Although we've made remarkable progress toward ending overfishing and restoring depleted populations, we have been missing the bigger picture by focusing on individual species -- the marine version of missing the forest for the trees.

If we want to maintain a vibrant and productive ecosystem, it makes sense to leave enough food in the water for other animals in the food web to consume.

These species and a host of other Pacific marine predators need to eat plenty of small fish to survive and thrive. In fact, to understand the well-being of an ocean ecosystem, one of the first steps is to measure the food supply upon which other larger species depend.

A historic fish faces its own pivotal moment. Menhaden numbers have plunged nearly 90 percent over the past 25 years, and the regulators responsible for their management will soon make a critical decision.

Regulations such as seasonal hook modifications and restrictions on the use of live bait have failed to sufficiently protect bluefin and other species from wasteful longline fishing.

Any doctor would point out that this year's report wasn't a clean bill of health: Thirty six of America's most commercially and recreationally important ocean fish populations are still subject to overfishing, and 45 have been depleted to unhealthy levels.

Small fish such as sardines and anchovies don't get much love. But these little fish provide essential food for all the marine life that we like to catch, eat or watch.

The future health of Atlantic bluefin tuna populations will be enhanced by improving the ability to track the amount of fish caught each year.

One of the most popular New Year's resolutions for Americans is to lose weight. But for the fish in America's oceans, we need to resolve to help them gain weight.

Everyone wants more fish in our oceans -- the challenge today is finding the right way to achieve that goal.