Abstract:
We evaluated the commercial and recreational fishery landings over the past
22 years, first at the national level, then for populations of concern (those
that are overfished or experiencing overfishing), and finally by region. Recreational
landings in 2002 account for 4% of total marine fish landed in the
United States. With large industrial fisheries excluded (e.g., menhaden and
pollock). the recreational component rises to 10%. Among populations of
concern, recreational landings in 2002 account for 23% of the total nationwide.
rising to 38% in the South Atlantic and 64% in the Gulf of Mexico.
Moreover, it affects many of the most-valued overfished species-including
red drum, bocaccio, and red snapper-all of which are taken primarily in the
recreational fishery.
