US fishing regulators will stop tracking 'indicator species' for some fisheries

US fishing regulators are proposing to remove rules that require tracking specific 'indicator species' in Atlantic longline fisheries. This means fishermen will no longer need to report catches of certain fish that signal the health of the broader ecosystem.

For decades, fishing regulators used 'indicator species' as an early warning system. If these specific fish populations declined, it suggested broader problems in the ocean. Removing these rules means regulators will lose one of their early warning signals for ecosystem health. It also means fishermen will have fewer reporting requirements, which could make it easier to hit their quotas.