A MESSAGE FROM THE 

NOAA ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR FISHERIES 

Welcome to NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service’s report on 

the status of the U.S. fisheries for 2005 

I am pleased to present the 2005 report on the 

status of U.S. marine fish stocks. NOAA’s National 

Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) recognizes the 

importance of ensuring sustainable management of 

marine fisheries and protecting lives and livelihoods 

of fishermen. Ending overfishing and rebuilding 

stocks to the level that provides maximum 

sustainable yield is a high priority for NMFS and the 

eight regional Fishery Management Councils 

(Councils). Together, we have been working to 

implement the goal envisioned by Congress in the 

Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA) of 1996. 

This report updates the status of stocks previously 

assessed, and includes status determinations for 

stocks assessed for the first time in 2005. Fishery 

stock assessments are the foundation of sustainable 

fisheries management, providing needed information 

to determine if the number of fish taken from a 

fishery is too high (overfishing) or if the biomass of a 

stock is too low (overfished). 

NMFS continues to increase the number of assessed 

stocks. In 2005, NMFS scientists assessed 197 stocks 

and complexes. This number includes 17 stocks or 

complexes previously listed as unknown or undefined 

and which now either are not subject to overfishing 

and/or are not overfished. Of those 17, 9 

assessments were for stocks never previously 

assessed. Three additional complexes, previously 

listed as 19 individual stocks of unknown status, 

were assessed and found to be subject to overfishing 

and/or overfished. 

In 2005, we have determinations of both overfishing 

and overfished status for 194 stocks and complexes; 

an additional 57 have either an overfishing or 

overfished determination. Overall, 81% of the stocks 

and stock complexes with known status are not 

subject to overfishing, and 74% of the stocks and 

stock complexes with known status are not 

overfished. 

Six stocks are no longer subject to overfishing – 

American plaice, witch flounder, golden tilefish, 

shortspine thornyhead, black rockfish (North), and 

lingcod. Four stocks – Georges Bank yellowtail 

flounder, Georges Bank winter flounder, Central 

Western Pacific yellowfin tuna, and Caribbean 

Grouper Unit 1 – are now subject to overfishing. 

Appropriate management measures will be 

implemented to lower the fishing mortality rate for 

these stocks. 

One stock, lingcod, has rebuilt to 100 percent of the 

biomass that results in maximum sustainable yield, 

or BMSY, 3 years ahead of projections. Six rebuilding 

stocks have increased in abundance and are no 

longer overfished - barndoor skate, bluefish, golden 

tilefish, widow rockfish, Bering Sea snow crab, and 

Eastern Bering Sea Tanner Crab. Rebuilding 

measures for these stocks will continue until the 

stock has fully rebuilt to the BMSY level. 

Three previously assessed stocks were determined to 

be overfished – Georges Bank yellowtail flounder, 

scup, and Pacific ocean perch. Since this is the first 

time the yellowtail flounder stock has been declared 

overfished, NMFS notified the New England Council 

that it is overfished and the Council will be 

submitting a rebuilding plan for this stock. Scup and 

Pacific ocean perch had been declared overfished 

previously and rebuilding measures are in place. 

A total of 81 stocks are being sustainably managed 

at or above 80 percent of BMSY. This number includes 

15 stocks added in 2005 - witch flounder, 

Western/Central Gulf of Alaska walleye pollock, 

lingcod, shortspine thornyhead, longspine 

thornyhead, sablefish, Dover sole, English sole, 

starry flounder, blackgill rockfish, gopher rockfish, 

California scorpionfish, kelp greenling, Gulf of Alaska 

rex sole, and Gulf of Alaska rougheye rockfish. 

The great majority of our assessed fish stocks are 

neither overfished nor subject to overfishing. The 

dedicated and hard working staffs of NMFS and the 

Councils continue to meet the challenge of rebuilding 

all stocks and maintaining them at highly productive 

levels. We also are committed to increasing the 

number of stocks that are assessed. New information 

about a stock sometimes dramatically alters our view 

of its potential yield and current status. We 

appreciate the support of Congress as we face these 

challenges and continue improvement in the status 

of U.S. fisheries. 

William T. Hogarth, Ph.D. 

1 
Executive Summary 

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as amended 

by the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996, requires that NOAA’s National Marine 

Fisheries Service (NMFS) report annually to Congress and the Councils on the 

status of fisheries (Sec. 304(e)(1)). This report fulfills that requirement. 

The information in this report was generated by the NMFS’ regional offices and 

science centers, based on the most recent available stock assessments. Status 

determinations are generally made during a formal review of a scientific stock 

assessment using the best available scientific information and status 

determination criteria specified in a management plan. 

Stocks discussed in this report are characterized under two broad categories: (1) 

subject to overfishing and (2) overfished. A stock that is subject to overfishing has 

a fishing mortality (harvest) rate above the level that provides for the maximum 

sustainable yield. A stock that is overfished has a biomass level below a biological 

threshold specified in its fishery management plan. 

For 2005, NMFS reviewed 530 individual stocks and stock complexes and made 

determinations of both overfishing and overfished status for 194 stocks and 

complexes; an additional 57 have either an overfishing or overfished 

determination. Of those 251 determinations, 237 have known overfishing 

determinations: 192 (81%) are not subject to overfishing and 45 (19%) are 

subject to overfishing. Two-hundred and six stocks have known overfished 

determinations: 152 (74%) are not overfished and 54 (26%) are overfished. 

These numbers reflect no change in the overfishing percentages compared to 

2004, where 81% were also not subject to overfishing and 19% were subject to 

overfishing, and a slight improvement in the overfished numbers compared to that 

year, where 72% were not overfished and 28% were overfished (See Figure 1.). 

Figure 1. Changes in status for stocks with known determinations, 2004-2005. 

90% 

80% 

70% 

60% 

50% 

40% 

30% 

20% 

10% 

0% 

2004 

2005 

% Subject to % Not Subject % Overfished % Not 

Overfishing to Overfishing Overfished 

2
Introduction 

T his report describes the state of our nation’s marine fisheries and the 

effectiveness of fisheries management under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act, Public Law 94-294 (MSA), as amended in 

1996 by the Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA). The SFA emphasized the need to end 

overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, and establish management plans designed 

to ensure biologically and economically sustainable fisheries. A stock that is 

subject to overfishing has a fishing mortality (harvest) rate above the level that 

provides for the maximum sustainable yield. A stock that is overfished has a 

biomass level below its prescribed biological threshold. 

Definitions We continue to make progress in our 

scientific knowledge of marine fisheries and 

Overfishing – Harvest rate is above a in our ability to use that knowledge to 

prescribed fishing mortality threshold manage for the sustained use of these 

Overfished - Stock size is below a 

prescribed biomass threshold 

resources. This report fulfills the 

Congressional requirement for an annual 

report on the status of fisheries within each 

Approaching Overfished Condition - Based Council’s geographic area of authority and 

on trends in harvesting effort, fishery 

resource size, and other appropriate 

factors, it is estimated that the fishery 

will become overfished within 2 years 

to identify fisheries that are overfished or 

approaching a condition of being 

overfished. 

BMSY – The weight (biomass) of a group of 

fish necessary to produce MSY on a 

continuing basis. 

This report lists the managed marine fish 

stocks in the U.S. Exclusive Economic 

Zone1

, including stocks that straddle 

FMSY - The level of fishing mortality international boundaries and highly 

(harvest) that results in the maximum migratory stocks. In response to the 

sustainable yield. Congressional requirement, the report 

MSY - Maximum Sustainable Yield - The 

largest long-term average catch or yield 

that can be taken from a stock or stock 

categorizes stocks according to their 

individual status. The report answers four 

questions which help determine the 

complex under prevailing ecological and effectiveness of management measures in 

environmental conditions. meeting the provisions of the SFA: 

1. What stocks are subject to overfishing? 

2. What stocks are overfished? 

3. What stocks are approaching an overfished condition? 

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

The U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone extends from 3 to 200 miles offshore and covers more than 2 million square 

miles. 

3

1 
Using the Best Available Data 

To categorize marine fish stocks for this report, NMFS reviewed each stock relative 

to the status determination criteria (SDC) contained in the relevant fishery 

management plan (FMP)2

. Sometimes the SDC do not apply to an individual stock, 

but to a group of similar species harvested together or sharing a similar life 

history. These groups are referred to as stock complexes, units, or assemblages. 

Such groupings may be particularly useful when data are sparse or lacking 

because they provide a level of protection for all related stocks and allow data 

collection on them. In some cases, the status of a stock complex is determined 

using the SDC for one stock in the complex. In other cases, the SDC apply to the 

complex as a whole. This report includes the FMPs’ stock complexes, rather than 

listing species individually. 

Based on a review of the best scientific information available against the SDC for 

each stock or stock complex, NMFS determined the overfishing and overfished 

condition, including whether or not the stock is approaching an overfished 

condition. NMFS used many resources to make these determinations, including 

final, peer-reviewed documents such as Stock Assessment Review Committee 

reports and recommendations of each Council’s Scientific and Statistical 

Committee. For species not included in a federal FMP (i.e., species managed by 

international agreement), the stock status determination was made in accordance 

with the relevant FMP or agreement. 

More information on stock complexes and the methodology used to include them 

in this report can be found in Appendix 1 located on the NMFS website. Stock 

complexes are used in the Southeast, the Pacific Islands, and the Alaska Regions, 

as well as by the NMFS Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) division. 

Changes to Determinations 

This year’s report is based on assessments completed as of December 31, 2005. 

Results from fishery stock assessments in progress on that date will be 

summarized in next year’s report. 

Changes in status determinations from 2004 to 2005 are summarized in Table 1. 

These changes are illustrated in Tables 11 and 12. 

2

 In order to use the best available data, some Southeast stocks use SDC specified in the most recent scientific 

assessment, rather than those contained in the FMPs. Alaska SDC are generally specified in the annual Stock 

Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Report, rather than in the FMP itself. 

4
Table 1. Changes in status, comparing 2005 to 2004 (number of stocks changing categories). The 

"Known to known" column shows the number of stocks that have a known determination in 2005 

(left column), that had a different known determination in 2004. The "Unknown to known" column 

shows the numbers of stocks that have a known determination in 2005 (left column) that were 

unknown or undefined in 2004. 

Status Category in 2005 Known to known Unknown to known Total 

Overfishing 4a 3b 7 

Not overfishing 6c 10d 16 

Overfished 3e 1f 4 

Not overfished 6g 7h 13 

a. Georges Bank yellowtail flounder, Georges Bank winter flounder, Central Western Pacific yellowfin tuna, and Caribbean Grouper Unit 1 

b. Caribbean Grouper Unit 4, Snapper Unit 1, and Parrotfishes. 

c. American plaice, witch flounder, golden tilefish, shortspine thornyhead, black rockfish (North), and lingcod. 

d. Little, winter, barndoor, thorny, clearnose, rosette, and smooth skates, and Gulf of Alaska (GOA) shortraker rockfish, longnose skate, 

and big skate. 

e. Georges Bank yellowtail flounder, scup, and Pacific ocean perch. 

f. Caribbean Grouper Unit 4. 

g. Barndoor skate, bluefish, golden tilefish, widow rockfish, Bering Sea snow crab, and Eastern Bering Sea Tanner Crab. 

h. Starry flounder, blackgill rockfish, gopher rockfish, California scorpionfish, kelp greenling, and GOA rex sole and rougheye rockfish. 

The status of all 530 stocks and stock complexes is summarized in Table 2. 

Summary of Stock Status Determination Changes 

Overview of stocks subject to overfishing 

237 stocks or stock complexes are known with respect to their overfishing status. 

These stocks or stock complexes account for approximately 72 percent of the 

landings of our nation’s fisheries. Of these: 

o 192 (81%) stocks or stock complexes are not subject to overfishing. 

o 45 (19%) stocks or stock complexes have a fishing mortality rate that 

exceeds the overfishing threshold (i.e., are subject to overfishing). 

293 stocks or stock complexes have overfishing thresholds not defined or 

applicable, or are unknown with respect to their overfishing status. 

Changes in overfishing status 

In the Northeast Region -

o American plaice is no longer subject to overfishing. 

o Witch flounder is no longer subject to overfishing. 

o Golden tilefish is no longer subject to overfishing. 

o Little skate is not subject to overfishing (status previously unknown). 

o Winter skate is not subject to overfishing (status previously unknown). 

o Barndoor skate is not subject to overfishing (status previously 

unknown). 

o Thorny skate is not subject to overfishing (status previously unknown). 

o Clearnose skate is not subject to overfishing (status previously 

unknown). 

o Rosette skate is not subject to overfishing (status previously unknown). 

o Smooth skate is not subject to overfishing (status previously unknown). 

o Yellowtail flounder – Georges Bank is subject to overfishing. 

o Winter flounder – Georges Bank is subject to overfishing. 

5 
In the Southeast Region – 

o Caribbean Grouper Unit 1 is subject to overfishing. This unit, composed 

solely of Nassau grouper, was added to the Caribbean Reef Fish FMP as 

part of Amendment 3 to the FMP, approved by NMFS on September 15, 

2005. Prior to that approval, the species in the unit was listed 

individually as not subject to overfishing, using a pre-SFA determination 

criterion. 

o Caribbean Grouper Unit 4 is subject to overfishing. This unit, composed 

of red, misty, tiger, yellowedge, and yellowfin grouper was added to the 

Caribbean Reef Fish FMP as part of Amendment 3 to the FMP, approved 

by NMFS on September 15, 2005. Prior to that approval, the species in 

the unit were listed individually as unknown using pre-SFA determination 

criteria. 

o Caribbean Snapper Unit 1 is subject to overfishing. This unit, composed 

of silk, black, vermilion, and blackfin snapper was added to the 

Caribbean Reef Fish FMP as part of Amendment 3 to the FMP, approved 

by NMFS on September 15, 2005. Prior to that approval, the species in 

the unit were listed individually as unknown using pre-SFA determination 

criteria. 

o Caribbean Parrotfishes is subject to overfishing. This unit, composed of 

blue, midnight, princess, queen, rainbow, striped, redband, redtail, 

redfin, and stoplight parrotfishes, was added to the Caribbean Reef Fish 

FMP as part of Amendment 3 to the FMP, approved by NMFS on 

September 15, 2005. Prior to that approval, the species in the unit were 

listed individually as unknown using pre-SFA determination criteria. 

o Caribbean spiny lobster is unknown – post SFA (status previously not 

subject to overfishing using a pre-SFA criterion). 

o South Atlantic goliath grouper is unknown, based on results of the 2004 

stock assessment. 

o Gulf of Mexico goliath grouper is unknown, based on results of the 2004 

stock assessment. 

In the Northwest Region – 

o Shortspine thornyhead is no longer subject to overfishing. 

o Black rockfish (North) is no longer subject to overfishing. 

o Lingcod is no longer subject to overfishing. 

In the Pacific Islands Region – 

o Yellowfin tuna – Central Western Pacific – is subject to overfishing. 

In the Alaska Region – 

o Gulf of Alaska shortraker rockfish is not subject to overfishing (status 

previously undefined). 

o Gulf of Alaska longnose skate is not subject to overfishing (status 

previously listed as part of the Other Skates Complex and is now 

listed as a single stock). 

o Gulf of Alaska big skate is not subject to overfishing (status 

previously listed as part of the Other Skates Complex and is now 

listed as a single stock). 

There are no changes to the other regions. 

6 
Overview of overfished stocks 

206 stocks or stock complexes are known with respect to their overfished status. 

These stocks or stock complexes account for approximately 75 percent of the 

landings of our nation’s fisheries. Of these: 

o 152 (74%) stocks or stock complexes are not overfished. 

 4 of these are approaching an overfished condition. 

o 54 (26%) stocks or stock complexes are overfished. 

324 stocks or stock complexes have overfished thresholds not defined or 

applicable, or are unknown with respect to their overfished status. 

Changes in overfished status 

In the Northeast Region -

o Barndoor skate is not overfished. 

o Bluefish is not overfished. 

o Golden tilefish is not overfished. 

o Yellowtail flounder – Georges Bank is overfished. 

o Scup is overfished. 

In the Southeast Region – 

o Caribbean Grouper Unit 4 is overfished. This unit was added to the 

Caribbean Reef Fish FMP as part of Amendment 3 to the FMP, approved 

by NMFS on September 15, 2005. Prior to that approval, this unit was 

listed as unknown using a pre-SFA determination criterion. 

o SA/GM spiny lobster is unknown – post SFA (status previously not 

overfished using pre SFA criteria) 

o Caribbean spiny lobster is unknown – post SFA (status previously not 

overfished using pre SFA criteria) 

In the Northwest Region – 

o Widow rockfish is not overfished. 

o Starry flounder is not overfished (status previously unknown). 

o Blackgill rockfish is not overfished (status previously unknown). 

o Gopher rockfish is not overfished (status previously unknown). 

o California scorpionfish is not overfished (status previously unknown). 

o Kelp greenling is not overfished (status previously unknown). 

o Pacific ocean perch is overfished. 

In the Alaska Region – 

o Bering Sea Snow crab is not overfished. 

o Eastern Bering Sea Tanner crab is not overfished. 

o Gulf of Alaska rex sole is not overfished (status previously undefined). 

o Gulf of Alaska rougheye rockfish is not overfished (status previously 

undefined). 

o Gulf of Alaska longnose skate is undefined (status previously listed as 

part of the Other Skates Complex and is now listed as a separate stock). 

o Gulf of Alaska big skate is undefined (status previously listed as part of 

the Other Skates Complex and is now listed as a separate stock). 

7
There are no changes to the other regions. 

Approaching an overfished condition 

The basis for determining whether a stock is approaching an overfished condition 

is an examination of the current stock biomass and trends in fishing effort. Unless 

the status of the stock is known, a determination about whether the stock will 

become overfished within 2 years cannot be made with any certainty. Therefore, 

the definition for the biomass threshold in the FMP, along with trends in fishing 

effort, should be the determining criteria in evaluating whether a stock is 

approaching an overfished condition. In some cases, the pre-SFA definition has 

remained in the FMP and was used as the basis for the determinations. Also, for 

Pacific salmon stocks, the determining criteria are based on maximum sustainable 

yield/maximum spawner potential objectives for natural stocks or stock 

complexes. 

In the Southeast Region – 

o Caribbean Snapper Unit 1 is approaching an overfished condition. 

o Caribbean Parrotfishes is approaching an overfished condition. 

In the Northwest Region - 

o Klamath River fall (Klamath and Trinity Rivers) Chinook salmon is 

approaching an overfished condition. 

For the Atlantic HMS division - 

o Yellowfin tuna – Atlantic is approaching an overfished condition. 

There are no changes to the other regions. 

The Fish Stock Sustainability Index 

In previous Status of U.S. Fisheries reports, NMFS listed stocks or stock 

complexes deemed “major” and “minor” separately, based on the amount of 

recorded landings for that stock or stock complex. NMFS no longer uses this 

distinction; instead, NMFS identifies a group of stocks that are included in the Fish 

Stock Sustainability Index (FSSI) and a second group containing the remaining 

stocks. The FSSI contains 230 stocks and stock complexes selected by the regions 

for their importance to commercial and recreational fisheries.3

 Most of the FSSI 

stocks were listed as major in previous reports and represent all but 3 of the 

overfished stocks4

. 

3

 Criteria for inclusion in the FSSI include: major stocks (landings greater than 200,000 pounds), stocks that are 

overfished or subject to overfishing, stocks that have assessments scheduled within the next 5 years, and stocks that 

have previously been identified as important. Some major stocks were specifically excluded from the FSSI for the 

following reasons: (1) they are managed under the Endangered Species Act; (2) they are managed on the basis of 

escapement rates, not biomass targets; (3) the overfishing and/or overfished status is unknown and not likely to become 

known in the next 5 years; (4) determinations were made using pre-SFA status determination criteria and are not likely 

to be reassessed in the next 5 years; (5) they are managed by state fisheries managers; or 6) no status determination 

criteria exist to assess the overfishing or overfished status nor will they likely exist in the next 5 years. Most minor 

stocks were thus not included in the FSSI because these species co-occur with other stocks but are not landed in large 

quantities and they are not important to the targeted fishery. 

4 The 3 overfished stocks that are non-FSSI stocks include Atlantic salmon, South Atlantic red drum, and South Atlantic 

Nassau grouper. Atlantic salmon is listed under the ESA and a recovery plan is being developed. The fishery for South 

Atlantic red drum is primarily in state waters, and thus, management authority is scheduled to be transferred to the 

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. For South Atlantic Nassau grouper, the determination using pre-SFA SDC is 

uncertain, data are insufficient to develop a rebuilding plan, and no fishery is allowed. 

8
NMFS developed the FSSI in 2005 to track the outcome of rebuilding and 

maintaining stocks and stock complexes at productive levels, and to incorporate 

critical components of managing harvest rates and increasing knowledge about 

the status of stocks. The FSSI is calculated by assigning a “score” to each stock or 

complex. Each stock can earn a maximum score of 4 points. The FSSI score will 

increase as overfishing is ended and the stock rebuilds to the level that provides 

maximum sustainable yield. Additional information on the FSSI can be found in 

Appendix I on the NMFS website5

. 

Changes in biomass levels 

The FSSI establishes a threshold of 80% of the biomass that supports the 

maximum sustainable yield. Stocks with biomass above that level are considered 

to be within the range of natural fluctuation around the BMSY level, which is defined 

as a long-term average. Beginning this year, we are reporting those stocks whose 

biomass has been determined, in 2005, to be above the 80% threshold. We also 

report stocks whose biomass has declined below the 80% threshold but remains 

above the overfished threshold. 

In the Northeast Region – 

o The biomass of witch flounder is 84% of BMSY. 

o The biomass of winter flounder – Georges Bank is 66% of BMSY, but is 

above the overfished threshold (therefore is not overfished). 

In the Northwest Region – 

o Lingcod is rebuilt and the biomass is 160% of BMSY. 

o The biomass of shortspine thornyhead is 157% of BMSY. 

o The biomass of sablefish is 86% of BMSY. 

o The biomass of Dover sole is 158% of BMSY. 

o The biomass of English sole is 229% of BMSY. 

o The biomass of longspine thornyhead is 178% of BMSY. 

o The biomass of starry flounder is 124% of BMSY. 

o The biomass of blackgill rockfish is 131% of BMSY. 

o The biomass of gopher rockfish is 242% of BMSY. 

o The biomass of California scorpionfish is 200% of BMSY. 

o The biomass of kelp greenling is 122% of BMSY. 

In the Alaska Region – 

o The biomass of Gulf of Alaska walleye pollock – Western/Central is 99% 

of BMSY. 

o The biomass of Gulf of Alaska rex sole is 272% of BMSY. 

o The biomass of Gulf of Alaska rougheye rockfish is 136% of BMSY. 

There are no changes for the other regions. 

5

 http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/statusoffisheries/SOSmain.htm 

9 
Table 2. Description of FSSI and nonFSSI Stocks by Council, 2005. 

Jurisdiction* 

Stock Group 

Number of 

Stocks

Overfishing Overfished 

Approaching

Overfished

Condition 

Yes No Not 

Known 

Not 

Defined 

N/A Yes No Not 

Known 

Not 

Defined 

N/A 

NEFMC FSSI 34 9 20 3 2 0 14 19 1 0 0 0 

NonFSSI 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 

Total 35 9 21 3 2 0 15 19 1 0 0 0 

MAFMC FSSI 11 2 9 0 0 0 2 8 1 0 0 0 

NonFSSI 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Total 11 2 9 0 0 0 2 8 1 0 0 0 

NEFMC/ 

MAFMC FSSI 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 

NonFSSI 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Total 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 

SAFMC FSSI 22 10 10 2 0 0 9 11 2 0 0 0 

NonFSSI 65 1 11 51 2 0 2 5 51 7 0 0 

Total 87 11 21 53 2 0 11 16 53 7 0 0 

GMFMC FSSI 18 4 8 6 0 0 6 6 5 1 0 0 

NonFSSI 37 0 5 30 2 0 0 0 30 7 0 0 

 Total 55 4 13 36 2 0 6 6 35 8 0 0 

SAFMC/ 

GMFMC FSSI 9 0 9 0 0 0 0 8 1 0 0 0 

NonFSSI 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 

 Total 11 0 9 1 1 0 0 8 2 1 0 0 

CFMC FSSI 8 4 1 3 0 0 4 0 3 0 0 1 

NonFSSI 14 1 0 13 0 0 0 0 13 0 0 1 

 Total 22 5 1 16 0 0 4 0 16 0 0 2 

PFMC FSSI 48 0 28 19 1 0 6 26 13 3 0 0 

NonFSSI 119 0 15 51 0 53 0 13 52 0 53 1 

 Total 167 0 43 70 1 53 6 39 65 3 53 1 

WPFMC FSSI 16 2 4 10 0 0 1 6 9 0 0 0 

NonFSSI 19 0 3 15 2 0 0 1 17 2 0 0 

 Total 35 2 7 25 2 0 1 7 26 2 0 0 

PFMC/ 

WPFMC FSSI 6 1 2 3 0 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 

NonFSSI 4 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 

 Total 10 1 2 7 0 0 0 3 7 0 0 0 

NPFMC FSSI 35 0 32 3 0 0 2 26 0 7 0 0 

NonFSSI 34 0 25 8 1 0 0 6 0 28 0 0 

 Total 69 0 57 11 1 0 2 32 0 35 0 0 

PFMC/ 

NPFMC FSSI 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

NonFSSI 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 

 Total 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 

HMS FSSI 20 9 7 3 1 0 7 8 3 1 0 1 

NonFSSI 3 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 

 Total 23 9 7 6 1 0 7 8 6 1 0 1 

TOTAL FSSI 230 43 131 52 4 0 51 123 41 13 0 2 

NonFSSI 300 2 61 176 8 53 3 25 171 46 53 2 

 Total 530 45 192 228 12 53 54 148 212 59 53 4 

* NEFMC = New England Fishery Management Council; MAFMC = Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; SAFMC = South Atlantic Fishery 

Management Council; GMFMC = Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; CFMC = Caribbean Fishery Management Council; PFMC = Pacific 

Fishery Management Council; WPFMC = Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; NPFMC = North Pacific Fishery Management Council; 

HMS = Atlantic Highly Migratory Species. 

10 
Status Determinations by Region 

Northeast Region 

Thirteen FMPs6

 containing 49 stocks or complexes are managed by NMFS and the 

New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils: Atlantic Sea Scallop; 

Northeast Multispecies; Northeast Skate; Atlantic Herring; Red Crab; Monkfish; 

Spiny Dogfish; Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass; Atlantic Bluefish; 

Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish; 

Tilefish; and Atlantic Salmon. Within these FMPs, 13 stocks are subject to 

overfishing, 17 stocks7

 are overfished, and no stocks are approaching an 

overfished condition. See Table 3. 

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

approaching an overfished condition. 

Council FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching? 

NEFMC Atlantic salmon Atlantic salmon - Y -

 Atlantic Sea Scallop Atlantic sea scallop Y - -

 Northeast Multispecies cod - Gulf of Maine Y Y -

 Northeast Multispecies cod - Georges Bank Y Y -

 Northeast Multispecies haddock - Gulf of Maine - Y -

 Northeast Multispecies haddock - Georges Bank - Y -

 Northeast Multispecies American plaice - Y -

 Northeast Multispecies yellowtail flounder –Georges 

Bank Y Y -

 Northeast Multispecies yellowtail flounder - Southern 

New England (SNE)/Mid-Atlantic Y Y -

 Northeast Multispecies yellowtail flounder - Cape 

Cod/Gulf of Maine Y Y -

 Northeast Multispecies white hake Y Y -

 Northeast Multispecies windowpane flounder – SNE/MidAtlantic - Y -

 Northeast Multispecies winter flounder – SNE/MidAtlantic Y Y -

 Northeast Multispecies winter flounder – Georges Bank Y - -

 Northeast Multispecies ocean pout - Y -

 Northeast Multispecies Atlantic halibut - Y -

 Northeast Skate thorny skate - Y -

NEFMC/ 

MAFMC Monkfish monkfish - North Y - -

 Monkfish monkfish – South Y - -

MAFMC Summer Flounder, Scup 

and Black Sea Bass summer flounder Y - -

Summer Flounder, Scup 

and Black Sea Bass scup Y Y -

Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, 

and Butterfish butterfish - Y -

6

 A Hagfish FMP is under consideration for development; however there is no schedule for completion. 7

 There is currently no definition in the Spiny Dogfish FMP to make a determination of biomass target. Based on 

the current NMFS recommended biomass threshold, however, the biomass estimates indicate this stock is 

overfished. 

11 
Southeast Region 

Eighteen FMPs8

 containing 175 stocks or complexes are managed by NMFS and 

the South Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils: 

South Atlantic Golden Crab; South Atlantic Shrimp; South Atlantic Snapper 

Grouper; Atlantic Coast Red Drum; Coral, Coral Reefs, and Live/Hard Bottom 

Habitats of the South Atlantic Region; Pelagic Sargassum Habitat of the South 

Atlantic Region; Dolphin Wahoo; Coastal Migratory Pelagics of the Gulf of Mexico 

and South Atlantic; Gulf of Mexico/South Atlantic Spiny Lobster; Gulf of Mexico 

Stone Crab; Gulf of Mexico Shrimp; Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico; 

Gulf of Mexico Red Drum; Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico; Reef Fish 

Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Spiny Lobster Fishery of Puerto 

Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Queen Conch Resources of Puerto Rico and the 

U.S. Virgin Islands; and Corals and Reef Associated Invertebrates of Puerto Rico 

and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Within these FMPs, 20 stocks are subject to 

overfishing, 21 stocks are overfished, and 2 stocks are approaching an overfished 

condition. See Table 4. 

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

approaching an overfished condition. 

Council FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching? 

SAFMC South Atlantic Snapper Grouper vermilion 

snapper 

Y - -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper red snapper Y Y -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper snowy grouper Y Y -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper red grouper Y Y -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper black sea bass Y Y -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper gag Y - -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper speckled hind Y Y -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Warsaw 

grouper 

Y Y -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper tilefish Y - -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper black grouper Y Y -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper goliath 

grouper - Y -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Nassau 

grouper - Y -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper red porgy - Y -

Atlantic Coast Red Drum red drum Y Y -

GMFMC Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of 

Mexico red snapper Y Y -

Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of 

Mexico red grouper Y - -

Last year’s report listed a calico scallop FMP as under development; however, no plans exist to implement an 

FMP in the EEZ for this species. 

12 

8 
Council FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching? 

Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of 

Mexico 

vermilion 

snapper 

Y Y -

Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of 

Mexico 

greater 

amberjack Y Y -

Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of 

Mexico 

Nassau 

grouper - Y -

Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of 

Mexico 

goliath 

grouper - Y -

Gulf of Mexico Red Drum red drum - Y -

CFMC Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico 

and the USVI 

Grouper Unit 1 

(Nassau 

grouper) 

Y Y -

Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico 

and the USVI 

Grouper Unit 2 

(goliath 

grouper) 

- Y -

Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico 

and the USVI Grouper Unit 4 Y Y -

Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico 

and the USVI Snapper Unit 1 Y - Y 

Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico 

and the USVI Parrotfishes Y - Y 

Queen Conch Resources of Puerto 

Rico and the USVI queen conch Y Y -

13
Southwest Region 

Two FMPs containing 19 stocks or complexes9

 are managed by NMFS and the 

Pacific Fishery Management Council: Coastal Pelagic Species and the new West 

Coast Highly Migratory Species. Within these FMPs, 1 stock is subject to 

overfishing, no stocks are overfished, and no stocks are approaching an overfished 

condition. See Table 5. 

Table 5. Southwest Region stocks that are subject to overfishing, are overfished, or are 

approaching an overfished condition. 

FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching? 

West Coast Highly Migratory Species bigeye tuna - Pacific * Y - -

*

 This stock also appears in Table 7 as a stock subject to overfishing in the Pacific Islands Region’ s Pelagic Fisheries of the 

Western Pacific Region FMP. Each of the 10 stocks shared between these two FMPs is listed only once in the support tables as a 

single stock managed under both FMPs. The Southwest and the Pacific Islands Regions, along with the Pacific and Western Pacific 

Fishery Management Councils, are working together to end overfishing in this stock. 

 Total includes 10 pelagic species shared with the Pacific Islands Region. 

14 

9
Northwest Region 

Two FMPs containing 158 stocks or complexes are managed by NMFS and the 

Pacific Fishery Management Council: West Coast Salmon and Pacific Coast 

Groundfish. In addition, Pacific halibut is managed jointly with the Alaska Region 

and the International Pacific Halibut Commission. Within these FMPs, no stocks are 

subject to overfishing, 6 stocks are overfished, and 1 stock is approaching an 

overfished condition. See Table 6. 

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

approaching an overfished condition. 

FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching? 

Pacific Coast Groundfish bocaccio - Y -

Pacific Coast Groundfish canary rockfish - Y -

Pacific Coast Groundfish darkblotched rockfish - Y -

Pacific Coast Groundfish cowcod - Y -

Pacific Coast Groundfish yelloweye rockfish - Y -

Pacific Coast Groundfish Pacific ocean perch - Y -

West Coast Salmon Klamath River fall 

(Klamath and Trinity 

Rivers) Chinook 

salmon 

- - Y 

15
Pacific Islands Region 

Five FMPs containing 45 stocks or complexes10 are managed by NMFS and the 

Western Pacific Fishery Management Council: Pelagic Fisheries of the Western 

Pacific Region; Crustaceans Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region; Precious Coral 

Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region; Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish 

Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region; and Coral Reef Ecosystems of the Western 

Pacific Region. Within these FMPs, 3 stock or stock complexes are subject to 

overfishing, 1 stock or stock complex is overfished, and no stock or stock 

complexes are approaching an overfished condition. See Table 7. 

Table 7. Pacific Islands Region stocks that are subject to overfishing, are overfished, or are 

approaching an overfished condition. 

FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching? 

Pelagic Fisheries of the Western 

Pacific Region 

bigeye tuna - Pacific * 

Y - -

Pelagic Fisheries of the Western 

Pacific Region 

yellowfin tuna – central 

Western Pacific Y - -

Bottomfish and Seamount 

Groundfish Fisheries of the 

Western Pacific Region 

Seamount Groundfish 

complex – Hancock 

Seamount ** 

- Y -

Bottomfish and Seamount 

Groundfish Fisheries of the 

Western Pacific Region 

Bottom Multispecies 

complex – Hawaiian 

archipelago 

Y - -

* This stock also appears in Table 5 as a stock subject to overfishing in the Southwest Region’s West Coast Highly Migratory 

Species FMP. Each of the 10 stocks shared between these two FMPs is listed only once in the support tables as a single stock 

managed under both FMPs. The Southwest and the Pacific Islands Regions, along with the Pacific and Western Pacific Fishery 

Management Councils, are working together to end overfishing in this stock. 

** Pelagic armorhead is assessed as the indicator species of a 3-species groundfish complex that includes raftfish and alfonsin. 

 Total includes 10 pelagic species shared with the Southwest region. 

16

10
Alaska Region 

Five FMPs containing 69 stocks or complexes are managed by NMFS and the North 

Pacific Fishery Management Council: GOA Groundfish; BSAI Groundfish; Bering 

Sea and Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crab; Alaska Weathervane Scallops; 

and Alaska High Seas Salmon. In addition, Pacific halibut is managed jointly with 

the Northwest Region and the International Pacific Halibut Commission. Within 

these FMPs, no stocks or stock complexes are subject to overfishing, 2 stocks or 

stock complexes are overfished, and no stocks or stock complexes are 

approaching an overfished condition. See Table 8. 

Table 8. Alaska Region stocks that are subject to overfishing, are overfished, or are 

approaching an overfished condition. 

FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching? 

BSAI King and Tanner 

Crab 

blue king crab - Pribilof 

Islands - Y -

BSAI King and Tanner 

Crab 

blue king crab – Saint 

Matthew Island - Y -

17
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species 

Two FMPs containing 23 stocks or complexes are managed by NMFS: Atlantic 

Billfish; and Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks. Within these FMPs, 9 stocks or 

stock complexes are subject to overfishing, 7 stocks or stock complexes are 

overfished, and one stock or stock complex is approaching an overfished 

condition. See Table 9. 

Table 9. Atlantic Highly Migratory stocks that are subject to overfishing, are overfished, or 

are approaching an overfished condition. 

FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching? 

Atlantic Billfish blue marlin - Atlantic Y Y -

Atlantic Billfish white marlin - Atlantic Y Y -

Atlantic Billfish sailfish - West Atlantic Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and 

Sharks 

bigeye tuna - Atlantic Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and 

Sharks 

albacore - North Atlantic Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and 

Sharks 

bluefin tuna - West 

Atlantic Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and 

Sharks 

yellowfin tuna - Atlantic - - Y 

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and 

Sharks 

sandbar shark* Y - -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and 

Sharks 

finetooth shark Y - -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and 

Sharks 

Large coastal shark 

complex Y Y -

* This stock is part of the Large Coastal Shark complex, but is assessed separately. 

18 
Table 11. Stocks or stock complexes with “subject to overfishing” determinations in 2004 

and 2005. Stocks in BOLD were added to the list in 2005. Stocks in ITALICS under “2004” 

were removed from the list in 2005. 

COUNCIL 2004 2005 COUNCIL 2004 2005 

NEFMC cod - Gulf of Maine 

cod - Georges Bank 

AMERICAN PLAICE 

WITCH FLOUNDER 

yellowtail flounder -

SNE/ Mid-Atlantic 

yellowtail flounder -

Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine 

white hake 

winter flounder - SNE/ 

Mid-Atlantic 

Atlantic sea scallop 

cod - Gulf of Maine 

cod - Georges Bank 

yellowtail flounder - SNE/ 

Mid-Atlantic 

yellowtail flounder - Cape 

Cod/Gulf of Maine 

white hake 

winter flounder - SNE/ 

Mid-Atlantic 

Atlantic sea scallop 

YELLOWTAIL FLOUNDER – 

GEORGES BANK 

WINTER FLOUNDER – 

GEORGES BANK 

CFMC Queen conch Queen conch 

GROUPER UNIT 1 

GROUPER UNIT 4 

PARROTFISHES 

SNAPPER UNIT 1 

NEFMC/MAFMC monkfish - North 

monkfish – South 

monkfish - North 

monkfish – South 

PFMC LINGCOD 

SHORTSPINE THORNYHEAD 

BLACK ROCKFISH - NORTH 

None 

MAFMC scup 

GOLDEN TILEFISH 

summer flounder 

scup 

summer flounder 

WPFMC bottomfish multi-species 

complex – Hawaiian 

archipelago 

bottomfish multi-species 

complex – Hawaiian 

archipelago 

YELLOWFIN TUNA – 

CENTRAL WESTERN 

PACIFIC 

SAFMC vermilion snapper 

red snapper 

snowy grouper 

tilefish 

red grouper 

black sea bass 

gag 

speckled hind 

Warsaw grouper 

black grouper 

red drum 

vermilion snapper 

red snapper 

snowy grouper 

tilefish 

red grouper 

black sea bass 

gag 

speckled hind 

Warsaw grouper 

black grouper 

red drum 

PFMC/ 

WPFMC 

bigeye tuna – Pacific bigeye tuna – Pacific 

SAFMC/GMFMC None None NPFMC None None 

GMFMC red snapper 

red grouper 

vermilion snapper 

greater amberjack 

red snapper 

red grouper 

vermilion snapper 

greater amberjack 

HMS blue marlin - Atlantic 

white marlin - Atlantic 

sailfish - West Atlantic 

bigeye tuna - Atlantic 

albacore - North Atlantic 

bluefin tuna - West 

Atlantic 

sandbar shark 

finetooth shark 

large coastal shark 

complex11 

blue marlin - Atlantic 

white marlin - Atlantic 

sailfish - West Atlantic 

bigeye tuna - Atlantic 

albacore - North Atlantic 

bluefin tuna - West 

Atlantic 

sandbar shark 

finetooth shark 

large coastal shark 

complex 

NEFMC = New England Fishery Management Council; MAFMC = Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; SAFMC = South Atlantic Fishery Management 

Council; GMFMC = Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; CFMC = Caribbean Fishery Management Council; PFMC = Pacific Fishery Management 

Council; WPFMC = Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; NPFMC = North Pacific Fishery Management Council; HMS = Atlantic Highly Migratory 

Species. 

From the assessment, the Large Coastal Shark complex includes: Spinner Shark, Silky Shark, Bull Shark, Tiger Shark, Lemon Shark, Nurse 

Shark, Scalloped Hammerhead Shark, Great Hammerhead Shark, Smooth Hammerhead Shark, Dusky Shark, Bignose Shark, Galapagos Shark, 

Night Shark, Caribbean Reef Shark, Narrowtooth Shark, Sand Tiger Shark, Bigeye Sand Tiger Shark, Whale Shark, Basking Shark, and White 

Shark. 

19

11 
Table 12. Stocks or stock complexes with “overfished” determinations in 2004 and 2005. 

Stocks in BOLD were added to the list in 2005. Stocks in ITALICS under “2004” were 

removed from the list in 2005. 

Council 2004 2005 Council 2004 2005 

NEFMC cod - Gulf of Maine 

cod - Georges Bank 

haddock - Gulf of Maine 

haddock - Georges Bank 

American plaice 

yellowtail flounder – SNE/ 

Mid-Atlantic 

cod - Gulf of Maine 

cod - Georges Bank 

haddock - Gulf of Maine 

haddock - Georges Bank 

American plaice 

yellowtail flounder – SNE/ 

Mid-Atlantic 

CFMC queen conch 

Nassau grouper 

goliath grouper 

queen conch 

GROUPER UNIT 1* 

GROUPER UNIT 2* 

GROUPER UNIT 4 

yellowtail flounder - Cape 

Cod/Gulf of Maine 

yellowtail flounder - Cape 

Cod/Gulf of Maine 

YELLOWTAIL FLOUNDER – 

GEORGES BANK 

white hake white hake 

windowpane Flounder – 

SNE/ Mid-Atlantic 

winter Flounder – SNE/ 

Mid-Atlantic 

windowpane Flounder – 

SNE/ Mid-Atlantic 

winter Flounder – SNE/ 

Mid-Atlantic 

ocean pout 

Atlantic halibut 

ocean pout 

Atlantic halibut 

BARNDOOR SKATE 

thorny skate 

Atlantic salmon 

thorny skate 

Atlantic salmon 

NEFMC/ 

MAFMC 

None None PFMC bocaccio 

canary rockfish 

darkblotched rockfish 

bocaccio 

canary rockfish 

darkblotched rockfish 

WIDOW ROCKFISH 

cowcod cowcod 

yelloweye rockfish yelloweye rockfish 

PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH 

MAFMC BLUEFISH (EXCEPT GULF OF 

MEXICO) 

GOLDEN TILEFISH 

WPFMC Seamount Groundfish 

complex - Hancock 

Seamounts** 

Seamount Groundfish 

complex - Hancock 

Seamounts 

butterfish butterfish 

SCUP 

SAFMC red snapper red snapper PFMC/ None None 

snowy grouper 

red grouper 

black sea bass 

snowy grouper 

red grouper 

black sea bass 

WPFMC 

speckled hind 

Warsaw grouper 

black grouper 

red porgy 

speckled hind 

Warsaw grouper 

black grouper 

red porgy 

goliath grouper 

Nassau grouper 

red drum 

goliath grouper 

Nassau grouper 

red drum 

SAFMC/ 

GMFMC 

None None NPFMC SNOW CRAB - BERING SEA 

blue king crab - Pribilof 

Islands 

blue king crab - Pribilof 

Islands 

blue king crab - Saint 

Matthew Island 

blue king crab - Saint 

Matthew Island 

TANNER CRAB - EASTERN 

BERING SEA 

GMFMC red snapper 

greater amberjack 

red snapper 

greater amberjack 

HMS blue marlin (Atlantic) 

white marlin (Atlantic) 

blue marlin (Atlantic) 

white marlin (Atlantic) 

vermilion snapper vermilion snapper sailfish (West Atlantic) sailfish (West Atlantic) 

Nassau grouper Nassau grouper bigeye tuna (Atlantic) bigeye tuna (Atlantic) 

goliath grouper goliath grouper albacore (North Atlantic) albacore (North Atlantic) 

red drum red drum bluefin tuna (West Atlantic) 

large coastal shark 

bluefin tuna (West Atlantic) 

large coastal shark 

complex complex 

NEFMC = New England Fishery Management Council; MAFMC = Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; SAFMC = South Atlantic Fishery Management 

Council; GMFMC = Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; CFMC = Caribbean Fishery Management Council; PFMC = Pacific Fishery Management 

Council; WPFMC = Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; NPFMC = North Pacific Fishery Management Council; HMS = Atlantic Highly Migratory 

Species 

* Grouper Unit 1 is composed of Nassau grouper. Grouper unit 2 is composed of goliath grouper. Therefore, these listings are not new, and merely 

reflect a name change. 

** In Table 11 of last year’s report, this complex was erroneously termed “Pelagic Armorhead complex – Hancock Seamount”. 

20