The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently released its annual “Status of the Stocks” report. The report provides an updated analysis of the condition of fish species that are fished and sold in the USA, writes the AP.
According to the report, 94 percent of fish stocks are not subject to overfishing, an improvement compared to the previous year. NOAA reported that several key fish species have been removed from the overfishing list. The positive trend is also supported by the fact that more than 80 percent of the stocks are not overfished.
Rick Spinrad, administrator of NOAA, commented that by ending overfishing and rebuilding stocks, the value of American fishing is strengthened for the economy, society, and marine ecosystems.
In 2022, commercial fishermen caught more than 8 billion pounds of seafood, worth nearly 6 billion dollars.