General situation of world fish stocks

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Contents: 1. Definitions 2. Snapshot of the global situation 3. Short list of "depleted" fish stocks 4. Global list of fish stocks ranked as either "overexploited," "depleted," or recovering by region

1. Definitions
Underexploited Moderately exploited Fully exploited Overexploited Undeveloped or new fishery. Believed to have a significant potential for expansion in total production; Exploited with a low level of fishing effort. Believed to have some limited potential for expansion in total production; The fishery is operating at or close to an optimal yield level, with no expected room for further expansion; The fishery is being exploited at above a level which is believed to be sustainable in the long term, with no potential room for further expansion and a higher risk of stock depletion/collapse; Catches are well below historical levels, irrespective of the amount of fishing effort exerted; Catches are again increasing after having been depleted

Depleted Recovering

2. Snapshot of the global situation

Of the 600 marine fish stocks monitored by FAO: 3% are underexploited 20% are moderately exploited 52% are fully exploited 17% are overexploited 7% are depleted 1% are recovering from depletion

Map of world fishing statistical areas monitored by FAO

Source: FAO's report "Review of the State of World Marine Fisheries Resources", tables D1-D17, ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/007/y5852e/Y5852E23.pdf

3. Fish stocks identified by FAO as falling into its "worst" category, "depleted":
D: depleted | F-D: ranging from fully exploited to deleted | O-D: ranging from over exploited to depleted | U-D: ranging from unexploited to depleted Northwest Atlantic (Area 21*): Atlantic cod (D) Haddock (D) Northeast Atlantic (27): Atlantic Cod (O-D) Atlantic salmon (F-D) Haddock (O-D) Other cods, hakes, and haddocks (F-D) Salmons, trouts, smelts, etc. (F-D) Whiting (F-D) Southwest Atlantic: (41) Argentine Hake (O-D) Western Atlantic (31,41): Atlantic bluefin tuna Indian Ocean (51,57,58): Southern Bluefin Tuna Pacific Ocean (61,67,71,77,81,87): Southern Bluefin Tuna Southeast Atlantic (47): Geelbek Croaker (D) Red steenbras (D) Mediterranean/Black Sea (37) Albacore (F-D) Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (D) Atlantic Bonito (F-D) Azov Sea Sprat (D) European Sprat (D) Sardinellas (U-D) Pontic Shad and other Shads (D) Whiting (F-D) Northeast Pacific (67) North Pacific Hake (U-D) Other shrimp, prawns, etc. (F-D) Southeast Pacific (87): Eastern Pacific Bonito (O-D) South Pacific Hake (F-D) Southern Ocean (48, 58, 88): Antarctic Rockcods (D) Blackfin Icefish (D) Patagonian Toothfish (F-D) Mackerel Icefish (D)
*See map previous page

4. Global list of fish stocks ranked as either "overexploited," "depleted," or "recovering," by FAO statistical region
(Stock assessments based on 2004 data, catch volumes based on 2002 data)

Northwest Atlantic (FAO area 21)

Fish Status Main fishing countries Tons caught

Atlantic cod
Gadus morhua

Depleted Depleted Ranging from underexploited to recovering Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited

Canada, USA, Greenland Canada, USA Canada, USA Canada, USA

55,000 23,000 259,000 82,000

Haddock
Melanogrammus aeglefinus

Atlantic Herring
Clupea harengus

American lobster
Homarus americanus

Northeast Atlantic (FAO area 27)

Fish Status Main fishing countries Tons caught

Atlantic salmon
Salmo salar

Salmons, trouts, smelts, etc. European plaice

Pleuronectes platessa

Ranging from fully exploited to depleted Ranging from fully exploited to depleted Overexploited Ranging from fully exploited to depleted Ranging from overexploited to depleted Overexploited Ranging from overexploited to depleted Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited Ranging from fully exploited to depleted Ranging from fully exploited to depleted

Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden Netherlands, Denmark, UK, Belgium Norway, Iceland, Russian Federation Norway, Iceland, Russian Federation, Faeroe Islands Norway, UK, Iceland, Russian Federation Norway, Faeroe Islands, Iceland, France France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands -

2,000 7,000 99,000 176,000 835,000 1,589,000 244,000 370,000 43,000 181,000

Other flounders, halibuts and soles Atlantic cod

Gadus morghua

Blue whiting
Micromesistius poutassou

Haddock
Melanogrammus aeglefinus

Pollock
Pollachius virens

Whiting
Merlangius merlangus

Other code, hakes and haddock type fish

Source: FAO's report "Review of the State of World Marine Fisheries Resources", tables D1-D17, ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/007/y5852e/Y5852E23.pdf

Western Central Atlantic (FAO area 31)

Fish Status Main fishing countries Tons/year

Grouper Scianids Snapper Albacore

Thunnus alalunga

King Mackerel
Scomberomourus maculatus

Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited Ranging from overexploited to depleted Ranging from fully exploited to (possibly) overexploited Overexploited Ranging from fully exploited to depleted Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited Incomplete data, probably ranging from overexploited to depleted Deplete

Mexico, USA, Dominican Rep. Venezuela Venezuela, Dominican Rep., Mexico, USA China, Taiwan Mexico, Venezuela, USA, Trinidad and Tobago Venezuela, Cuba, St. Vincent Venezuela, USA< Cuba, St. Vincent Cuba, Bahamas, Nicaragua, Dom. Rep. Mexico, Turk Caicos, Dom. Rep, Belize

20,000 23,000 39,000 10,000 12,000 4,000 18,000 29,000 20,000

Skipjack tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis

Yellowfin Tuna
Thunnus albacares

Caribbean Spiny Lobster

Panulirus argus

Redspotted shrimp
Penaeus brasiliensis

Stromboid conchs
Strombus spp

Eastern Central Atlantic (FAO area 34)

Fish Status Main fishing countries Tons/year

Common sole
Solea solea

Overexploited Overexploited Overexploited Overexploited Overexploited Overexploited Overexploited Overexploited

Morocco, Italy Spain, Senegal, Morocco, Mauritania Nigeria, Korea, Cameroon, Sierra Leone Spain Spain, China, Taiwan, Japan Spain, Italy Morocco, Senegal, Mauritania

4,000 25,000 3,000 8,000 5,000 44,000 9,000 63,000

Various other flatfish

Pleuronectiformes

Other flounders, halibut and sole like fish Senegalese hake

Merluccius senegalensis

Other cods, hakes and haddocks Bigeye Tuna

Thunnus obesus

Common Octopus
Octopus vulgaris

Various other octopus

Octopodidae

Mediterranean and Black Sea (FAO area 37)

Fish Status Main fishing countries Tons/year

Azov Sea Sprat

Clupeonella cultriventris

Depleted Depleted Depleted Overexploited Ranging from fully exploited to depleted Ranging from moderately exploited to depleted Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited Depleted Ranging from underexploited to depleted Fully exploited to depleted Depleted Overexploited Ranging from fully exploited to depleted Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited

Russian Federation, Ukraine Bulgaria Nigeria, Korea, Cameroon, Sierra Leone Italy, Spain, Greece, France Turkey, Russian Federation Turkey, Tunisia, Spain Turkey, Italy Ukraine, Bulgaria, Russian Federation Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Spain Italy, Greece France, Italy, Tunisia, Turkey Italy, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Tunisia Italy, Turkey

27,000 0 3,000 21,000 10,000 5,000 483,000 70,000 67,000 6,000 22,000 12,000 12,000 36,000

Pontic Shad
Alosa pontica

Other Shads European Hake

Merluccius merluccius

Whiting
Merlangius merlangus

Red Mullet
Mullus barbatus

European Anchovy
Engraulis encrasicolus

European Sprat
Sprattus sprattus

Sardinellas
Sardinella spp

Albacore
Thunnus alalunga

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Thunnus thynnus

Swordfish
Xiphias gladius

Atlantic Bonito
Sarda sarda

Striped venus
Chamelea gallina

Source: FAO's report "Review of the State of World Marine Fisheries Resources", tables D1-D17, ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/007/y5852e/Y5852E23.pdf

Southwest Atlantic (FAO area 41)

Fish Status Main fishing countries Tons/year

Argentine Hake
Merluccius hubbsi

Overexploited to depleted Fully exploited to over exploited Moderately exploited to overexploited Moderately exploited to overexploited Moderately exploited to overexploited Overexploited Fully exploited to over exploited

Argentina, Uruguay Argentina, Japan, Chile Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina Argentina, Uruguay Brazil Argentina

409,000 64,000 18,000 8,000 20,000 28,000 42,000

Southern Blue Whiting

Micromesistius australis

Argentina Croaker
Umbrina canosai

Whitemouth Croaker
Micropogonias furnieri

Striped Weakfish
Cynoscion striatus

Brazilian Sardinella
Sardinella brasiliensis

Other shrimps

Southeast Atlantic (FAO area 47) Fish Status Fully exploited to overexploited Cape hakes
Merluccius capensis M. paradox

Main fishing countries Namibia, South Africa South Africa South Africa Namibia, South Africa China, Taiwan, Japan Japan, China, Taiwan Angola South Africa, Namibia South Africa South Africa South Africa

Tons/year 306,000 0 0 13,000 19,000 42,000 45,000 3,000 1,000 1,000 7,000

Geelbeck Croaker
Atractoscion aequidens

Depleted Depleted Overexploited Overexploited Overexploited Overexploited Overexploited or recovering from depletion Overexploited Overexploited Fully exploited to over exploited

Red Steenbras
Petrus rupestris

Kingklip
Genypterus capensis

Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus

Southern Bluefin Tuna

Thunnus maccoyii

Cunene Horse Mackerel

Trachurus trecae

Cape Rock Lobster

Jasus lalandii

Southern Spiny Lobster

Palinurus gilchristi

Perlemoen Abalone
Haliotis midae

Cape Hope Squid

Loligo reynaudi

Western Indian Ocean (FAO area 51)

Fish Status Main fishing countries Tons/year

Emperors
Lethrinidae

Fully exploited to over exploited Fully exploited to over exploited Fully exploited to over exploited

UAE, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania India, Madagascar, Iran, Pakistan India, Madagascar

65,000 79,000 128,000

Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel

Scomberomours commerson

Various Nantian Decapods

Nantantia

Eastern Indian Ocean (FAO area 57)

Fish Status Main fishing countries Tons/year

Croakers and drums

Sciaenidae

Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited

Ponyfish
Leiognathidae

India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia India, Indonesia Indonesia, Malaysia Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand Indonesia Indonesia, Thailand India, Indonesia

83,000 63,000 89,000 173,000 44,000 15,000 56,000

Stolephorus anchovies
Stolephorus spp

Indian Mackerels
Rastrelliger spp

Scads
Decapterus sso

Banana Prawn
Penaeus merguiensis

Giant Tiger Prawn

Penaeus monodon

Source: FAO's report "Review of the State of World Marine Fisheries Resources", tables D1-D17, ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/007/y5852e/Y5852E23.pdf

Northwest Pacific (FAO area 61)

Fish Status Main fishing countries Tons/year

Largehead Hairtail
Trichiurus lepturus

Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited

China

1,371,000

Northeast Pacific (FAO area 67)

Fish Status Main fishing countries Tons/year

Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited Ranging from underexploited to depleted Ranging from moderately exploited to overexploited Ranging from fully exploited to depleted

USA, Canada USA USA USA, Canada -

10,000 18,000 130,000 62,000 4,000

Coho Salmon
Oncorhynchus kisutch

North Pacific Hake

Merluccius productus

Pacific Herring
Clupea pallasii

Other Shrimps

Western Central Pacific (FAO area 71)

Fish Status Main fishing countries Tons/year

Lizardfishes
Synodontidae

Ponyfishes
Leiognathidae

Giant Tiger Prawn

Penaeus monodon

Ranging from moderately exploited to overexploited Ranging from moderately exploited to overexploited Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited

Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines Indonesia, Philippines Indonesia, Australia

83,000 141,000 46,000

Eastern Central Pacific (FAO area 77)

Fish Status Main fishing countries Tons/year

Miscellaneous coastal fishes Shrimps and prawns

Ranging from moderately exploited to overexploited Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited

64,000 51,000

Southwest Pacific (FAO area 81)

Fish Status Main fishing countries Tons/year

Orange Roughy
Hoplostethus atlanticus

Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited

New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand, Australia

19,000 18,000 1,000

Oreo Dories
Oreosomatidae

Silver Gemfish
Rexea solandri

Southeast Pacific (FAO area 87)

Fish Status Main fishing countries Tons/year

Patagonia Grenadier
Macrunronyus magellanicius

South Pacific Hake

Merluccius gayi

Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited Ranging from fully exploited to depleted Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited Ranging from overexploited to depleted Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited Ranging from overexploited to depleted Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited

Chile Chile, Peru Chile

132,000 162,000 32,000 36,000 9,703,000 347,000 28,000 1,000 1,750,000

Southern Hake
Merluccius australis

Miscellaneous demersal fishes Anchoveta

Engarulis ringens

Peru, Chile Chile Chile, Peru, Ecuador Peru Chile, Peru

Araucanian herring
Strangomera bentincki

South American Pilchard

Sardinops sagax

Eastern Pacific Bonito

Sarda chiliensis

Chilean Jack Mackerel

Trachurus murphyi

Source: FAO's report "Review of the State of World Marine Fisheries Resources", tables D1-D17, ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/007/y5852e/Y5852E23.pdf

The Southern Ocean (FAO areas 48, 58 and 88)

Fish Status Main fishing countries Tons/year

Area 48: Antarctic Rockcods

Nototheniidae

Depleted Depleted Depleted Ranging from fully exploited to depleted Depleted

United Kingdom United Kingdom, Republic of Korea Russian Federation, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, Poland United Kingdom, Chile, Spain, Uruguay Australia

0 0 0 6,000

Blackfin Icefish
Chaenocephalus aceraturus

Mackerel Icefish
Champsocephalus gunnari

Patagonia Toothfish
Dissostichus eleginoides

Area 58: Mackerel Icefish

Champsocephalus gunnari

1,000

Tuna and tuna-like species, all oceans

Fish Status Main fishing countries Tons/year

Atlantic Ocean (areas 21,27,31,34,37,41,47 and 48): Albacore

Thunnus alalungae

North: Overexploited South: Overexploited Med. Sea: ?

Taiwan, China, Spain, South Africa

61,000

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Thunnus thynnus

West: Depleted East: Overexploited Overexploited Depleted

France, Italy, Spain, Morocco

35,000

Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesusi

Spain, Taiwan, Japan Japan, Taiwan, South Africa

79,000 1,000

Southern Bluefin Tuna

Thunnus maccoyii

Indian Ocean (areas 51, 57 and 58):: Bigeye Tuna

Thunnus obesusi

Ranging from fully exploited to overexploited Depleted

Taiwan, Indonesia, Spain Australia, Japan, Indonesia

130,000 12,000

Southern Bluefin Tuna

Thunnus maccoyii

Pacific Ocean (61, 67, 71, 77, 81 and 87) Pacific Bluefin Tuna
Thunnus thynnus

Overexploited Depleted

Japan, Taiwan, Mexico Japan, New Zealand, Australia

9,000 2,000

Southern Bluefin Tuna

Thunnus maccoyii

Source: FAO's report "Review of the State of World Marine Fisheries Resources", tables D1-D17, ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/007/y5852e/Y5852E23.pdf