### Sustainable Fisheries

2013 Quarter 4 Update through December 31, 2013

2013 Quarter 4 Score = 631.5 (October 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013)



### Overview The Fish Stock Sustainability Index (FSSI) is a performance measure for the sustainability of 227 1 U.S. fish stocks 2 selected for their importance to commercial and recreational fisheries. The FSSI will increase as stock status becomes k nown, overfishing is ended, and stocks increase to the level that provides maximum sustainable yield. 

### FSSI Scoring Method The FSSI is calculated by assigning a score for each fish stock based on the five following criteria:

Criteria Points Awarded
1. “Overfished” status is known 0.5 2. “Overfishing” status is known 0.5 3. Overfishing is not occurring (for stocks with known “overfishing” status) 1.0

4. Stock biomass is above the “overf ished” level defined for the stock 1.0 5. Stock biomass is at or above 80% of the biomass that produces maximum sustainable yield (B MSY ) 3 ( this point is in addition to the point awarded for being above the “overfished” level ) 1.0

The maximum score each stock may receive is 4. The value of the FSSI is the sum of all 227 1 individual stock scores. The maximum to tal FSSI score is 920, achieved if all 227 1 stocks were to each receive a score of 4.

1 The FSSI previously contained 230 stocks. Gulf of Mexico stone crab and little tunny are no longer managed under federal fishery management plans (FMPs), and Gulf of Mexico black grouper is now managed as a combined Gulf of Mexico/South Atlantic stock under the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish and Snapper-Grouper FMPs. To provide continuity in the FSSI, the final point score for these 3 stocks remains in the index until FY 2015. 2 The majority of species are assessed as a single stoc k; however, there are a few that are assessed as a stock complex, which contain a group of species with similar ge ographic distribution, co-occurrence in fisheries, and life history. 3 Stocks rebuilding from a previously overfished condition are not awarded the fourth point until they reach B MSY , as mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Act. After they have been fully rebuilt, they may fluctuat e within the 80% parameter and retain the score of 4 like the other non-rebuilding stocks.Page 2 Summary of Changes for FSSI stocks fr om October 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013

Stock Region Previous Status Current Status Previous FSSI Score Current FSSI Score
Hogfish – Gulf of Mexico GMFMC Overfishing – Unknown Subject to Overfishing 0 0.5

Gulf of Alaska Deepwater Flatfish Complex NPFMC Overfished – Unknown Not Overfished B/Bmsy>80% 1.5 4

Rex sole - Pacific coast PFMC Overfished – Unknown Not Overfished B/Bmsy>80% 0 2.5

Brown rockfish - Pacific coast PFMC Overfished – Unknown Not Overfished B/Bmsy>80% 0 2.5

Pacific sanddab - Pacific coast PFMC Overfished – Unknown Not Overfished B/Bmsy>80% 0 2.5

Rougheye rockfish - Pacific coast PFMC Overfished – Unknown Not Overfished B/Bmsy>80% 0 2.5

Cowcod - Pacific coast PFMC Overfished No longer Overfished – Rebuilding 2 3

Rosette skate - Southern NewEngland / MidAtlantic NEFMC B/Bmsy>80% B/Bmsy<80% 4 3

Total FSSI Score 618.5 631.5Page 3 

### FSSI Stocks through December 31, 2013

Overview of over fishing status

 196 stocks or stock complexes are known with re spect to their overfishing status. Of these:

 171 stocks or stock complexes are not subject to overfishing.

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

 31 stocks or stock complexes have overfishing thresholds not defined or applicable, or are unknown with respect to th eir overfishing status.

Overview of overfished status

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

 145 stocks or stock complexes are not overfishe d (4 of these stocks are approaching an overfished condition).

 36 stocks or stock complexes are overfished.

 46 stocks or stock complexes have overfished thresholds not defined or applicable, or are unknown with respect to th eir overfished status.

Summary of Changes for non-FSSI stocks fr om October 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013

Stock Region Previous Status Current Status

Blueline tilefish – Southern Atlantic Coast SAFMC Overfishing – Unknown Overfished – Unknown Subject to Overfishing Overfished
Gulf of Mexico Jacks Complex GMFMC Overfishing – Unknown Subject to Overfishing
Bering Sea / Aleutian Islands Octopus Complex NPFMC Subject to Overfishing No Longer Subject to Overfishing
Aurora rockfish - Pacific Coast PFMC Overfished – Unknown Not Overfished

China rockfish - Pacific Coast PFMC Overfished – Unknown Not Overfished
Copper rockfish - Pacific Coast PFMC Overfished – Unknown Not Overfished
Sharpchin rockfish - Pacific Coast PFMC Overfished – Unknown Not Overfished
Stripetail rockfish - Pacific Coast PFMC Overfished – Unknown Not OverfishedPage 4 

### Non-FSSI Stocks thr ough December 31, 2013

Overview of over fishing status

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

 101 stocks or stock complexes are not subject to overfishing

 3 stocks have a fishing mortality rate that exceeds the overfishing threshold (i.e., is subject to overfishing).

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

Overview of overfished status

 49 stocks or stock complexes are known with re spect to their overfished status. Of these:

 45 stocks or stock complexes are not overfishe d (1 of these stocks is approaching an overfished condition).

 4 stocks are overfished.

 202 stocks or stock complexes have overfished thresholds not defined or applicable, or are unknown with respect to their overfished status.
Southeast Region

 The following stock complexes in the Caribbe an are now broken out into 3 island level complexes (were previously listed Caribbean-w ide and are now listed as Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas/St. John): Angelfishe s Complex, Boxfishes Complex, Goatfishes Complex, Grunts Complex, Jacks Complex, Po rgies Complex, Squirrelfishes Complex, Surgeonfishes Complex, Triggerfishes and Filefishes Complex, and Wrasses Complex.
Pacific Islands Region

 Westpac Bed Refuguim- Precious Corals Complex is now listed under the Hawaii Archipelago Ecosystem Fishery Ecosystem Plan.

 The Western Pacific Squid Complex in the Pacific Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region Ecosystem was inadvertently lis ted as an ecosystem complex and is now listed as a non-FSSI stock.
Alaska Region

 Pacific cod – Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands is now split into 2 stocks. The Being Sea stock is assessed and continues to have a known stat us (FSSI stock), while the Aleutian Islands stock is unknown (non-FSSI).

FSSI stock status updates are posted quarterly at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/sta tusoffisheries/SOSmain.htm#07