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Review of Northeast Fishery Stock Assessments (1998) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

Science and Management
Pages 69-74

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From page 69...
... Those at the hearing generally agreed with the results ofthe current assessments, which indicate substantially lower fishing mortality in ~ 995 and 1996, and increasing spawning stock biomass for four of the five stocks reviewed. For Gulf of Maine cod, where fishing mortality remains high and stock size low, interested parties at the public hearing did not appear to disagree with the current assessment, but some harvesters were concerned that new management measures might further restrict their fishing operations.
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From page 70...
... In the case of Northeast groundfish, strong management measures appear to be justified by the stock assessments performed for a number of years. Estimates of fishing mortality were very high and increasing, estimates of spawning stock biomass were very low and decreasing, and some estimates of recruitment were at or near the lowest on record, indicating that the harvesting strategy was not sustainable.
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From page 71...
... STRATEGIC THINKING AND PROCESS in marine wild capture fisheries, such as the ones under review, fisheries management is often more about managing human activities than managing fish, because there are substantial ecological, economic, and technical constraints on marine fish enhancement. In an ideal fisheries management system, the management agency and interested parties specify social, economic, and biological management objectives to be reached.
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From page 72...
... Giving stakeholders more say in formulating and implementing policy might mitigate some of the existing tensions between NMFS and harvesters, as well as transfer some of the responsibility for the consequences of policy to those involved directly with exploiting the fishery. The stock assessment group could undertake a number of analyses, probably in collaboration with a fisheries economist, that might greatly enhance the New England Fishery Management Council's ability to evaluate policy options and set more stable and socially acceptable management policies.
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From page 73...
... The committee learned that harvesters will begin to accompany NMFS personnel on scientific surveys; the committee commends this effort and encourages the continuation and extension of similar efforts. Because the regulation of fishing effort affects the livelihood of harvesters and because regulations flow directly from the stock assessments, it is inevitable that harvesters should be concerned about the stock assessment process.
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Key Terms

  • stock assessment
  • fishing mortality
  • management measures
  • public hearing
  • fishery management

  • management process
  • stock size
  • fisheries management
  • size indices
  • stock biomass

  • biological productivity
  • reduce fishing
  • management actions
  • assessment information
  • fish populations

  • alternative management
  • scientific issues
  • england fishery
  • spawning stock
  • strong management

  • restore depleted
  • regulations flow
  • deriving stock
  • fish enhancement
  • management processes

  • discard data
  • stringent management
  • assessments calibrated
  • current effort
  • criticizing fisheries


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