1999 

 NATIONAL OVERVIEW 



under control, but it does not appear that there has been an overall net improvement in 

 stock status. In hict, this summarv serves to confirm that a transition to eliminate overhsh- 

 ing and rebuild overfished stocks has begun, but it docs not reflect the ver\' real and sub- 

 stantive management measures that have been enacted in recent years nor the improved 

 scientific understanding oi resource dynamics and potential. A case in point is that ot 

 Northeast demersal fisheries, which have recently (since 1996-97) been subjected to very 

 substantial reductions in fishing mortalitv in order to begin rebuilding programs that are 

 designed to meet specific long-term targets (see Feature Article 2). Strengthened manage- 

 ment measures designed to reduce overfishing and initiate rebuilding are also currently 

 being implemented in manv other fisheries, and this should result in an acceleration in the 

 rate of improvement of stock status and degree oi fishery utilization in the near future. 



Recent Yields 



Overall, average yields (U.S. share) of the fishery resources reported in Units 1-21 

 declined by 2"(i ber>.veen the time periods considered by OLO '92 and OIO '99. This 

 corresponds to a decrease of" more than 1 16,600 t (Table 12). The largest declines occurred 

 for Pacific highly migratory fish stocks (-176,435 t), Alaska shellfish (-71,690 t), and 

 Southeast menhaden (-60,000 t). The largest gains were tor Eastern Bering Sea groundfish 

 (11 3,834 t), Alaska salmon (57,996 t), and Northeast pelagic fisheries (20,200 t). 



Tible 13 lists the individual stocks or stock groups lor which RAY decreased by 50% 

 or more between OLO '5*-? and OLO '99. In terms ol tonnage, the largest reduction in RAY 

 was for Tinner crabs in Alaska, after an all-time high in the early 1990's (Tanner crab 

 landings, including snow crab, declined from 109,910tin 1991 to41,910t in 1996). RAY 

 for Atlantic cod in the Northeast Region also declined substantially during this time pe- 

 riod, due to the low stock abundance caused by overfishing and to current fishing restric- 

 tions aimed at rebuilding the stock. For the same reasons, many ot the stocks that experi- 

 enced large percentage declines in RAY are from the Northeast (Table 13). Some stocks 

 experienced large percentage declines in RAY, although the absolute magnitude ol the land- 

 ings is small. Examples are Nassau grouper and jewfish in the Gull ol Mexico and Atlantic, 

 severely depleted stocks lor which management aims to eliminate catches until rebuilding 

 is achieved. Overall, 26 stock groups experienced a decrease in RAY ol S0% or more, 

 accounting lor a 188,501 t decrease between OLO '92 and this report. 



Tagged bluefin tuna re- 

 leased off Ocean City, 

 Maryland. 



3 5 



