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

Carolyn Belcher Carolyn Belcher SSC Chair SSC Chair South Atlantic Fishery Management South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Council

South Atlantic SSC Role in South Atlantic SSC Role in Stock Assessment Review Stock Assessment Review and Fishing Level and Fishing Level Recommendations Recommendations

Stock Assessment Process Stock Assessment Process

• SEDAR (Southeast Data, Assessment, and

SEDAR (Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review) Review) – – Benchmark assessments Benchmark assessments

• 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 advice and to ensure a robust and independent 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 interpret “… “…will end overfishing will end overfishing…” …”

• 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 especially for snapper-

• grouper species

grouper species

• 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