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There is no accurate single list of whole fish species that are being overfished: assessments apply to particular stocks in defined regions. The clearest examples in current evidence include two U.S. Atlantic cod stocks and several named shark stocks, while Pacific bluefin tuna is a recovery example—not currently overfished according to NOAA’s cited assessment.
“Overfishing” means the catch rate is too high; “overfished” means the population is too small. Check the named stock, both status measures, and the date of its assessment before drawing conclusions about a species.
Key takeaways
- Fishery status applies to a population in a defined area, not automatically to every fish of a species.
- Overfishing describes current fishing pressure; overfished describes a depleted population.
- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) assessed 2,570 marine fish stocks in its 2025 review: 35.5% were classified as overfished, while 77.2% of global fisheries landings came from biologically sustainable stocks. These are different measures.
- NOAA’s December 31, 2025 snapshot listed 42 U.S. stocks as overfished and 15 as subject to overfishing. These are U.S. reporting totals, not global counts.
- Assessment dates matter: stock status can change, and a rebuilding target is not proof that recovery has been achieved.
What do “overfished” and “overfishing” mean?
NOAA Fisheries defines overfishing as an annual catch rate that is too high, and overfished as a population size that is too small. A stock can be overfished even after fishing pressure has been reduced, while a stock can be subject to overfishing before its population falls below the overfished threshold. NOAA also uses “rebuilt” for a previously overfished stock that has increased to its target population size supporting maximum sustainable yield.
| Status term | What it measures | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Subject to overfishing | Current catch rate or fishing pressure | The rate of fishing is too high under the applicable reference points. |
| Overfished | Population size | The stock is below the applicable population threshold. |
| Rebuilt | Population relative to its target | A previously overfished stock has increased to the target population size. |
These terms describe distinct findings. A lower fishing rate does not instantly restore a depleted population; rebuilding takes time.
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Which fish are overfished right now?
The most useful answer names the stock, region, assessment date, and both population and fishing-rate status. The examples below are not a worldwide ranking of species.
| Species and named stock | Region | Assessment or snapshot | What the evidence says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic cod: Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank stocks | U.S. Atlantic | NOAA page cites 2021 assessments | Both stocks are overfished. The cited assessments also classified both as subject to overfishing; NOAA describes fishing rates under rebuilding plans as reduced to end overfishing. Target rebuilding dates are 2033 for Gulf of Maine and 2026 for Georges Bank, not guarantees of recovery. |
| Pacific bluefin tuna | Pacific | 2024 stock assessment, described on NOAA’s page last updated July 2026 | Not overfished and not subject to overfishing. NOAA says it determined the stock was overfished in 2013 and rebuilt in 2024. |
| Selected shark stocks | U.S.-managed or tracked stocks, plus a western/central Pacific stock | NOAA list dated December 31, 2025 | The list includes Atlantic blacknose, dusky, scalloped hammerhead, porbeagle, and sandbar sharks; North Atlantic shortfin mako; and western/central Pacific oceanic whitetip. The table distinguishes overfished and overfishing markings; check the specific stock entry before assigning either status. |
| Tuna and tuna-like stocks overall | Global assessed stocks | FAO 2025 review | 87% of assessed stocks were sustainably fished, and 99% of landings came from sustainable sources. These aggregate figures do not establish the status of every tuna stock. |
These examples show why a species name alone is not enough. The evidence does not establish that every population of a listed species shares the same status, nor does it support a blanket conclusion about all cod, tuna, sharks, groupers, or snapper.
What do the latest global overfishing figures show?
In its 2025 review, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations assessed 2,570 marine fish stocks. It classified 35.5% as overfished and 64.5% as exploited within biologically sustainable levels. Weighted by production rather than counting stocks, 77.2% of global fisheries landings came from biologically sustainable stocks. These percentages have different denominators and should not be combined into one measure.
FAO notes that data coverage and methods vary and that assessment gaps persist, especially for small-scale fisheries. The review is a broad global reference, not a live census of every fish population.
What do U.S. stock counts mean?
NOAA Fisheries’ snapshot dated December 31, 2025 listed 42 stocks as overfished and 15 as subject to overfishing. These are counts for stocks on NOAA’s U.S. reporting lists, not numbers of fish species worldwide. NOAA’s quarterly status page includes updates through June 30, 2026, so consult the latest table when you need a current U.S. stock classification.
NOAA’s list separates overfished status from overfishing status. Do not assume that every stock on one list is also on the other; check the entry and its assessment details.
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Is tuna overfished?
Tuna does not have one status worldwide. FAO’s 2025 review says 87% of assessed tuna and tuna-like stocks were sustainably fished and 99% of landings came from sustainable sources. Those aggregate results do not mean every stock is healthy.
Pacific bluefin tuna offers a specific recovery example: NOAA says the stock was not overfished and not subject to overfishing in the 2024 assessment, and that it rebuilt in 2024 after being determined overfished in 2013. That finding applies to Pacific bluefin, not every bluefin stock.
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NOAA says the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank Atlantic cod stocks are overfished, based on assessments cited from 2021. The assessments also classified both as subject to overfishing; NOAA describes fishing rates under rebuilding plans as reduced to end overfishing. The plans’ target rebuilding dates—2033 for Gulf of Maine and 2026 for Georges Bank—are targets, not proof that either stock has recovered.
These are two regional U.S. stocks, not a status for every Atlantic cod population. Use the stock and assessment date rather than a broad “cod” label.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which sharks are endangered because of fishing?
“Endangered” is a separate conservation or legal classification; it is not another word for NOAA’s overfished or overfishing status. The evidence here does not establish endangered-species listings. It does identify several named shark stocks on NOAA’s December 31, 2025 overfished and/or overfishing lists, including Atlantic blacknose, dusky, scalloped hammerhead, porbeagle, and sandbar sharks, North Atlantic shortfin mako, and western/central Pacific oceanic whitetip. Check the table’s separate markings for the status of each stock.
FAO’s 2025 review found 57% of assessed highly migratory shark stocks to be sustainable and flags inconsistent international management as a recovery challenge. That statistic covers assessed highly migratory stocks, not every shark population.
Best Value
How can you choose seafood with less risk of overfishing?
Use current evidence about the fishery and stock rather than relying on a species name alone. Look for the source location, fishing method, management details, and assessment date.
- Identify the stock or fishing area. Look for a named stock, ocean region, country, or management area.
- Check both status measures. Find out whether the population is overfished and whether current fishing pressure is classified as overfishing.
- Read the assessment date. A status can change after new scientific information is incorporated.
- Check rebuilding information carefully. A reduced fishing rate or planned rebuilding date does not mean recovery has already occurred.
- Use current stock tables and consumer guides as supporting evidence. Match the source and fishery information to the seafood being purchased.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between overfished and overfishing?
Overfishing means the current catch rate is too high. Overfished means the population is below its applicable threshold. The two findings can occur separately or together.
Is tuna overfished?
There is no single status for all tuna. FAO’s 2025 review found most assessed tuna and tuna-like stocks were sustainably fished, while NOAA’s 2024 assessment found Pacific bluefin not overfished and not subject to overfishing.
Are cod stocks recovering?
NOAA describes rebuilding plans and reduced fishing rates for the overfished Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank Atlantic cod stocks. Their target rebuilding dates are plans, not confirmation that recovery has occurred.
Does a fishery’s overfished status mean the species is endangered?
No. Fishery stock status and endangered-species status are separate classifications with different criteria. One cannot be used as a substitute for the other.
Bottom line
Overfishing is assessed stock by stock, not species by species. Check the location, assessment date, population status, and current fishing rate; a regional finding or recovery should not be generalized to every population of that fish.
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