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NOAA Fisheries Strategic Plan
Sustainable Fisheries - Objective 1
OBJECTIVE 1: Maintain healthy stocks important to commercial, recreational and subsistence fisheries
Managing stocks of fish which are caught for sale, sport, or personal consumption is one of the primary responsibilities of NOAA Fisheries. The aim of NOAA Fisheries management is to maintain these stocks at or above the level that would support the maximum sustainable yield on a continuing basis. Currently, of the 201 fish stocks managed by NOAA Fisheries, 85 are at or above this level, according to Our Living Oceans 1995. However, there are 43 additional stocks for which we do not have scientific population status information. Through scientific and risk-averse management, we will maintain the health of all these fish stock populations.
Performance Measures
In the next 5 years, NOAA Fisheries will:
- Maintain all stocks known to be healthy at levels that support the maximum sustainable yield on a continuing basis.
- Reduce the level of uncertainty associated with our estimates of stock status and biological potential below 1996 levels.
Strategies
- We will periodically assess stocks to ascertain whether changes in their status due to natural or human-related causes have occurred. These stock assessments require adequate fishery monitoring and resource surveys.
- Using these assessments, we will predict future trends in stock status. Our forecasts will take into account projected biological productivity, as well as economic, market, and social forces that will affect levels of fishing effort.
- We will communicate our scientific information and advice, along with the associated uncertainties, to the Councils and other management authorities, and to other interested parties.
- We will collaborate with the Councils and other management authorities to develop fishery management regimes that will effectively control exploitation.
- We will provide guidelines to assist the Councils in assessing and specifying maximum sustainable yield for managed fisheries.
- We will manage stocks of uncertain status in a precautionary manner in response to the level of uncertainty. In fisheries for which scientific information is especially uncertain or lacking entirely, management will be more conservative to avoid accidental overfishing.
- We will perform assessments on stocks of uncertain status when such assessments are justified by the potential benefits to be derived from scientific status information.
- We will support the efforts of the Inter-state Marine Fisheries Commissions to develop and implement effective inter-state FMPs.
- We will support and implement the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries developed by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, which sets forth principles for responsible global and international fisheries management.
- There is a level of uncertainty associated with all stock assessments. We will determine and reduce these levels through improved data collection and advanced analytical techniques.
- We will use stock assessment workshops and other forums to ensure that our information and advice are developed through an open and collaborative process.
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