Peer Review Plans

Title and Description:
Benchmark Stock Assessment for Caribbean Yellowfin Grouper, Mutton Snapper, and Queen Conch
This information product is a determination of the condition and status of the fishery resource stocks (Caribbean yellowfin grouper, mutton snapper, and queen conch) 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 appropriate regional fishery management council (South Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, or Caribbean) to be used as the basis of their management decisions, which are subsequently approved and disseminated by the Secretary of Commerce through NOAA Fisheries.

ID:   78 Info. Type:  ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date:  10/15/2007
Contact Person: Rebecca Rootes  NOAA Locator

Date First Posted in Peer Review Agenda:  06/16/2007

Estimated Peer Review Start Date:  Review type:  panel
Expected number of peer reviewers:  3 or fewer
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 through 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. 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?  The peer review of the benchmark stock assessment for Caribbean yellowfin grouper, mutton snapper, and queen conch will take place July 23-27, 2007 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. 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?  yes

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

Comments on Peer Review:
Charge statement to the peer reviewers: http://www.sefsc.noaa.gov/sedar/download/S14%20TORs.pdf?id=DOCUMENT

Final peer review report:
http://www.sefsc.noaa.gov/sedar/download/S14SAR2%20Mutton%20Report.pdf?id=DOCUMENT
http://www.sefsc.noaa.gov/sedar/download/S14SAR3%20Queen%20Conch%20Report.pdf?id=DOCUMENT
http://www.sefsc.noaa.gov/sedar/download/S14SAR1%20Yellowfin%20Report.pdf?id=DOCUMENT

Work product: http://www.sefsc.noaa.gov/sedar/Sedar_Workshops.jsp?WorkshopNum=14