April 29, 2014 — Federal officials released a report today on efforts to rebuild the nation's depleted saltwater fisheries. Thirty-four populations have been successfully restored to health since the year 2000, including two species last year. But neither of those were in Maine or New England. As Jay Field reports, it will be likely be 10 years or more before stocks of the region's most vulnerable groundfish are rebuilt.
The federal government puts out a "Status of the Stocks" report every year. Alan Risenhoover runs the Office of Sustainable Fisheries at the National Marine Fisheries Service. Risenhoover says there are positive trends in New England that are worth noting.
"Some of the trend analysis we've been looking at show some of those stocks that are overfished are starting to show some biomass increasing," Risenhoover says.
Examples include barndoor skate, smooth skate, tilefish and winter flounder.
The news is much less promising, though, on efforts to rebuild stocks of key groundfish like Atlantic cod and halibut. Risenhoover says those species aren't showing any biomass increase to speak of.
He says fisheries regulators in New England are working with the groundfish industry "to find solutions that will rebuild these stocks over time, while keeping as much of the industry fishing during that period as possible."
Read the full story and listen to the audio at The Maine Public Broadcasting Network