Populations of canary rockfish and petrale sole off the West Coast have rebounded from low levels and are now considered rebuilt, according to a statement released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council.
Populations of canary rockfish and petrale sole off the West Coast have rebounded from low levels and are now considered rebuilt, according to a statement released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council.
The canary rockfish is a long-lived species that was declared overfished in 2000 and was not expected to be rebuilt until 2057. Fishery managers credit good ocean conditions and conservation efforts with a six-fold increase in the canary populations.
The petrale sole was declared overfished in 2011, and its harvest limit was cut by half. It was rebuilt a year ahead of schedule, according to the council statement.
The council chairwoman, Dorothy Lowman, said the rebuilding of the two fish populations is a “huge achievement” that reflects hard decisions by the council and sacrifice by fishermen.
Populations of five other groundfish stocks have yet to be rebuilt.