NOAA 2011 Status of U.S. Fisheries Report

According to the 2011 Status of U.S. Fisheries report to Congress from NOAA’s Fisheries Service:

 * 6 fish populations were declared rebuilt to healthy levels in 2011

 * 86 percent of the populations examined for fishing activity were not subject to overfishing

 * 79 percent of assessed populations (174 of 219) are not overfished, or were above levels that require a rebuilding plan

NOAA estimates that fully rebuilt fisheries could add $31 billion to the economy, generating an additional 500,000 jobs.

Commercial and recreational fishing currently generates $183 billion per year to the U.S. economy and supports more than 1.5 million full and part-time jobs.

To read the full report, visit http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov