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California Fishing Regulations Lead to Remarkable Stock Recovery

2/17/2026

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Summary

Story summary

California's 25-year fishing regulations helped recover game fish such as sea bass and rockfish.
Measures such as a trawl vessel buyback program and strict catch limits curbed overfishing.
By 2011, most groundfish stocks were recovering.
The Marine Stewardship Council certified many stocks as sustainably managed.
Today, 94% of fish stocks in US oceanic and gulf waters are not overfished, with yelloweye rockfish expected to recover by 2029.

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Story summary

California's 25-year fishing regulations helped recover game fish such as sea bass and rockfish.
Measures such as a trawl vessel buyback program and strict catch limits curbed overfishing.
By 2011, most groundfish stocks were recovering.
The Marine Stewardship Council certified many stocks as sustainably managed.
Today, 94% of fish stocks in US oceanic and gulf waters are not overfished, with yelloweye rockfish expected to recover by 2029.