Review of Northeast Fishery Stock Assessments

The collapse of cod, flounder, and haddock fish stocks in the Northeast United States has caused widespread concern among managers and fishers in the United States and Canada. The diminishing stocks have forced managers to take strict regulatory measures. Numerous questions have been raised about the adequacy of stock assessment science used to evaluate the status of these stocks and the appropriateness of the management measures taken. Based on these concerns, Congress mandated that a scientific review of the methodology and data used to evaluate these stocks be conducted. In this volume, the committee concludes that although there are improvements to be made in data collection, modeling uncertainty, and communicating between fishers, managers, and scientists, the scientific methods used in the Northeast stock assessments are sound. Recommendations are made on how the stock assessment process can be improved.Table of ContentsFront MatterExecutive SummaryIntroductionGeneral Review of Northeast Groundfish Stock AssessmentsReview of Details of Northeast Groundfish Stock AssessmentsScience and ManagementConclusionsReferencesAppendixesA. Mandate from Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Management ActB. Committee BiographiesC. Materials Received from National Marine Fisheries ServiceD. Presentation to the Committee by NMFS ScientistsE. GlossaryF. Extending Data Series and Alternative Projection Results for Gulf of Maine Cod