Our fisheries management system emphasizes the health of individual fish populations or stocks. This single species approach does not fully account for the interconnections of marine life, the ever-changing environment, and the impact of human activities.
Read stories about how ecosystem plans from each regional council guide decisions using the latest science about what affects fish, such as habitat and food supply, and how fishing impacts other fisheries and ecosystems.
U.S. Ocean Fishing Law Forged by Cold War Politics
All Regions
Creating Sustainable Fisheries from the Start
North Pacific
Planning for Good Days Ahead
Mid Atlantic l New England
Climate Change Affects Where We Find—and Catch—Fish
All Regions
Tracking the Telltale Signs of a Healthy Ecosystem
North Pacific
For This Fish, a Hole Is Home for the Holidays
Gulf of Mexico
A ‘Genius’ Fisherman’s Idea for a Cod Comeback
New England
Fishing Boat Captain Urges Anglers to Release the Big Ones
South Atlantic
A Bird’s Eye View on Cape Cod Fishing
New England
Past the Whales, Over the Corals, and Through the Canyons
Gulf of Mexico
What’s Love Got to Do With Green Sea Turtles and Fish?
Gulf of Mexico l South Atlantic l Caribbean
How Our Warming Ocean Is Altering Fisheries
All Regions
Climate Change Shuffles the Deck for Fishery Managers
Mid Atlantic l New England
Salmon’s Journey—and Environmental Sensitivity—Highlights Need for Big-Picture Thinking
Pacific
Corals That Brighten Gulf of Mexico Depths Need Greater Protection
Gulf of Mexico
Rapid Reporting Helps Fishermen Reduce Bycatch, but the Law Lags Behind
All Regions
5 Keys to Improving Ocean Health
All Regions