By Kathryn McKenzie | Edible Monterey Bay
Summer 2019 Issue
Groundfish used to be the linchpin of California commercial fishing—a year-round, reliable catch of tender white fish that consumers were eager to buy. But that all came to a halt almost two decades ago after populations plummeted from overfishing. Now, in a remarkable development, California groundfish—which include about 60 types of fish have rebounded dramatically, some species decades earlier than anticipated, thanks to long-term fishing restrictions and careful monitoring of fishermen’s catch. It’s an environmental success story that shows the resiliency of nature and what can be achieved when people work together for a common goal.