OVERFISHING
September 4, 2001
For More Information, Contact Rod Moore, Executive Director

ARE WE RESPONDING TO OVERFISHING CONCERNS?

Fisheries managers are frequently criticized for allowing catches to remain too high when fish stocks are designated as "overfished". Some scientists, environmental groups, and federal bureaucrats have argued that new management measures - such as substantial "no take" zones - must be established to prevent excessive harvest. However, a new analysis of fisheries management history on the west coast suggests that catches of Pacific groundfish are already well below precautionary levels and have been reduced dramatically in the last five years.

The analysis developed by the West Coast Seafood Processors Association (WCSPA) examined the allowable catch levels from 1996 to 2000 for major groundfish species, along with the actual landed catches from commercial fisheries of all gear types. Data for the analysis was taken directly from the sources used by fisheries managers and scientists.

"While we knew that allowable catches had been reduced as a result of changes in the law, new scientific data, and more restrictive management measures, we were amazed at how big the decrease was in the amount of fish being landed," said Rod Moore, WCSPA Executive Director. "Summing up data for all the major species complexes, we found that allowable harvests had decreased by 37%, while actual catches decreased by 50%. Looking at individual species was even more interesting: actual catch decreases ranged from 27.9% for Dover sole to 95.8% for bocaccio rockfish. What this data tells us is that fisheries managers and fishermen have already responded aggressively to concerns about over-harvesting."

The Pacific Fishery Management Council meets in Portland, OR in September to consider catch levels and management measures for the 2002 season. Some allowable catch levels will see further reductions.

"Although we need to stay within the bounds of science when setting allowable catch levels, we need to be careful before abruptly changing the management system that applies to Pacific groundfish," cautioned Moore. "We need to examine what we have already accomplished through adoption of selective gear and other means before trying out new, untested management strategies that could have significant additional economic impacts on our fisheries while providing few, if any, additional biological benefits."

The West Coast Seafood Processors Association represents seafood processors and associated businesses in Washington, Oregon, and California. Our members process the majority of Pacific groundfish, Dungeness crab, and pink shrimp landed in those states.

Return to Press Release Index
Return to WCSPA Home Page