U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Status of Stocks 2012

Annual Report to Congress on the Status of U.S. Fisheries

NOAA Fisheries is pleased to present the 2012 Report on the Status of U.S. Fisheries

pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). 

This year’s report highlights the continued, significant progress that, collectively, NOAA 

Fisheries, the Regional Fishery Management Councils, and our stakeholders have made 

to end overfishing and rebuild fish stocks. In 2012, we determined that 10 stocks are 

no longer subject to overfishing, four stocks are no longer overfished, and six stocks 

have rebuilt—bringing the total number of rebuilt stocks to 32 since 2000. These results 

show the clear benefit of science-based management in U.S. fisheries. 2012 is the first 

full year that all federal fisheries operated under annual catch limits to end and prevent 

overfishing. As additional stock assessments are completed, we expect the number of 

stocks on the overfishing list—now at an all-time low—to decrease further as a result of 

management under annual catch limits.

It is critical that we recognize the sacrifices that have been made and will be made to achieve 

these gains. Thus, it is important to remember that even stocks currently on the overfishing 

and overfished lists are being sustainably managed. Annual catch limits to end overfishing 

and rebuilding plans for overfished stocks mean our fisheries are actively managed to 

achieve the greatest benefit for the nation. Sustainable fisheries provide nutritious seafood to 

consumers, income to fishing families, highly valued recreational opportunities for millions 

of anglers, and an enduring economic basis for coastal communities.

Looking ahead, we acknowledge we have more work to do. To build on our successes 

and fully achieve both biological and economic benefits of sustainable fisheries through 

science-based management, we will need to ensure the timely collection of data, develop 

more robust and frequent stock assessments, better assess the economic consequences 

of management actions, and improve our understanding of environmental factors—

including climate change—affecting fishery resources. We also need to strengthen 

participation in the management process by our partners and stakeholders within the 

fishing and seafood industries, recreational anglers, fishing communities, and the public. 

The Council process offers a collaborative and transparent venue for all parties to offer 

management solutions to difficult fisheries problems. We are committed to ensuring that 

this process remains a valuable means for stakeholder engagement.

We view sustainability as a process rather than an end point. This report shows that 

fishery management under the MSA is working to address past overfishing problems and 

scientifically assess the status of stocks. With the support of the Councils, commercial 

and recreational fishermen, and all of our other partners, we will continue to sustainably 

manage U.S. fisheries for the benefit of the nation.

A Message from the Assistant 

Administrator for Fisheries

STATUS 2011 (%) 2012 (%)

Overfishing 36 (14%) 29 (10%)

Overfished 45 (21%) 41 (19%)

Rebuilt 27 32*

*Although 6 new stocks are reported as rebuilt in 

2012, the incremental change from 2011 is only 

5 because Southern Tanner crab—Bering Sea, 

which was declared rebuilt in 2007 and again in 

2012, is counted only once in the total number 

of rebuilt stocks.

Summary of Changes

Samuel D. Rauch III

Deputy Assistant Administrator 

for Regulatory Programs, 

performing the functions 

and duties of the Assistant 

Administrator for Fisheries
Status of Stocks 2012

The status of our nation’s marine fish 

stocks continues to improve.

•	 Ten stocks were removed from the 

overfishing list, while three stocks were 

added.

•	 Ten percent of stocks are on the 

overfishing list, compared with 14 

percent in 2011.

•	 Four stocks were removed from the 

overfished list, while one was added.

•	 Nineteen percent of stocks are on 

the overfished list, compared with 21 

percent in 2011.

•	 Six stocks managed under rebuilding 

plans have rebuilt to their target levels, 

bringing the total number of rebuilt 

stocks to 32 since 2000.

Summary of 2012 Results

Of the 446 stocks and stock complexes 

managed in federal fishery management 

plans we have information to make 

overfishing status determinations for 

284 (64 percent) and overfished status 

determinations for 219 (49 percent). 

However, stocks with known status are 

a high proportion of the most important 

stocks—those that are targeted by the 

fisheries and contribute most of the 

landings. Of the 230 stocks that contribute 

over 90 percent of total fishery landings, 

overfishing status is known for 85 percent 

and overfished status for 77 percent.

Details on all our managed stocks are 

available online at: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/

sfa/statusoffisheries/SOSmain.htm.

Federal fishery management is based on 

the concept of maximum sustainable yield 

(MSY)—the largest long-term average 

catch that can be taken from a stock under 

prevailing environmental and fishery 

conditions. The target level of stock 

abundance is the biomass (population) 

that can produce MSY.

What is the difference between 

“overfishing” and “overfished?” 

A stock that is subject to overfishing has a 

fishing mortality (harvest) rate that is too 

high to produce its MSY. A determination 

of overfishing does not necessarily mean 

that the fishery is not sustainable or 

that the stock or its ecosystem is being 

impaired. These negative outcomes are 

associated with high levels of overfishing 

over a period of many years. Current 

management approaches, including 

annual catch limits and accountability 

measures to prevent overfishing, greatly 

reduce the likelihood that damaging levels 

of overfishing will occur.

A stock that is overfished has a biomass 

level depleted to a degree that the 

stock’s capacity to produce the MSY is 

jeopardized. In some cases overfishing 

is the main cause for depletion of the 

stock, but other factors can affect the 

abundance of a fish stock and lead to an 

overfished listing. These factors include 

abnormal levels of disease, extreme 

population cycles, habitat degradation, 

and environmental changes such as 

climate, ocean acidification, and landbased pollution. When we determine that 

a stock is overfished, the Council must 

implement a plan to rebuild it to the level 

that can support the MSY.

What does “rebuilt” mean?

Rebuilt means that a previously overfished 

stock has increased in abundance to the 

target level that supports its MSY. 

446 stocks and stock 

complexes are currently 

managed within 

46 federal fishery 

management plans 

nationwide.

Stock Status—A Primer

Sampling a basket of redfish caught with a mid-water 

trawl during an Atlantic herring hydroacoustic survey.

Overfishing list # (%) of stocks/

stock complexes

Known status 284

Not subject to 

overfishing 255 (90%)

Subject to overfishing 29 (10%)

Unknown status 165

Overfished list # (%) of stocks/

stock complexes

Known status 219

Not overfished 178 (81%)

Overfished 41 (19%)

Unknown status 230

Status Determination 

Listings for All Stocks

2 Status of Stocks 2012
The Science Behind Status 

The MSA requires that a fishery 

management plan specify objective 

and measurable criteria, or reference 

points, for determining when a stock 

is subject to overfishing or overfished. 

A scientific analysis of the abundance 

and composition of a fish stock (stock 

assessment) evaluates the stock against 

its reference points. Stock assessments 

use the best information available, which 

may include data from fishery landings, 

scientific surveys, and biological and 

ecological studies. A stock assessment 

typically undergoes peer review by 

independent scientists before it is 

accepted by a Council’s Scientific and 

Statistical Committee as the best scientific 

information available. We use the stock 

assessment and the reference points to 

determine whether the stock is subject 

to overfishing or overfished. Information 

from the stock assessment is used by the 

Council to recommend the annual catch 

limit for the stock. 

Changes in Stock Status from 2011 to 2012

Overfishing

Stock Region Previous Status 2011 Current Status 2012

Windowpane–Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic

Yellowtail flounder–Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Northeast

Subject to Overfishing No longer subject to overfishing

Red snapper–Gulf of Mexico

Vermilion snapper–South Atlantic

Caribbean Queen conch

Grouper Unit 1–Caribbean

Grouper Unit 4–Caribbean

Snapper Unit 1–Caribbean

Parrotfishes–Caribbean

Southeast

Shortfin mako–Atlantic Highly Migratory Species

Haddock–Gulf of Maine

Yellowtail flounder–Georges Bank Northeast Not Subject to Overfishing Subject to Overfishing 

ACLs in place* BSAI Octopus complex Alaska Unknown

In addition, 22 stocks and stock complexes that were previously unknown were found to be not subject to overfishing.

Overfished

Stock Region Previous Status 2011 Current Status 2012

Windowpane–Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic

Acadian redfish–Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank Northeast Not Overfished–Rebuilding Rebuilt

Yellowtail flounder–Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Northeast Overfished

Not Overfished/Rebuilt Pink shrimp–South Atlantic Southeast

Southern Tanner crab–Eastern Bering Sea Alaska Overfished

Coho salmon–Washington Coast: Strait of Juan de Fuca Northwest

Butterfish–Gulf of Maine/Cape Hatteras Northeast Overfished Unknown**

Haddock–Gulf of Maine Northeast Not Overfished Approaching an Overfished Condition

Atlantic cod–Gulf of Maine Northeast Not Overfished–Rebuilding Overfished***

In addition, 2 stocks that were previously unknown were found to be not overfished.

*The status determination is based on the most recent assessment. ACLs to end or prevent overfishing are in place for 2012.

** The overfished status of butterfish is unknown because the most recent assessment was unable to estimate stock size with reasonable confidence. 

*** Atlantic cod is managed under a rebuilding plan. The plan is being revised because inadequate progress toward rebuilding has been made, and ACLs 

are in place to prevent overfishing.

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 3
Status of Stocks 2012

Stocks on the Overfishing List in 2012

North Pacific 

1. Bering Sea / Aleutian Islands Octopus Complex 

Pacific and Western Pacific

1. Bigeye tuna—Pacific

2. Pacific bluefin tuna—Pacific

Gulf of Mexico 

1. Gag

2. Gray triggerfish

3. Greater amberjack

South Atlantic

1. Black sea bass

2. Gag

3. Red grouper

4. Red snapper

5. Snowy grouper

6. Speckled hind

7. Warsaw grouper

Highly Migratory Species 

1. Albacore—North Atlantic

2. Blacknose shark—Atlantic

3. Blue marlin—Atlantic

4. Bluefin tuna—West Atlantic

5. Dusky shark—Atlantic

6. Sailfish—West Atlantic

7. White marlin—Atlantic

8. Scalloped hammerhead—Atlantic

New England 

1. Atlantic cod—Georges Bank

2. Atlantic cod—Gulf of Maine

3. Haddock—Gulf of Maine

4. White hake

5. Windowpane—Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank

6. Witch flounder

7. Yellowtail flounder—Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine

8. Yellowtail flounder—Georges Bank

Mid-Atlantic 

 • None

Caribbean

 • None

Stocks in italics are also on the overfished list.

4 Status of Stocks 2012
Stocks on the Overfished List in 2012

North Pacific 

1. Blue king crab—Pribilof Islands 

Pacific

1. Canary rockfish 

2. Cowcod 

3. Pacific ocean perch 

4. Chinook salmon—

California Central Valley: Sacramento (fall) 

5. Yelloweye rockfish 

Western Pacific 

1. Seamount Groundfish Complex— 

Hancock Seamount 

Gulf of Mexico 

1. Gag 

2. Gray triggerfish 

3. Greater amberjack 

4. Red snapper 

Caribbean

1. Grouper Unit 1 

2. Grouper Unit 2 

3. Grouper Unit 4 

4. Queen conch 

South Atlantic

1. Red grouper 

2. Red porgy 

3. Red snapper 

4. Snowy grouper 

Highly Migratory Species 

1. Albacore—North Atlantic

2. Blacknose shark—Atlantic

3. Blue marlin—Atlantic 

4. Bluefin tuna—West Atlantic 

5. Dusky shark—Atlantic

6. Porbeagle shark—Atlantic 

7. Sandbar shark—Atlantic 

8. White marlin—Atlantic 

9. Scalloped hammerhead—Atlantic

New England 

1. Atlantic cod—Georges Bank 

2. Atlantic cod—Gulf of Maine 

3. Atlantic halibut 

4. Atlantic salmon

5. Atlantic wolffish 

6. Ocean pout 

7. Thorny skate 

8. White hake 

9. Windowpane—Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank 

10. Winter flounder—Southern New England/

Mid-Atlantic 

11. Witch flounder 

12. Yellowtail flounder—Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine 

13. Yellowtail flounder—Georges Bank

Mid-Atlantic 

 • None

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 5
Status of Stocks 2012

Ending Overfishing Through 

Annual Catch Limits

In 2007, Congress enacted a requirement 

to use annual catch limits (ACL) 

to prevent overfishing, along with 

accountability measures to prevent ACLs 

from being exceeded or mitigate overages 

that may occur. 

By 2012, all federal fisheries, including 

those for stocks on both the overfishing 

and overfished lists, were operating 

under ACLs. As of December 31, 2012, 

assessments demonstrated that overfishing 

ended for 58 percent of the domestic 

stocks that were subject to overfishing in 

2007, when the requirement to implement 

ACLs was added to the MSA. We are 

actively monitoring ACL performance 

and will work with the Councils to make 

any needed adjustments to fully end 

overfishing. 

Rebuilding and Improving Stocks

When we determine that a stock is 

overfished, the relevant Council must 

implement a rebuilding plan. A typical 

rebuilding plan allows fishing to continue, 

but at a reduced level so that the stock 

will increase to its target level and can 

produce the MSY. Fifty stocks and 

stock complexes currently are under 

rebuilding plans. 

Acadian redfish—a Northwest Atlantic 

stock managed by the New England 

Fishery Management Council—is a recent 

rebuilding success story. The fishery for 

redfish peaked in the 1950s, long before the 

current fishery management system was 

established. In 2001, we determined that 

this long-lived stock was overfished and a 

47-year rebuilding plan was put in place 

in 2004. Based on a 2012 assessment, we 

determined that the stock had rebuilt much 

faster than expected, due to successful 

control of fishing mortality and improved 

scientific estimates of the stock size. 

Not all stocks respond to rebuilding plans 

as dramatically as redfish. We monitor 

the progress of rebuilding stocks, and 

make adjustments to plans if needed. 

Current information on fishing mortality 

and biomass trends for stocks in 

rebuilding plans is available online at: 

www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/statusoffisheries/

SOSmain.htm.

Continuing Improvement

Red snapper in the Gulf of 

Mexico was one of the stocks 

removed from the overfishing 

list in 2012, after being 

on the list since 2000. 

ACLs designed to prevent 

overfishing are in place for 

all stocks, and we expect 

additional stocks to come 

off the overfishing list as 

stock assessments are 

updated in the coming years.

Acadian redfish was one of six stocks rebuilt in 2012.

Captain Ben Fairey

6 Status of Stocks 2012
0.0

0.3

0.6

0.9

1.2

1.5

F/F MSY

B/B MSY

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

Year

Ratio

Rebuilding Success

A rebuilding plan for Acadian redfish was put in place in 2004. 

The 2012 assessment for this stock shows that fishing mortality 

was well below the overfishing level (F/FMSY= 1), and the stock 

has rebuilt (B/BMSY > 1).

Rebuilding a Fishery 

Landings and value for Acadian redfish since 1990. Rebuilt 

stocks can produce greater landings and economic benefits. 

To date, 32 stocks have fully rebuilt.

0

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

5,000,000

Pounds landed 

Ex-vessel revenue (dollars)

1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010

Year

FOR MORE INFORMATION

NOAA Fisheries Home Page 

www.nmfs.noaa.gov

Stock Status Updates 

See the latest quarterly update and supporting 

documents: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/

statusoffisheries/SOSmain.htm

FishWatch

Find easy-to-understand 

science-based facts to help 

you make smart sustainable 

seafood choices: www.fishwatch.gov

Species Profile 

Read about red snapper management in the Gulf 

of Mexico: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_

fisheries/gulf_fisheries/red_snapper/index.html

Economic Impacts 

Read Fishery Economics of the U.S.—2011: 

www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/economics/publications/

feus/fisheries_economics_2011

Fishermen hauling in Alaska king crab pots. 

In 2011 the seafood industry generated $129 

billion in sales impacts, $37 billion in income 

impacts, and supported 1.2 million jobs.

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 7
Status of Stocks 2012

U.S. Department of Commerce, Rebecca M. Blank, Acting Secretary of Commerce

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Kathryn D. Sullivan, Ph.D., 

Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere

National Marine Fisheries Service, Eric C. Schwaab, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries

The 2012 report documents significant 

additional progress toward long-term 

biological and economic sustainability of 

our nation’s fisheries by ending overfishing 

and rebuilding stock abundance. The 

economic benefits of sustainable fisheries 

are clear. The most recent economic report 

on U.S. fisheries found that in 2011, U.S. 

commercial fishermen landed 9.9 billion 

pounds of seafood valued at $5.3 billion, 

an increase of 1.6 billion pounds (20 

percent) and $829 million (18 percent) 

over 2010 figures. The overall seafood 

industry—harvesters, seafood processors 

and dealers, seafood wholesalers, and 

seafood retailers—generated $129 billion 

in sales impacts and $37 billion in income 

impacts, and supported 1.2 million jobs 

in 2011. In addition, recreational fishing 

generated $70 billion in sales impacts 

and $20 billion in income impacts, and 

supported 455,000 jobs. Jobs supported by 

commercial businesses held steady from 

the previous year, while jobs generated 

by the recreational fishing industry 

represented a 40 percent increase over 

2010. The Fish Stock Sustainability Index 

(FSSI), which we use to measure progress 

in stock assessment and sustainable 

fishery management, has increased 

steadily since 2000. In the coming years, 

we expect to see continued improvement. 

Achieving Sustainable Fisheries

We acknowledge the substantial 

contribution of our partners to these 

positive results. Fishermen, fishing 

communities, and the Councils have 

needed to make difficult decisions, and 

many areas have absorbed the cost of 

conservation and investment to achieve 

long-term economic and biological 

sustainability. We look forward to working 

with Congress, the Councils, our state 

partners, and other stakeholders to 

build on these results and carry out 

our stewardship responsibility to 

sustainably manage the nation’s marine 

fishery resources. 1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

2011201020092008200720062005200420032002

Year

Thousands of Dollars 300

350

400

450

500

550

600

650

2012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000

Year

FSSI

357.5

616 Coho salmon (Washington Coast: Strait of Juan de Fuca) 

was one of six stocks rebuilt in 2012.

Tracking Performance 

The FSSI measures the performance of 

230 stocks, representing over 90 percent 

of total U.S. landings. The FSSI has a 

maximum score of 920 and increases 

when we determine the status of a stock 

and when a stock’s status improves (either 

no longer subject to overfishing, no longer 

overfished, or has rebuilt). 

Increasing Revenue

The recently released Fisheries Economics 

of the U.S. shows the (unadjusted) 

revenue for key federally managed 

species, including Pacific halibut, Pacific 

salmons, sablefish, sea scallops, shrimp, 

tuna, and walleye pollock.

8 Status of Stocks 2012