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 

2271 U.S. fish stocks2 selected for their importance to commercial and recreational fisheries. 

The FSSI will increase as stock status becomes known, 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 “overfished” level defined for the stock 1.0 

5. Stock biomass is at or above 80% of the biomass that produces 

maximum sustainable yield (BMSY)

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 2271

individual stock scores. The maximum total FSSI score is 920, achieved if all 2271 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 stock; however, there are a few that are assessed as a stock 

complex, which contain a group of species with similar geographic 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 BMSY, as 

mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Act. After they have been fully rebuilt, they may fluctuate within the 80% 

parameter and retain the score of 4 like the other non-rebuilding stocks.
Page 2

Summary of Changes for FSSI stocks from 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 New 

England / MidAtlantic 

NEFMC B/Bmsy>80% B/Bmsy<80% 4 3 

Total FSSI Score 618.5 631.5 

 
Page 3

FSSI Stocks through December 31, 2013

Overview of overfishing status 

 196 stocks or stock complexes are known with respect 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 their 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 overfished (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 their overfished status.

Summary of Changes for non-FSSI stocks from 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 Overfished 

 
Page 4

Non-FSSI Stocks through December 31, 2013

Overview of overfishing 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 respect to their overfished status. Of these: 

 45 stocks or stock complexes are not overfished (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 Caribbean are now broken out into 3 island level 

complexes (were previously listed Caribbean-wide and are now listed as Puerto Rico, St. 

Croix, and St. Thomas/St. John): Angelfishes Complex, Boxfishes Complex, Goatfishes 

Complex, Grunts Complex, Jacks Complex, Porgies 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 listed 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 status (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/statusoffisheries/SOSmain.htm#07