“This year’s report shows progress for some stocks but also signals we have our work cut out for us,” said Bill Hogarth, director of NOAA Fisheries Service. “We’re taking action to address issues raised in this year’s report.” Hogarth has asked the regional fishery management councils to develop measures to reduce harvest rates for the stocks with a new overfishing status and begin rebuilding those declared overfished. Some councils already have begun to take corrective action.
“Alaska’s coastal communities depend on healthy fisheries like pollock, cod, halibut and crab, and this annual report card shows that Alaska fisheries continue to make the grade,” Dave Benton, executive director of the Marine Conservation Alliance (MCA), said in a statement. “It shows fishery managers are doing their job regulating this vital industry and are taking the necessary action to protect fisheries when problems become apparent.”
The report covers groundfish and shellfish stocks in federal waters off Alaska that are managed by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management and Conservation Act.
“Credit Sen. Ted Stevens for his leadership in drafting legislation to responsibly manage and conserve our fish resources and then following through with the necessary support to put it into action,” Benton said. “His support of scientific research has boosted our understanding of these important fish stocks. This allows us to better manage them and take appropriate steps for conservation when needed.”
Of 197 fish stocks in Alaska’s offshore waters, 60 are considered major stocks like pollock, cod and crab/ with combined annual landings of over 4.8 billion pounds. That compares to landings of just over 9 billion pounds last year in the entire United States.
“Alaska produces half the nation’s seafood and this report shows we are continuing to do so in a responsible manner,” Benton said. “Our major groundfish stocks like pollock, cod and halibut are not being overfished and that’s good news for the coastal communities that depend on the sustainability of these fisheries that are a large part of their — and the state’s — economy.”
The status of several stocks is listed as “unknown,” but these are primarily minor stocks like sculpins, skates, flounders and rockfish that amount to less than 1 percent of Alaska’s total landings by weight. Most of these species are not directly targeted by fishermen but the incidental bycatch of these stocks is closely monitored and actions are taken to protect them. Earlier this year approximately 274,000 square miles of waters in the Bering Sea and Aleutians were closed to trawling in part to protect critical rockfish habitat. MCA reports that thanks to continued scientific research, the number of Alaska stocks whose status was listed as “unknown” was reduced by 12 this year, including various stocks of rockfish, flatfish and skates in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska. None were found to be overfished or subject to overfishing.
The Magnuson Stevens Act is up for Congressional review this year and the MCA strongly supports its reauthorization with changes to strengthen its application of science-based management. The 2004 status report shows continued progress across the country in addressing conservation problems where they exist. Of over 900 fish stocks nationwide, 73 were listed as overfished in 2004, three fewer than the previous year. In several areas of the country rebuilding plans have been put in place to address conservation concerns. Based in Juneau, the Marine Conservation Alliance is composed of seafood harvesters, processors and Alaska coastal communities that include all groundfish and shellfish gear types. It promotes science-driven solutions to fishery conservation issues in the North Pacific.
Cristy Fry has commercial fished in Homer since 1978 and also has designed and built gear for the industry. She currently longlines for halibut and sablefish and gillnets salmon in upper Cook Inlet aboard the F/V Realist.
