Complete list of press releases

(Raleigh, NC – Jun. 1, 2018) Environmental Defense Fund, North Carolina Sustainable Energy Foundation and Sierra Club today reached a settlement agreement with Duke Energy Carolinas (DEC) to strategically focus the utility’s efforts on modernizing North Carolina’s electricity system in a three-year pilot program.
 

“Duke Energy Carolinas’ unprecedented investment in a grid modernization program will put North Carolina on a path toward a clean energy future,” said Dionne Delli-Gatti, Director, Southeast Clean Energy at Environmental Defense Fund. “If approved by the North Carolina Utility Commission, this program will improve grid efficiency, lower emissions and empower people to reduce their energy use.”
 

Once implemented, the negotiated grid modernization, battery storage, data access, and vehicle electrification components of the program will result in substantial environmental benefits. Voltage optimization upgrades alone – which adjust voltage to match people’s precise electricity needs – will reduce emissions equivalent to taking approximately 30,000 cars off the road and produce energy savings equivalent to the power generated by 35 (2-megawatt) wind turbines that run year-round. The agreement also includes a significant investment in new electric vehicle charging infrastructure and increases energy storage capacity, enabling the use of more renewable energy.
 

This agreement reduces DEC’s investment in the program to $2.5 billion – significantly less than the $7.8 billion the utility initially proposed. The spending will be more targeted, focusing on new integrated technologies that will reduce pollution across the power sector and provide customers with more control over their energy use. While there are still significant opportunities for the utility to improve on this effort, specifically by addressing the needs of low-income and large-scale commercial and industrial users, North Carolina will significantly benefit from a smarter, more interactive grid to maximize renewables.  
 

(Washington, D.C. - May 31, 2018) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Science Advisory Board voted this evening to review a wide range of Administrator Scott Pruitt’s proposals, including deeply damaging efforts involving censored science and targeting America’s Clean Car Standards, the Clean Power Plan, and pollution standards for oil and gas operations and super-polluting freight trucks.

“The Science Advisory Board is right to call for a deeper review of the impact of EPA’s actions, including the censored science proposal,” said Sarah Vogel, EDF’s Vice President for Health. “Administrator Pruitt should listen to the caution that’s radiating from tonight’s votes. To ignore his science advisors, many of whom he hand-picked, and push forward some dangerous proposals would be reckless in the extreme.”

Under the guise of transparency, the Censored Science proposal would undermine EPA’s ability to use research critical to protecting human health and the environment.

“The proposal is an attempt by Administrator Pruitt to censor the kinds of scientific studies that showed cigarettes cause cancer and air pollution is deadly,” said Vogel. “Next time there’s a study that shows a danger to our health, EPA may be blocked from acting on it to protect the public.”

The Science Advisory Board also voted to review: the scientific underpinnings for Pruitt’s planned rollback of America’s Clear Car Standards, the successful policy that reduces dangerous air pollution while saving families money on gas; a proposed loophole to allow super-polluting trucks to skirt our Clean Truck Standards, which cited a scientific study now under investigation by the university that conducted it; the adequacy of the supporting science and analysis for the proposed rollback of the Clean Power Plan; and the science underpinning EPA’s review of common sense air pollution safeguards for the oil and gas industry.

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA – May 31, 2018) California regulators today adopted plans by the state’s three major utilities to accelerate the electrification of light, medium and heavy duty transportation. The California Public Utilities Commission approved $780 million to fund these plans aimed at cleaning up the transportation sector, the state’s biggest source of air pollution.

“Electrifying all forms of transportation is foundational to fighting climate change and, once again, California is out in front. These newly approved plans set the stage for cleaning up the state’s dirtiest sector while ensuring the communities who suffer most from choking exhaust feel the benefits.”

The revised decision adopted today includes key improvements from the original proposal: It preserves an optional dynamic electricity rate that rewards customers who charge their electric cars when clean energy is abundant and helps grid operators more accurately balance supply and demand. This can help California use its renewable resources more efficiently. In addition, it increases the amount of funding allocated for Southern California Edison’s electrification program, which is important for the utility to improve persistent air quality concerns. The increase will also go towards expanding rebate opportunities for charging stations, making them more affordable. Finally, today’s decision removes language indicating that utility ownership of charging stations is anti-competitive.    
 

• Larissa Koehler, Senior Attorney, California Clean Energy

(TROY, NY) Audubon International and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) recently partnered to launch Monarchs in the Rough, a program to assist golf courses in the United States, Canada and Mexico in creating habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators in out-of-play areas.

The program first rolled out in January 2018 with a goal of enrolling 100 courses. Today, the program has far surpassed its initial goal by enrolling more than 250 courses. The program has set a new goal of enrolling 500 additional courses, and launched a new website to feature participating courses.

“The response from the golf community to helping pollinators recover from dramatic declines in recent years has been tremendous,” said Christine Kane, CEO of Audubon International. “Habitat loss is a key driver of the monarch butterfly’s decline, and golf courses are uniquely positioned to help create new habitat and turn things around for this iconic species.”

Golf course properties occupy approximately 2.5 million acres in the United States. Audubon International estimates there are at least 100,000 acres that have the potential to become suitable habitat for butterflies and bees, if managed appropriately.

Monarchs in the Rough encourages golf courses to adopt conservation practices such as planting milkweed and other wildflowers that monarchs need to breed and feed, in addition to changing mowing practices to support the timing of the monarch’s migration, and protecting sites from pesticide treatments.

“This program is not only helping turn things around for the monarch – it’s also an opportunity for the golf community to change the assumptions many people have about golf courses being unsustainable,” said Yank Moore, land manager for the Jekyll Island Authority and Golf Club in Jekyll Island, Georgia. “We have a real opportunity here to showcase the stewardship ethic of golf course managers and superintendents, and to educate the public about conservation practices that support monarchs and other pollinators.”

Monarchs in the Rough provides course superintendents and staff with the information they need to incorporate monarch habitat into the unique layout of each course.

“We bring the scientific expertise and the technical support, and the golf courses bring the land and the staff who are already well positioned to implement conservation practices,” said Daniel Kaiser, senior manager of habitat markets at EDF. “As an avid golfer and conservationist, I couldn’t be more excited about this partnership and the potential it has to help change the trajectory for the monarch butterfly.”

(New Orleans) This week, in conjunction with the State of the Coast Conference, Restore the Mississippi River Delta, a coalition working to protect people, wildlife and jobs by reconnecting the river and its wetlands, launched a high-quality 360-video experience that conveys issues of coastal land loss and the urgent need for coastal restoration. “Coast 360: A Virtual Day in the Delta” brings people to the forefront of Louisiana’s land loss crisis and showcases the urgent need for coastal restoration.

“While everyone can’t go on a coastal flyover, we are using creativity and technology to replicate that bird’s eye view experience,” said Steve Cochran, campaign director for Restore the Mississippi River Delta. “We want people to be able to understand and act on coastal land loss, so anything we can do to help people see it up close and personal really helps. Tools like Coast 360 are not just the wave of the future — they are key to telling the story of what the broad term ‘coastal restoration’ truly means.” 

In this exclusive 360 experience, viewers will visit one of the areas of Louisiana’s coast actually gaining land, an active barrier island restoration project and a coastal community on the forefront of Louisiana’s land loss crisis. With an on-the-ground (and in the air) look at our coastal crisis, viewers will learn what needs to be done to restore and protect our coast, and, more importantly, why it matters.
 
For 7,000 years, the Mississippi River deposited sediment from 31 states and two Canadian provinces across the coast, forming a productive ecosystem that has provided critical wildlife habitat as well as vital storm protection for communities and industries. Louisiana’s wetlands are disappearing due to both natural and man-made factors. To date, Louisiana has lost 1.2 million acres of land and the state continues to lose a football field of land every 100 minutes. This land loss crisis is a national emergency affecting people, wildlife and jobs important to the entire country. Without action, Louisiana is projected to lose an additional 4,000 square miles over the next 50 years. As the delta disappears, so does the natural protection it provides communities from New Orleans to Cameron. 

“The coast of the future will not look like the coast of today. However, if we act with urgency and use the resources at our disposal wisely, we can have a sustainable, protective delta,” continued Cochran. “But we need to act now.”

To watch the video, visit MississippiRiverDelta.org/360.

(WASHINGTON, DC – May 30, 2018) Today, a shareholder resolution filed with Chevron (NYSE: CVX) by As You Sow, requesting that Chevron improve disclosure of its methane management program and set a methane reduction target, received a 45% vote.

“The strong vote by Chevron shareholders on methane disclosure and target setting sends another powerful message to the oil and gas sector that methane is a key financial risk to the industry’s future. The 45% vote by Chevron shareholders demonstrates investors want to see action to limit methane emissions, which harm the planet and the bottom line.

“Investors, EDF, and other stakeholders will be watching Chevron closely to see if it seizes this opportunity and follows Exxon’s lead, who last year responded to investor concerns by implementing a methane management program and setting a reduction target.”

 - Sean Wright, Senior Manager, Environmental Defense Fund

Today, a letter signed by over 200 people from communities across the country dealing with contamination from trichloroethylene (TCE) – a known carcinogen – was submitted to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt. The letter urged him to finalize EPA’s proposed bans of high-risk uses of TCE. While EPA proposed to ban certain uses of the toxic chemical well over a year ago under the previous administration, the Trump Administration is now slow-walking these critical actions.

“EPA has more than established that these uses of TCE present unreasonable risk,” said Dr. Jennifer McPartland, Senior Scientist at Environmental Defense Fund. “It’s critical that the agency finalize these proposed bans now to better protect the public and workers from harmful exposures to this deadly carcinogen.”

EPA proposed banning TCE’s use as a degreasing agent in consumer and commercial products and certain industrial operations, and as a spot cleaner in dry cleaning. The chemical is established as a known human carcinogen by numerous authoritative bodies – including the National Toxicology Program, EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. TCE also interferes with development, is toxic to the immune system and kidneys, and has been linked to neurological damage and birth defects – among other harmful health effects.  

“Administrator Pruitt needs to do the job the American people demand and deserve of him and move without further delay to ban these uses of TCE,” said Melanie Benesh, legislative attorney at EWG. “Just because the chemical industry may want to use TCE and other cancer-causing chemicals anyway they want, doesn’t mean they should. Protecting the public from toxic chemicals is a primary mission of EPA and Mr. Pruitt needs to take that responsibility seriously.”

In December 2016 and January 2017, using its authority under the newly strengthened Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), EPA proposed two rules to ban the use of TCE in aerosol degreasers, spot cleaners, and vapor degreasing, and another rule to restrict high-risk uses of two other dangerous chemicals, methylene chloride and N-methylpyrrolidone. These actions would represent a major step forward for public health, and signaled that the overhaul of TSCA with the passage of the Lautenberg Act a few months prior was beginning to work—EPA had not proposed a chemical ban under TSCA in nearly three decades.

Unfortunately, less than a year after these proposals, EPA indefinitely delayed taking action on these proposed rules, moving them from “active” to “long-term action” status and effectively putting them on the back burner. Not coincidentally, the chemical industry voiced strong opposition to the proposed bans despite the clear public health need and the millions of dollars that would be saved from reducing TCE-related cancer risks alone.

In May, there was one bright spot regarding one of these chemicals: After meeting with mothers whose sons died from using methylene chloride-based paint strippers, EPA agreed to move forward on that proposed chemical ban. While this is an encouraging sign, the agency has not yet publicly committed to a ban for all consumer and most commercial uses of the chemical as called for in the proposed rule.

EPA’s prior evaluations of these three chemicals that supported the proposed bans were limited only to specific uses of them. Under reformed TSCA, EPA is supposed to comprehensively evaluate all other uses of these three chemicals, as well as all uses of seven others. However, there are strong indications that EPA’s reviews of TCE and the other chemicals will drastically deviate from the law’s requirements, excluding many known exposures and hence failing to ensure protection of public and worker health and the environment. Additionally, any decision by EPA to defer action on the proposed bans of high-risk uses of TCE and instead reconsider them as part of their broader evaluations will postpone any meaningful action to address its known risks for many years.

“When someone from our county walks through the pediatric oncology unit of Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, it is not uncommon for them to see multiple families they recognize,” said Stacie Davidson and Kari Rhinehart of Johnson County, Indiana – where TCE and other toxic chemicals have been discovered at high levels in the groundwater. “Dozens of children in our community have been diagnosed with cancer – and we’ve spent years raising awareness about the water contamination that could have contributed to the illnesses. It’s long past time for EPA to better protect communities like ours across the country by taking action on TCE.” Davidson, Rhinehart, and over 150 others from Indiana signed the letter. 

“We didn’t know about the chemicals in our town’s drinking water when I grew up here with my family. In the years since, we have learned about the contamination and begun to understand the health impacts and human cost involved,” said Hope Grosse, a cancer survivor from Warminster, Pennsylvania where TCE and other toxic chemicals from naval and military sites have contaminated the community’s groundwater. “EPA should stop stalling on this dangerous chemical – we need to see action from the agency.” Grosse is one of twenty-four signers from Pennsylvania.

EPA’s deferral of the proposed bans of high-risk uses of TCE fits a larger pattern of EPA under this administration elevating the interests of industry over the agency’s mission to protect public health. With hundreds of concerned residents calling on EPA to act, Administrator Pruitt should immediately move to finalize the bans on high-risk uses of TCE.  

New Jersey’s largest utility today agreed to use advanced leak detection technology and data analytics piloted by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Colorado State University to map and measure leaks from underground natural gas lines. The deal is part of $1.875 billion settlement approved by the Board of Public Utilities involving Public Service Electric and Gas, EDF and other stakeholders to extend PSE&G’s accelerated program to replace hundreds of miles of aging pipes.

The new technology is specifically designed to find smaller leaks that don’t necessarily pose a safety risk, but which collectively emit large amounts of methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas. Utilities and regulators nationwide are increasingly focused on methane emissions as a growing body of research shows both the scale of the problem and the environmental benefits of fixing it.

“Reducing methane emissions is one of the quickest ways we have to protect the climate. PSE&G deserves credit for making this a priority,” said Mary Barber, EDF Director of Strategic Alignment and Performance. “By tackling these leaks faster, PSE&G will achieve a lot more environmental benefit for their infrastructure dollars. That’s good for their customers, and good for New Jersey.” 

Under the deal, PSE&G will replace 875 miles of cast iron and unprotected steel gas mains over five years. The company will work with advanced leak detection technology contractors to survey 280 miles of its most leak-prone pipe this spring and summer. Together with EDF, PSE&G will use the new measurement tools to estimate leak rates, targeting the leakiest sections for replacement first in order to achieve the greatest emissions reduction quickest. 

The plan is based on a successful pilot project. Using data gathered by Google Street View mapping cars equipped with the system developed by EDF and CSU, PSE&G achieved an 83% reduction in methane emissions in some of the most densely populated areas in New Jersey, including parts of Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Passaic counties, while replacing one-third fewer miles of gas lines it would have needed to get the same result before. The typical cost of replacing a mile of gas line on PSE&G’s system is about $1.5 million to $2.0 million.

PSE&G will provide annual reports detailing their progress and the results achieved using the new approach compared with business as usual. 

Leaking natural gas – which is mostly methane – has a powerful effect on the climate. That’s because methane has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over a 20-year timeframe. These leaks are a persistent challenge for utilities, particularly in the Northeast, where natural gas infrastructure is older. 
 

Gov. Phil Murphy today signed into law two bills and an executive order – all policies that will have a major impact on the state’s energy future. The clean energy law will spur the state’s economy by requiring New Jersey to meet 50 percent of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2030 and by launching community solar and energy efficiency programs. New Jerseyans will benefit from cleaner air, and see annual savings of up to $200 million from electric energy efficiency initiatives and a drop in emissions equivalent to taking approximately 170,000 cars off the road each year. The nuclear subsidy bill, also called the Zero-emissions Certificate, will support two New Jersey nuclear plants owned by the Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PSEG). The executive order, which launches New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan, aims to guide the state to source 100 percent of its electricity from clean energy by 2050.
 

“The clean energy law creates jobs, cuts pollution, and improves public health. New Jersey leaders have an opportunity to build on Governor Murphy’s leadership by implementing strong, cost-effective solutions to make the state a hub of innovation and a thriving clean energy economy.”
 

• Mary Barber, Director, New Jersey Clean Energy

(AUSTIN, TX – May 23, 2018) ExxonMobil today announced its intention to reduce oil and gas methane emissions by 15 percent and flared gas volumes by 25 percent across its global oil and gas operations by 2020. A recent International Energy Agency report concluded that global oil and gas methane emissions could be reduced by up to 75 percent using technologies available today, with two-thirds of those reductions achievable at no net cost.

A report evaluating the performance of China’s national carbon market was released today by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and the Energy Research Institute (ERI) of China’s National Development and Reform Commission. “The Progress of China’s Carbon Market 2017” (English version, Chinese version) establishes a baseline for monitoring year-over-year progress on the legal, policy and accountability mechanisms of the market, which was launched in December and will become the world’s largest emissions trading system. The report, released after the conclusion of the program’s top-level design phase, also offers recommendations for Chinese authorities to address operational, structural and regulatory issues. 

Unveiled at the Innovate4Climate conference co-hosted by the World Bank Group and the governments of Spain and Germany, the report is a unique collaboration between ERI, a prominent think tank in the field of energy related policy research in China, and EDF, the first registered international non-governmental organization under China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment. The report is the first in a series to be released on an annual basis.  

“This report provides a valuable step toward ensuring a proper annual evaluation of China’s national carbon market that will allow us to watch the market closely, measure progress, and make recommendations to ensure its smooth operation into the future,” Xiaolu Zhao, Climate Change and Carbon Market Project Manager for EDF and one of the report’s authors, said.

The report details the first-ever timeline of the carbon market’s development, including an overview of the seven pilot markets that preceded the national rollout. These pilots covered almost 3,000 entities from more than 20 industry sectors by the end of 2017. The total trading volume reached 200 million tCO2e, and total trading value was about 45.1 billion yuan with a price range between 1-123 yuan/tCO2e. China Certified Emission Reduction (CCER) credits that are allowed to be used for compliance had a total traded volume of 130 million tCO2e with a total value of 920 million yuan. The pilots helped the Chinese government and industry gain experience for the wider, more complicated national carbon market rollout.  

The report also provides recommendations on issuing detailed and operable market rules, and establishing a corresponding support and management system, all of which will help ensure market-wide accountability, investments in clean technology, and emissions reductions.

“The development of China’s carbon market has global significance. This report systematically reviews the progress of China’s carbon market from the pilot to the country under the background of global carbon market development, and focuses on the latest development of the national carbon market system design. The report opens a window for all domestic and international parties who may be concerned about the establishment of China’s carbon market. It also provides recommendations for the next step to improve the national carbon market system design and promote the implementation of the national carbon market,” said Yanbing Kang, Director of Energy Sustainability Center for ERI one of the report’s authors.

The report explains the ideology behind the market’s design and operation processes, such as the “1+3+4” basic framework. The “1” refers to the management decree that serves as the legal basis for the market. The “3” are the three core management measures: Carbon Emission MRV Measures ensures reliable and accurate emission data; Carbon Allowance Management Measures regulates allowance allocation, surrender and compliance; Market Transaction Measures guarantees smooth and efficient market operation, as well as fairness and openness of market transactions. The“4” refers to four supporting infrastructure systems: Carbon Emission Data Reporting System supports emissions reporting from key enterprises; Carbon Registry tracks and keeps records of carbon allowances; Carbon trading system supports the operation of the market transactions; Carbon emissions transaction clearing system supports the clearing of allowance transactions.

“This report provides a comprehensive overview of the development of the global carbon market and the progress of the China’s carbon market. It reviews the purpose, significance, basic principles, framework, and steps for the establishment of China’s carbon market. China’s national carbon market, which will cover the power generation sector in the first phase, will be the largest carbon market in the world. This report has important reference value for the power generation sector that is starting to run the carbon market,” Zhixuan Wang, Secretary General of China Electricity Council, said.

EDF has been working for more than two decades to help build China’s capacity and ambition to address climate change. The report was developed with support from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, and was unveiled in Frankfurt at an event co-hosted by the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) and EDF. 

–—

Download EDF and ERI’s report, “The Progress of China’s Carbon Market 2017,” in English and Chinese.

“The treatment of reporters at today’s EPA summit on contaminants was a disgrace, but not a surprise. The Trump administration — and Mr. Pruitt’s EPA in particular — have shown a repeated disregard for the role of a free press and the public's right to information about their government. Beyond the Beltway, the real losers are the American people, whose health is threatened when the EPA shrouds itself in secrecy. 

“Even at a scientific conference, intended to find answers and educate the public about a serious drinking water contamination problem, we see the influence of Pruitt’s style of secrecy and entitlement. Access to the event was unreasonably limited, select reporters were barred from covering the event, and ‘EPA guards’ forcibly removed a reporter when she attempted to talk to government officials.   

“This summit’s blatant lack of transparency came after reports about EPA and the White House blocking the publication of a related federal health study on water-contamination. 

“The public has a right to know what EPA is doing. Shielding reporters from such a critical forum means fewer people will know about hazardous chemicals in their water systems. That EPA opened the summit after the altercation and public outcry demonstrates that there was no reason to have it closed in the first place.

“And under Pruitt’s leadership, the EPA has become a combat zone for for the media.

• Withholding Pruitt’s schedule from the media (a first for the EPA)
• Forcing reporters to file Freedom of Information Act requests for routine information
• Asking a radio host not to take listener calls when interviewing Pruitt
• Blacklisting reporters and networks from other major policy announcements
• Inviting Fox News to cover a Pruitt announcement in Kentucky, but telling a New York Times reporter he would not be there
• Having the police remove a reporter from an Iowa event with Pruitt that other reporters were allowed to attend
• Threatening to call the police on reporters trying to cover a 2017 North Dakota trip with Pruitt 
• Cutting an AP reporter from its email list, and attacking him for “rarely” opening positive emails about Pruitt.
• Issuing press releases to attack reporters, including an AP reporter who reported on environmental threats from Hurricane Harvey that the EPA had not yet found.
• Accusing reporters of stealing work from other outlets
• Responding to a list of questions from a New York Times reporter by calling him ‘biased and ’writing elitist click bait.’
• Hiring a political opposition research firm to provide “war room”-style monitoring of media coverage of the EPA

“It’s time for Congress to take a look at how the EPA is fulfilling its responsibilities to provide information to the public.”

-    Eric Pooley, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Communications, Environmental Defense Fund

(LANSING, MI) Michigan utility companies DTE Energy and Consumers Energy today announced they are committing to a 50 percent combined renewable energy and energy efficiency goal by 2030. The move is the latest in a series of recent utility commitments to increase reliance on clean energy.

“Today’s announcement is an important leap forward for healthier air in Michigan communities. Using electricity more efficiently and moving away from dirty fossil fuels will help give Michiganders clean, affordable and reliable energy for years to come. Moreover, Michigan joins a growing list of states that are ramping up investments in smart electricity and bringing the grid of the future into clearer focus.” 

• Fred Krupp, President, Environmental Defense Fund  

(Washington, D.C.) – Yesterday, shareholders of Range Resources (NYSE: RRC) passed a shareholder resolution calling on the company to improve disclosure of its methane management program, including setting a methane reduction target. In a carbon-constrained economy, the climate footprint of oil and natural gas companies is an increasingly important metric for investors who want to ensure operators are appropriately managing methane risk. Two recent reports by EDF highlight the current state of methane disclosure and provide guidance to companies for setting methane targets.

“The majority vote supporting methane disclosure and target setting by shareholders of Range Resources sends a clear signal to the market - managing methane risk is a priority for investors. If oil and gas companies want to secure their place in a rapidly transforming energy market, they must reduce their methane emissions in a verifiable and transparent fashion.

Improving disclosure around methane risk management is a near-term way the industry can show investors and stakeholders it is up for meeting the climate challenge, and can compete in a low-carbon economy.”

Sean Wright, Senior Manager, EDF+Business

(WASHINGTON – May 17, 2018) Today’s annual Status of U.S. Fisheries report from the National Marine Fisheries Service is yet another reminder that the bipartisan Magnuson-Stevens Act has underpinned a transformation of U.S. fisheries that has made them a global model of success. Over the last year, three more stocks returned to health, bringing the total to 44 stocks declared “rebuilt” since 2000. According to the report, the number of overfished stocks continues to decline and 91 percent of fish populations are no longer subject to overfishing. 

The three newly rebuilt stocks highlighted in this report are part of the West Coast Groundfish fishery, where fishermen were able to increase their catch by 50% last year thanks to the comeback of these and other once depleted species. 

The following is a statement from Matt Tinning, Associate Vice President for Environmental Defense Fund’s Oceans program: 

“This report shows what is possible when fishermen, conservationists and managers work together. Through smarter management, the United States has demonstrated that you can bring fisheries back sustainably and profitably. This idea is the hallmark of the bipartisan Magnuson-Stevens Act and exactly why we must keep it strong. 

“Congress should take note of these successes as it considers proposed legislation that could undermine our progress. While there is still work to do so that all fishing communities are benefiting from sustainable and effective management, today’s report is yet another reminder that we have the federal fisheries law we need to succeed.”