Socioeconomic Perspectives on Marine Fisheries in the United States

This white paper provides some insight into the social and economic status and health of U.S. marine fisheries. Though confounded by severe information limitations, a characterization of the economic status of our fisheries can be gleaned from trends in economic indicators such as fishery landings, values, and employment; information on the biological condition of valuable fish populations; and case studies that reveal the profound social and economic consequences that accompany the loss of vital fisheries as well as the significant economic benefits of restoring depleted populations to abundance. The information in this paper provides a sense of the direction and magnitude of the costs of mismanagement and the benefits of restoration.