08/21/2026
Twenty-five years ago, the West Coast groundfish fishery was in crisis. This is a story we’ve told before, but it’s worth remembering.
After decades of heavy fishing pressure, groundfish populations declined sharply through the 1990s. In 2000, the fishery was declared a federal disaster, and sweeping closures followed. Several groundfish species were eventually designated as overfished.
What happened next is one of the more remarkable fishery recovery stories in the United States.
Fishermen, scientists, managers, and conservation groups worked together to rebuild depleted stocks. Catch limits were reduced, large areas were closed to fishing, stock assessments improved, fishermen became directly involved in research, and new management systems gave the fleet greater accountability for what it caught.
The results have been dramatic. Many rockfish populations recovered years, and in some cases more than a decade, ahead of projections. Today, most of the 90+ stocks managed as part of the West Coast groundfish fishery are neither overfished nor experiencing overfishing.
And the recovery continues. In 2026, updated science showed several groundfish species were abundant enough for managers to increase catch limits while maintaining sustainable harvest levels.
It’s an important reminder that sustainability comes from good science, responsive management, healthy ecosystems, and fishermen willing to adapt and invest in the future of the resource.
West Coast groundfish have been through a lot. Their recovery shows just how resilient our oceans, fisheries, and fishing communities can be when we give them the opportunity to rebuild.
