APPENDIX III APPENDIX III 
ATLANTIC GROUNDFISH 
Groundfish is the name applied to a group of fin fish 
species that is caught on or near the bottom of the ocean, 
including: cod, haddock, flounders, hakes, pollock, ocean 
perch and whiting (silver hake) in New England. Groundfish 
caught primarily in the Middle Atlantic, Chesapeake Bay, 
and South Atlantic include butterfish, croaker, and scup. 
Groundfish species have different biological characteristics, 
habits, and ranges. For example, pollock migrate and are 
found at various depths in the water column while yellowtail 
flounder remain relatively stationary on or near the ocean 
bottom. 
U.S. fisherman have fished for groundfish since early 
colonial days. Flounder and cod provide the greatest ton- 
nage and dollar income to U.S. groundfishermen. With 1973 
landings of 112.2 million pounds, valued at $26.2 million 
using ex-vessel prices, flounders ranked second in volume 
and fourth in value among all species landed on the Atlantic 
coast. Cod ranked seventh in volume and tenth in value with 
landings of 50.4 million pounds worth $9.0 million. Other 
species, such as red and silver hake, are less valuable and 
are not heavily fished by U.S. fishermen. When combined, 
groundfish ranked first in value among Atlantic coast fish- 
eries in 1973. 
STATUS OF THE FISHERY 
Current harvest 
Atlantic coast groundfish landings have declined sharply 
Since the early 1960s, as shown in table 1. Major declines 
occurred in the haddock, silver hake, ocean perch, and 
industrial fisheries. Decreased landings were due primarily 
to overfishing. 
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