FISH . ORG

Does this bar graph to the right of groundfish spawning stock biomass ("SSB") look like a failed fisheries management strategy? These 10 stocks taken together are at their highest SSB levels since 1991. Given current very low fishing effort, one expects that 2008 and 2009 bar graph magnitudes will be even higher, perhaps even exceeding figures going back 25 years.
 
The above graph shows that sea scallop biomass is completely rebuilt and the status is 150% of target biomass. It is of grave concern when the Titanic that is NMFS/NEFMC views such a biomass status as grounds for reducing annual catch levels. Their justification points to imbalance in year classes, etc. But, while they precisely rearrange their deck chairs, the industry may just finally sink. This is due to the excessive precautionary offsets to the assessments. One does not need a microscope to view the stars.
ACHIEVING FISHING SUSTAINABILITY AND ACCURATE FISHERY BIOMASS ASSESSMENTS THROUGH SCIENTIFIC SURVEYS AND RESEARCH
The last 10 years have actually seen unprecedented spawning stock biomass rebuilding amongst many stocks of New England groundfish. While not all species have seen equal biomass rebuilding, enough have to highlight that there is actually an underfishing problem in New England. >Underfishing Essay by Nils Stolpe.
While not all stocks are completely rebuilt, still many are, and many others are strongly trending in that direction.

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This above graph shows SSB with Haddock and Redfish removed since their rebuilt status is literally off the charts. Even without these two winners (and without monkfish, which is also fully rebuilt), the SSB is at its best status in 15 years. 
Increasingly, scientists must rely on fishermen for insights about the ocean derived from their decades of patient data point gathering while out at sea, watching and learning how the sea and its creatures interact.

Scientists and Fishermen Join Forces on Fisheries Science