The West Coast groundfish fishery has gone through a transformation since the early 2000s, when it was declared a federal emergency. Fishery closures threatened local fishermen's livelihoods.
Since that time, when ten species were designated as overfished, all but one has been rebuilt, and that final species, yelloweye rockfish, is trending positively.
The rebuilding process has been a team effort among scientists, managers, and fishermen. NOAA Fisheries worked with local fishermen to improve the scientific surveys and collect more accurate data. This in turn helped to more accurately determine the abundance of these species and set fishing quotas.
Watch the video below to learn more about this rebuilding success.
Captain Joe Villareal has been fishing the Southern California coast for more than 40 years. He saw the effects of the fishery closures firsthand, and got involved with the survey in 2003. His knowledge and support have helped improve our data on rockfish in the California Bight, and he talks about his experience below.
"I think you have two choices when you get faced with cuts to your livelihood: you can be angry, or you can become a part of the process. I was angry, and then I became a part of the process. And I’m much more optimistic with things like this going on." — Joe Villareal, Sportfishing Captain and Owner of the F/V Mirage
And watch as members of this unique collaboration—scientists and fishermen alike—celebrate this approach and its results.
