PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - The federal government has added several populations of salmon and flounder to its list of fish stocks that are being subjected to overfishing.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Wednesday that three regional populations of Chinook salmon and one regional population each of Coho salmon, summer flounder, yellowtail flounder and winter flounder are suffering from overfishing.
All are key food fish species that have high economic value.
NOAA produces an annual update of its list of fish that are either subject to overfishing or have been overfished to the point where populations are too low. The report informs conservation and management efforts.
Overall, the number of fish on the "overfishing" list climbed from 26 to 28, and the number on the "overfished" list rose from 37 to 38.