Fisheries
NOAA
Latest Features
About NOAA Fisheries
Our work is guided by two core mandates—to ensure the productivity and sustainability of fisheries and fishing communities through science-based decision-making and compliance with regulations, and to recover and conserve protected resources including whales, turtles, and salmon. We have five regional offices, six science centers, and more than 20 laboratories around the United States and U.S. territories.
52
The number of fish stocks rebuilt since 2000 as a result of our fishery management process.
164
The number of endangered and threatened species that NOAA Fisheries has jurisdiction over, including 66 foreign species.
19.1 pounds
The average amount of fish and shellfish Americans ate in 2023. U.S. dietary guidelines recommend eating at least 8 ounces of seafood per week.
4.4 million square miles
The total area that NOAA Fisheries is responsible for monitoring and enforcing regulations for marine fisheries. This area is the largest Exclusive Economic Zone in the world.
8.4 million
The number of pounds of seafood that commercial fishermen landed in 2023 (most recent data year) valued at $5.1 billion.
2.1 million
The number of jobs that U.S. commercial and recreational fishing supported in fishing and across the broader economy, generating $319 billion in sales impacts in 2023.
152,000 acres
The number of acres of habitat restored since 1991. Since then, NOAA has contributed technical and financial assistance to more than 3,600 projects, which have restored 152,000 acres of habitat and opened more than 6,700 stream miles for fish migration.
522
The number of fish stocks or stock complexes that NOAA Fisheries manages under 46 fishery management plans.
$1.3 billion
The value of U.S.-farmed seafood—an estimated 688 million pounds—in 2023 (most recent data year). The leading farmed species groups or species were: oysters, clams, Atlantic salmon, red drum, and shrimp.
204 million
The number of fishing trips that saltwater anglers took in 2023 (most recent year of data). Anglers caught an estimated 1.1 billion fish.
