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Science and Its Role in the National Marine Fisheries Service (2002) / Chapter Skim
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3. Adequacy of Science for Ecosystem and Biological Considerations
Pages 26-29

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
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From page 26...
... Conserving or restoring fish habitats, reducing bycatch, protecting threatened and endangered species, and reducing effects of fishing on biological communities and habitats are at the forefront of public concerns with respect to fisheries management. Those concerns and others were identified nearly a decade ago (NRC, 19941.
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From page 27...
... Research conducted outside the agency also could be used to improve much of the ecological and ecosystem science in fisheries management. However, timely research on marine ecosystems to address water quality, habitats, trophic relationships, and threatened and endangered species needs to be coordinated with stock assessments to respond quickly to management needs.
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From page 28...
... In recent years, environmentalists have increased pressure on the agency to conduct research that is beyond the scope of NMFS's traditional stock assessment focus. The status of many overfished stocks requires that NMFS conduct quick and effective investigations and provide prompt interpretations.
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From page 29...
... , the editor repeats the oft-stated lament that "questionable science" from NMFS is the consequence of failing to "seek the everyday wisdom of fishermen.'' The perception of poor science in stock assessments can obscure the reality that NMFS stock assessment science is generally good. In the broader arena of ecological and ecosystem science, there is a perception in the environmental community that NMFS is not conducting its science at a level or with the quality that is necessary to define fishing effects on habitats, biological communities, and ecosystems in a way that will allow achievement of the directives of the MSFCMA.
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Key Terms

  • stock assessments
  • fisheries management
  • stock assessment
  • biological communities
  • assessment science

  • endangered species
  • marine fisheries
  • nmfs science
  • fished ecosystems
  • ecosystem approaches

  • fish habitats
  • fishing effort
  • fisheries advisory
  • prompt interpretations
  • trophic relationships

  • reducing effects
  • ecosystem effects
  • broad ecosystem
  • water quality
  • nmfs conduct

  • review ecosystem
  • science evolves
  • conventional fisheries
  • agency performance
  • increasing emphasis

  • fish stocks
  • management task
  • ecological research
  • executive order
  • increased pressure


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