South Atlantic SSC Role in South Atlantic SSC Role in Stock - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

South Atlantic SSC Role in South Atlantic SSC Role in Stock Assessment Review Stock Assessment Review and Fishing Level and Fishing Level Recommendations Recommendations Carolyn Belcher Carolyn Belcher SSC Chair SSC Chair South Atlantic Fishery Management South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Council

Stock Assessment Process Stock Assessment Process � SEDAR (Southeast Data, Assessment, and SEDAR (Southeast Data, Assessment, and � Review) – – Benchmark assessments Benchmark assessments Review) � First assessment vetted through this process in 2002 First assessment vetted through this process in 2002 � � Addresses needs of three councils, NOAA, GSMFC, Addresses needs of three councils, NOAA, GSMFC, � ASMFC and state agencies ASMFC and state agencies � Participants include NOAA scientists, state agency Participants include NOAA scientists, state agency � scientists, independent reviewers, NGO scientists, independent reviewers, NGO representatives, and fishermen representatives, and fishermen � Designed to improve the quality of assessment Designed to improve the quality of assessment � advice and to ensure a robust and independent advice and to ensure peer review of stock assessment products

Stock Assessment Process Stock Assessment Process � SSC reviews the SEDAR schedule, suggests SSC reviews the SEDAR schedule, suggests � species for assessment, and evaluates TORs for species for assessment, and evaluates TORs for each assessment each assessment � Three Workshops Three Workshops - - five days each five days each � � Data Workshop Data Workshop � � Assessment Workshop Assessment Workshop � � Review Workshop Review Workshop � � SSC representation at workshops range from SSC representation at workshops range from � participants to observers/rapporteurs (2 people) participants to observers/rapporteurs (2 people)

Stock Assessment Process Stock Assessment Process � Update Assessments Update Assessments � � Performed at the Council Performed at the Council’ ’s request s request � � Only allows for updated data streams Only allows for updated data streams � � No significant model changes No significant model changes � � Only one meeting week; equiv. to review Only one meeting week; equiv. to review � � Finalized assessment documents are reviewed by the full Finalized assessment documents are reviewed by the full � SSC SSC � SSC endorses as based on best available science SSC endorses as based on best available science � � Allows a second set of eyes to examine the assumptions, data Allows a second set of eyes to examine the assumptions, data � inputs, and methodologies inputs, and methodologies

Stock Assessment Process Stock Assessment Process � Assessment reports provide requested reference Assessment reports provide requested reference � points to the SSC that are used for catch points to the SSC that are used for catch recommendations recommendations

Establishing ACLs Establishing ACLs � Currently going through the growing pains Currently going through the growing pains � associated with the new requirements associated with the new requirements � Concerns within the group about how to Concerns within the group about how to � interpret “… “…will end overfishing will end overfishing…” …” interpret � Where does the uncertainty need to be assessed Where does the uncertainty need to be assessed � � Is it adequately reflected in the models? Is it adequately reflected in the models? � � How does it figure into the management and future How does it figure into the management and future � measures? measures?

Establishing ACLs Establishing ACLs � At present, we continue to recommend catches as we At present, we continue to recommend catches as we � have done in the past have done in the past � Problem: Past management has involved reduction in effort and Problem: Past management has involved reduction in effort and � controlled access. MSA requirements are pushing the Council to controlled access. MSA requirements are pushing the Council to look to reductions in quota look to reductions in quota � SSC has been SSC has been “ “patiently patiently” ” waiting for guidance; waiting for guidance; � however, we have been looking towards however, we have been looking towards potential methodologies potential methodologies � Schertzer et al. (2008) P* methodology Schertzer et al. (2008) P* methodology � � Good news: shows promise Good news: shows promise � � Bad news: only useful for species that are data heavy Bad news: only useful for species that are data heavy �

Establishing ACLs Establishing ACLs � During our June 2008 meeting we established an interim During our June 2008 meeting we established an interim � approach to provide OFL and ABC for 10 overfished approach to provide OFL and ABC for 10 overfished species species � Those with SEDAR assessments we used Yield at MFMT for OFL Those with SEDAR assessments we used Yield at MFMT for OFL � and Yield at 75%FMSY for ABC and Yield at 75%FMSY for ABC Two species with landings data streams we used a five year Two species with landings data streams we used a five year � � average for OFL and with ABC reduced from OFL by 5 or 10% average for OFL and with ABC reduced from OFL by 5 or 10% based on institutional knowledge of the species based on institutional knowledge of the species � Two other species lacked sufficient data to provide an adequate Two other species lacked sufficient data to provide an adequate � picture of stock status. The SSC established an ABC of 0 for picture of stock status. The SSC established an ABC of 0 for each species with an unknown determination for OFL each species with an unknown determination for OFL

Establishing ACLs Establishing ACLs � We have discussed a tiered system approach We have discussed a tiered system approach � based on data input/output based on data input/output � Unfortunately, we lack the time during meetings to Unfortunately, we lack the time during meetings to � work on a straw man approach work on a straw man approach � Data poor species will be extremely problematic Data poor species will be extremely problematic � especially for snapper- -grouper species grouper species especially for snapper � Species groupings Species groupings � � Managers continue to ask about the potential utility Managers continue to ask about the potential utility � � SSC has many concerns SSC has many concerns �