Well its not often we hear some good news from the marine environment, especially when looking at fisheries - but here's some!

According to a report by the National Resource Defence Council - an environmental action group - the US Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act has prompted rebuilding of a number of fish stocks...

28 of 44 fish stocks - or 64 percent - have been designated rebuilt or met their rebuilding targets, or have made significant rebuilding progress. •21 stocks have been designated rebuilt or met rebuilding targets (and have not been designated as again approaching an overfished condition).

Seven stocks have made significant rebuilding progress, defined as achieving at least 50 percent of the rebuilding target and a 25 percent increase in abundance since the start of its rebuilding plan.

Estimated average annual 2008-2010 gross commercial revenues from these 28 stocks totaled almost $585 million -- 92 percent higher (54 percent when adjusted for inflation) than revenues at the start of rebuilding.

Eight stocks have made limited rebuilding progress (either achieving 50 percent of their target or a 25 percent increase in abundance) and eight stocks have shown a lack of rebuilding progress (achieving neither of these thresholds).

Areas of concern include (a) gaps in the application of the rebuilding requirements, such as with respect to stocks that are not federally managed, are of "unknown" population status, or are internationally managed; (b) regions, such as New England, the South Atlantic, and the Gulf of Mexico, with significant proportions of stocks showing a lack of rebuilding progress; and (c) continued overfishing during rebuilding plans.

Full report available here http://www.nrdc.org/oceans/rebuilding-fisheries.asp