Peer Review Plans

Title and Description:
Stock Assessment for Northwestern Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico Small Coastal Shark Complex and Blacknose, Bonnethead, Finetooth, and Atlantic Sharpnose Sharks

This information product is a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource stocks (Northwestern Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico small coastal shark complex and blacknose, bonnethead, finetooth, and Atlantic sharpnose sharks) relative to current definitions for overfishing and overfished status. The information includes impacts of various management scenarios on the status of the stocks and recovery trajectories for those stocks determined to be overfished. The information is provided to the Highly Migratory Species Division of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA and NMFS.
 
ID:  57 Info. Type:  ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date:  9/15/2007
Contact Person: Rebecca Rootes  NOAA Locator

Date First Posted in Peer Review Agenda:  6/16/2006

Estimated Peer Review Start Date:  8/6/2007
Review type:  panel
Expected number of peer reviewers:  4-10
Peer reviewers will be selected by:  a designated outside organization

Will the public, including scientific or professional societies, be asked to nominate potential peer reviewers?  no

Will there be opportunities for the public to comment on the work product to be peer reviewed?  yes

How?  This information will be developed and reviewed paralleling the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process, a cooperative fishery management council process initiated in 2002 to improve the quality and reliability of fishery stock assessments in the South Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and U.S. Caribbean. SEDAR is managed by the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic Regional Fishery Management Councils in coordination with NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions.  Although the Small Coastal Shark Complex is managed by the Highly Migratory Species Division of NMFS, it was felt that the SEDAR process would be an effective means to assess these stocks. SEDAR emphasizes constituent and stakeholder participation in assessment development, transparency in the assessment process, and a rigorous and independent scientific review of the completed stock assessments. SEDAR workshops are open to the public, announcements are published in the Federal Register with dates and times, and public testimony is accepted at the workshops..

When?  Peer review of the stock assessment for NW Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico small coastal shark complex & blacknose, bonnethead, finetooth, & Atl. sharpnose sharks will be August 20-24, 2007 in Panama City Beach, FL. The meeting is open to the public.

Will the agency provide significant and relevant public comments to the peer reviewers before they conduct their review?  no

Primary disciplines or expertise needed in the review:  Fisheries biology, ecology, life history, population/community/ecosystem modeling

Comments on Peer Review:
The charge statement is set out in Section 1.2, Terms of Reference, in the Consensus Summary Report (at pg. 3).
The final peer review report ("Consensus Summary Report"): http://www.sefsc.noaa.gov/sedar/download/SCS%20Summary%20Consensus%20Final.pdf?id=DOCUMENT.

Work product: http://www.sefsc.noaa.gov/sedar/download/SCS_AW_Final_9July07.pdf?id=DOCUMENT.