post SFA Pre SFA Post SFA Gulf of Mexico Shrimp BROWN SHRIMP GMFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Gulf of Mexico Shrimp PINK SHRIMP GMFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Gulf of Mexico Shrimp WHITE SHRIMP GMFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Gulf of Mexico Shrimp ROYAL RED SHRIMP GMFMC No Undefined Unknown N/ A N/ A Gulf of Mexico / South Atlantic Spiny Lobster SPINY LOBSTER SAFMC /

GMFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Coastal Migratory Pelagics of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic KING MACKEREL GULF GROUP SAFMC /

GMFMC No Yes N/ A continue rebuilding year 16 of plan*

ATLANTIC GROUP SAFMC /

GMFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Coastal Migratory Pelagics of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic SPANISH MACKEREL GULF GROUP SAFMC /

GMFMC No No No N/ A N/ A ATLANTIC GROUP SAFMC /

GMFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Coastal Migratory Pelagics of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic DOLPHIN SAFMC /

GMFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico RED SNAPPER GMFMC Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 11/ 29 year plan**

Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico RED GROUPER GMFMC Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality rebuild program under development 20                                                                                Fishery Management Plan Stock ( Species in Bold are Major Stocks) Jurisdiction Overfishing?

( Is Fishing Mortality above Threshold?) Overfished?

( Is Biomass below Threshold?) Approaching Overfished Condition? Management Action Required Rebuilding Program Progress Pre SFA Post SFA Pre SFA Post SFA Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico Nassau Grouper GMFMC No7 Yes N/ A continue rebuilding year 4 of plan*

Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico Goliath Grouper ( Jewfish) GMFMC No7 Yes N/ A continue rebuilding year 11 of plan*

Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico GREATER AMBERJACK GMFMC No Yes Unknown8 rebuild program not submitted11 Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico GAG GMFMC Yes No Yes reduce mortality N/ A Gulf of Mexico Red Drum RED DRUM GMFMC Yes7 Yes N/ A continue rebuilding year 11 of plan*

Caribbean Spiny Lobster12 SPINY LOBSTER CFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Caribbean Reef Fish13 Nassau Grouper CFMC No7 Yes N/ A continue rebuilding year 11 of plan*

Caribbean Reef Fish13 Goliath Grouper ( Jewfish) CFMC No7 Yes N/ A continue rebuilding year 8 of plan*

Caribbean Reef Fish13 Mutton Snapper CFMC Unknown Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A Caribbean Reef Fish13 Yellowtail Snapper CFMC Unknown Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A Caribbean Reef Fish13 Red Hind CFMC Unknown Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A Caribbean Queen Conch14 QUEEN CONCH CFMC Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding year 5 of plan*

Western Pacific Crustaceans SPINY LOBSTER ( 2 species) WPFMC No No Unknown8 N/ A N/ A Western Pacific Corals24 Gold Corals ( 4 species) WPFMC No No No N/ A N/ A 21                                                                                Fishery Management Plan Stock ( Species in Bold are Major Stocks) Jurisdiction Overfishing?

( Is Fishing Mortality above Threshold?) Overfished?

( Is Biomass below Threshold?) Approaching Overfished Condition? Management Action Required Rebuilding Program Progress Pre SFA Post SFA Pre SFA Post SFA Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish of the Western Pacific Seabass ( Main Hawaiian Islands) WPFMC Undefined No No N/ A N/ A Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish of the Western Pacific PINK SNAPPER WPFMC Undefined No No N/ A N/ A Western Pacific Pelagics YELLOWFIN TUNA ( CENTRAL WESTERN PACIFIC) WPFMC Undefined No No N/ A N/ A Western Pacific Pelagics ALBACORE ( SOUTH PACIFIC) WPFMC Undefined No No N/ A N/ A Western Pacific Pelagics ALBACORE ( NORTH PACIFIC) WPFMC Undefined No No N/ A N/ A Western Pacific Pelagics YELLOWFIN TUNA ( EASTERN TROPICAL PACIFIC) WPFMC Undefined No No N/ A N/ A Western Pacific Pelagics SKIPJACK TUNA ( CENTRAL WESTERN PACIFIC) WPFMC Undefined No No N/ A N/ A Western Pacific Pelagics SKIPJACK TUNA ( EASTERN TROPICAL PACIFIC) WPFMC Undefined No No N/ A N/ A Western Pacific Pelagics BIGEYE TUNA ( PACIFIC) WPFMC Undefined No Unknown8 N/ A N/ A Western Pacific Pelagics SWORDFISH ( PACIFIC) WPFMC Undefined No Unknown8 N/ A N/ A Western Pacific Pelagics Mahimahi ( Pacific) WPFMC Undefined Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A Gulf of Alaska Groundfish WESTERN / CENTRAL WALLEYE POLLOCK NPFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Gulf of Alaska Groundfish PACIFIC COD NPFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Gulf of Alaska Groundfish SABLEFISH NPFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Gulf of Alaska Groundfish ARROWTOOTH FLOUNDER NPFMC No No No N/ A N/ A 22                                                                                Fishery Management Plan Stock ( Species in Bold are Major Stocks) Jurisdiction Overfishing?

( Is Fishing Mortality above Threshold?) Overfished?

( Is Biomass below Threshold?) Approaching Overfished Condition? Management Action Required Rebuilding Program Progress Pre SFA Post SFA Pre SFA Post SFA Gulf of Alaska Groundfish WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH NPFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Gulf of Alaska Groundfish CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH NPFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Gulf of Alaska Groundfish EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH DOVER SOLE NPFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Gulf of Alaska Groundfish NPFMC No Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A Gulf of Alaska Groundfish FLATHEAD SOLE NPFMC No Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A Gulf of Alaska Groundfish REX SOLE NPFMC No Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A Gulf of Alaska Groundfish NORTHERN ROCK SOLE NPFMC No Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A Gulf of Alaska Groundfish SOUTHERN ROCK SOLE NPFMC No Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A Gulf of Alaska Groundfish Yelloweye Rockfish NPFMC No Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A Bering Sea / Aleutian Islands Groundfish WALLEYE POLLOCK EASTERN BERING SEA NPFMC No No No N/ A N/ A ALEUTIAN ISLANDS NPFMC No Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A BOGOSLOF NPFMC No Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A Bering Sea / Aleutian Islands Groundfish PACIFIC COD NPFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Bering Sea / Aleutian Islands Groundfish YELLOWFIN SOLE NPFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Bering Sea / Aleutian Islands Groundfish GREENLAND TURBOT NPFMC No No No N/ A N/ A 23                                                                                Fishery Management Plan Stock ( Species in Bold are Major Stocks) Jurisdiction Overfishing?

( Is Fishing Mortality above Threshold?) Overfished?

( Is Biomass below Threshold?) Approaching Overfished Condition? Management Action Required Rebuilding Program Progress Pre SFA Post SFA Pre SFA Post SFA Bering Sea / Aleutian Islands Groundfish ROCK SOLE NPFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Bering Sea / Aleutian Islands Groundfish FLATHEAD SOLE NPFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Bering Sea / Aleutian Islands Groundfish EASTERN BERING SEA SABLEFISH NPFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Bering Sea / Aleutian Islands Groundfish ALEUTIAN ISLANDS SABLEFISH NPFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Bering Sea / Aleutian Islands Groundfish EASTERN BERING SEA PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH NPFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Bering Sea / Aleutian Islands Groundfish ALEUTIAN ISLANDS PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH NPFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Bering Sea / Aleutian Islands Groundfish ATKA MACKEREL NPFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Bering Sea / Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs BLUE KING CRAB SAINT MATTHEWS ISLAND NPFMC No7 Yes N/ A continue rebuilding 2/ 10 year plan Bering Sea / Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs GOLDEN KING CRAB ALEUTIAN ISLANDS NPFMC Unknown Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A Bering Sea / Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs RED KING CRAB NORTON SOUND NPFMC Unknown Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A PRIBILOF ISLANDS NPFMC No7 No Unknown8 N/ A N/ A ALEUTIAN ISLANDS NPFMC No7 Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A Bering Sea / Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs BERING SEA SNOW CRAB NPFMC No No  rebuilding No continue rebuilding2 2/ 10 year plan 24                                                                                Fishery Management Plan Stock ( Species in Bold are Major Stocks) Jurisdiction Overfishing?

( Is Fishing Mortality above Threshold?) Overfished?

( Is Biomass below Threshold?) Approaching Overfished Condition? Management Action Required Rebuilding Program Progress Pre SFA Post SFA Pre SFA Post SFA Bering Sea / Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs TANNER CRAB BERING SEA NPFMC No7 Yes N/ A continue rebuilding 2/ 10 year plan Atlantic Billfishes Blue Marlin ( North Atlantic) HMS Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality rebuild program not implemented36 Atlantic Billfishes White Marlin ( North Atlantic) HMS Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality rebuild program not implemented36 Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks BIGEYE TUNA ( ATLANTIC) HMS Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality rebuild program not implemented36 Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks BLUEFIN TUNA ( WEST ATLANTIC) HMS Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 4/ 20 year plan37 Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks SWORDFISH ( NORTH ATLANTIC) HMS Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 3/ 10 year plan38 Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks SANDBAR SHARK HMS Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 39 year plan39 Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks BLACKTIP SHARK HMS Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 30 year plan39 Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks SPINNER SHARK HMS Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 30 year plan39 Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks SILKY SHARK HMS Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality continue rebuilding 39 year plan39 25                                                                                Fishery Management Plan Stock ( Species in Bold are Major Stocks) Jurisdiction Overfishing?

( Is Fishing Mortality above Threshold?) Overfished?

( Is Biomass below Threshold?) Approaching Overfished Condition? Management Action Required Rebuilding Program Progress Pre SFA Post SFA Pre SFA Post SFA Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks YELLOWFIN TUNA ( WEST ATLANTIC) HMS No No No N/ A N/ A Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks ATLANTIC SHARPNOSE SHARK HMS No No40 No N/ A N/ A Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks FINETOOTH SHARK HMS No No40 No N/ A N/ A Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks BLACKNOSE SHARK HMS No No40 No N/ A N/ A Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks SHORTFIN MAKO SHARK HMS Unknown Unknown41 Unknown N/ A N/ A Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks PORBEAGLE SHARK HMS Unknown Unknown41 Unknown N/ A N/ A Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks BLUE SHARK HMS Unknown Unknown41 Unknown N/ A N/ A 26                                                                                Table 4. Summary of Stock Status for Species Contained in the Management Unit in Federal Fishery Management Plans                                                                                Fishery Management Plan Stock ( Species in Bold are Major Stocks) Jurisdiction Overfishing?

( Is Fishing Mortality above Threshold?) Overfished?

( Is Biomass below Threshold?) Approaching Overfished Condition? Management Action Required Rebuilding Program Progress Pre SFA Post SFA Pre SFA Post SFA Atlantic Sea Scallop ATLANTIC SEA SCALLOP GEORGES BANK NEFMC No No No N/ A rebuilt under plan MIDDLE ATLANTIC NEFMC Yes No No reduce mortality rebuilt under plan Atlantic Salmon Atlantic Salmon NEFMC No Yes N/ A rebuild program

ESA listed not required1 Northeast Multispecies COD GULF OF MAINE NEFMC Yes No  rebuilding No reduce mortality continue rebuilding2 year 6 of plan*

GEORGES BANK NEFMC No No  rebuilding No continue rebuilding2 year 6 of plan*

Northeast Multispecies HADDOCK GULF OF MAINE NEFMC Yes No  rebuilding No reduce mortality continue rebuilding2 not submitted3 GEORGES BANK NEFMC No No  rebuilding No continue rebuilding2 year 6 of plan*

Northeast Multispecies AMERICAN PLAICE NEFMC Yes No No reduce mortality N/ A Northeast Multispecies REDFISH NEFMC No Yes N/ A rebuild program under development4 27                                                                                Fishery Management Plan Stock ( Species in Bold are Major Stocks) Jurisdiction Overfishing?

( Is Fishing Mortality above Threshold?) Overfished?

( Is Biomass below Threshold?) Approaching Overfished Condition? Management Action Required Rebuilding Program Progress Pre SFA Post SFA Pre SFA Post SFA Northeast Multispecies WITCH FLOUNDER NEFMC No No No N/ A N/ A Northeast Multispecies YELLOW

TAIL FLOUNDER GEORGES BANK NEFMC No No No N/ A N/ A SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND NEFMC No Yes N/ A continue rebuilding year 6 of plan*

CAPE COD NEFMC No No rebuilding No continue rebuilding2 not submitted3 MIDDLE ATLANTIC NEFMC Yes Yes N/ A reduce mortality rebuild program not submitted3 Northeast Multispecies WHITE HAKE NEFMC Yes Yes5 N/ A reduce mortality rebuild program under development4 Northeast Multispecies POLLOCK NEFMC Unknown Unknown Unknown N/ A N/ A Northeast Multispecies Ocean Pout NEFMC No Yes N/ A rebuild program not submitted3 Northeast Multispecies Atlantic Halibut NEFMC Unknown Yes N/ A continue rebuilding year 3 of plan*