NOAA today announced the release of the 2021 Status of Stocks Report, which summarizes efforts to rebuild and recover domestic fisheries by evaluating over 450 NOAA-managed stocks, as well as an update on the Fisheries of the United States report on the economic impact of fisheries, annual seafood consumption, and fishing port productivity.
Between 2020 and 2021, the number of stocks on the overfishing list remained unchanged (26), while the number of overfished stocks rose from 49 to 51.
NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said that the report demonstrated that the United States “continues to be a global leader in sustainable fisheries management” and that “we remain on track to maximize marine fishing opportunities while ensuring long-term ecological and economic sustainability in our changing world.”
Between 2019 and 2020, the total amount of seafood landed fell 10% to 8.4 billion pounds and the total value of landings dropped 15% to $4.8 billion.
