Get more information and related materials on both reports below.
Annual Report to Congress on the Status of U.S. Fisheries
This annual report provides a ‘snapshot’ in time of thestatus of U.S. fisheries at the end of 2016.
In 2016, U.S. fisheries continued to rebuild, and the number of stocks on the overfishing and overfished lists remained near all-time lows.
Sustainable U.S. fisheries play an important role in the nation’s economy providing opportunities for commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishing, and sustainable seafood for consumers.
By ending overfishing and rebuilding stocks, we are strengthening the value of U.S. fisheries to the economy, our communities, and marine ecosystems.
Fisheries Economics of the United States 2015
Commercial and recreational fishing are big business, culturally important, and support a significant number of jobs. At the national level, U.S. commercial fishing and seafood industry and recreational fishing generated $208 billion in sales impacts, contributed $97 billion to gross domestic product, and supported 1.6 million full- and part-time jobs in fishing and across the broader economy.
Saltwater angling generated $63 billion in sales impacts (up 5% from 2014) and contributed $36 billion to GDP (up 2% from 2014) in the marine recreational fishing industry and across the broader economy. Job impacts remained steady from 2014 at 439,000 jobs.
The continued positive impact of U.S. fisheries on the economy, especially between 2011 and 2015, reflects the collective progress that NOAA Fisheries, the regional fishery management councils, and our stakeholders are making as we work to fully rebuild our nation’s fish stocks and ensure the long-term economic stability of our fisheries and our fishing and seafood communities.
