Independent fisheries stock assessment reviews

Project description and benefits

Cefas regularly provides scientific staff to serve as independent evaluators of fish stock assessments undertaken by the United States National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The evaluation takes the form of a review procedure with the objective being to provide independent recommendations for associated research and fishery management. Cefas provides scientists to participate as both panel member reviewers and chairs of the review committee. The reviews are held for a wide variety of fish stocks from various regions of the United States.

Services provided by Cefas

Each review committee is a formal, typically one-week long, meeting of independent stock assessment experts who serve as a peer-review panel for several stock assessments. The terms of reference for each stock typically consists of updating all relevant information (catch and landings data, survey data, and biological data), and evaluating stock status with respect to established target and threshold levels of over-fishing.

Prior to the meetings, the reviewers receive documents on the stock assessments. During the meeting reviewers consider critically the fishery assessments (including exploitation indices and estimates of total mortality) and discuss the assessment validity and results.

An advisory report is then drafted, drawing conclusions and making recommendations regarding fishery management and future research requirements to underpin the management process.