Indicator 14.4.1 - Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels
Percentage of US fish stocks at a sustainable level
Percentage of US fish stocks at a sustainable level
Global Metadata
This table provides information on metadata for SDG indicators as defined by the United Nations Statistical Commission. Complete global metadata documentation on all indicators in Goal 14, unless otherwise noted, is provided by the UN Statistics Division.
| SDG Indicator Name | Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels |
|---|---|
| SDG Target Addressed | By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics. |
| Definition of SDG Indicator | The indicator we propose is the "proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels", not limits. It is therefore slightly different from the indicator 7.4 currently included in the Millennium Development Goals. The FAO Committee on Fisheries has requested changes (see the 2012 and 2014 Reports of the 30th and 31st Sessions of the Committee on Fisheries) in the description of the status of the stocks based on sustainability to ensure clarify and reduce misunderstandings by the general public. The concept of "within biologically sustainable levels" means that abundance of the fish stock is at or higher than the level that can produce the maximum sustainable yield. We estimated 584 fish stocks around world, representing 70% of global landings. Each stock was estimated using the method described in FAO Technical Paper 569. If the stock has abundance below the level that can produce maximum sustainable yield, it was counted as overfished. The indicator measures the % of the assessed stocks are within biologically sustainable levels. |
| UN Designated Tier | 1 |
| UN Custodial Agency | FAO |
U.S. Metadata
This table provides metadata for the actual indicator available from U.S. statistics closest to the corresponding global SDG indicator. Please note that even when the global SDG indicator is fully available from U.S. statistics, this table should be consulted for information on national methodology and other US-specific metadata information
| Method of computation for global SDG indicator | |
|---|---|
| Graph Title | Percentage of US fish stocks at a sustainable level |
| Actual indicator available | The Fish Stock Sustainability Index (FSSI) |
| Description of actual indicator available | The FSSI measures the performance of the most important federally-managed stocks that represent 85% of total U.S. catch. |
| Method of computation | Stocks are at the sustainable level if abundance ≥ 80% of the abundance at the maximum sustainable yield, with the exception of rebuilding stocks, which must be at 100%. Percentage of stocks at sustainable level is calculated by dividing the total number of stocks at the sustainable level by the total number of FSSI stocks with known stock status / abundance levels. |
| Comments and limitations | 1) The global metadata indicates that fish stocks are within biologically sustainable levels if abundance is at or higher than the level that can produce the maximum sustainable yield (MSY). All U.S. federal stocks are managed to achieve the sustainability goals of the Magnuson-Stevenson Act, including requirements to end overfishing and rebuild, to achieve MSY. In 2015, 91% of federally managed stocks were not subject to overfishing and 84% were not overfished. U.S. Metadata indicates that fish stocks are within biologically sustainable levels if abundance is at or higher than 80% for non-rebuilding stocks (100% for rebuilding stocks) of the level that can produce maximum sustainable yield. 2) The Global Metadata reports at the United Nations statistical areas by species or species groups, while U.S. Metadata reports at the species complex, species, or stock level for U.S. managed stocks throughout their range. Note: US data are not available for years prior to 2005. |
| Periodicity | Annual |
| Time Period | |
| Unit of measure | Percentage of stocks at sustainable level |
| Disaggregation #1 (Industry or social categories) | |
| Disaggregation #2 (Geographical coverage) | |
| Date of public data release from National source | |
| Date of last Update of This Page | 2017-09-26 |
| Scheduled Update by National source | |
| Scheduled Update by SDG Team | |
| Data Source1 (Agency STAFF NAME) | Karen E. Greene |
| Data Source2 (Staff E-MAIL) | Karen.E.Greene@noaa.gov |
| Data Source3 (Agency/Survey/Dataset name) | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Marine Fisheries Service/Species Information System |
| Indicator web address (closest to data provided) | https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/sisPortal/sisPortalMain.jsp |
| International and National References |