Why is the Council interested in marine reserves?
The Council’s stated interest, to date, in marine reserves is related to problems in the groundfish fishery. Due to fishing, ocean conditions, low stock productivity and other causes, some groundfish stocks have declined to lower than desired levels. Widow rockfish, darkblotched rockfish, yelloweye rockfish, canary rockfish, bocaccio, lingcod, Pacific ocean perch, and cowcod are currently thought to be overfished. Stock rebuilding plans for these species have either been developed or are in progress. Fishery managers aim to maintain or improve the health of the fish stocks that fishing communities rely on, but they are doing so in an unstable and uncertain environment. Sustained economic health for fishing communities depends on sustained biological health, which in turn requires rational harvest rates and healthy ecosystems. However, there is a question as to whether traditional management efforts have adequately protected our many of our groundfish populations and habitats. Marine re
