Science and Its Role in the National Marine Fisheries Service: Book

Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY....................1
1 INTRODUCTION....................9
Agency Responsibilities....................9
Approach of the Committee....................13
2 ADEQUACY OF NMFS DATA, SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS, AND MODELS....................15
Adequacy of Science for Stock Assessments....................15
Issues....................15
Uncertainty....................15
Data....................16
Modeling....................22
3 ADEQUACY OF SCIENCE FOR ECOSYSTEM AND BIOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS....................26
Science Issues: Beyond Stock Assessments....................26
Performance: Perception and Reality....................28
4 ADEQUACY OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DATA....................30
5 ADEQUACY OF THE USE OF SCIENCE IN FISHERY MANAGEMENT....................34
Identification and Expectations of Science and Information Needs....................34
The Role of Science in Decision-Making....................37
6 LEGAL CHALLENGES RELATED TO NMFS SCIENCE: A SAMPLING OF THE LITIGATION....................44
7 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS....................50
Adequacy of Scientific Information for Fisheries Management....................51
Adequacy of Science Related to Marine Ecosystems and Protected Species....................53
Adequacy of Social and Economic Data and Analyses....................55
Use of Available Scientific Information and Advice for Management of Marine Fisheries and Protected Resources....................58
Adequacy of Scientific Expertise Available to NMFS....................65
Priorities for Augmentation of NMFS ScienceActivities....................66
Funding....................68
REFERENCES....................69
CASES CITED....................72
APPENDIXES A Committee and Staff Biographies....................75
B Acronyms....................79
C National Standards in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act....................81
D Statement of Task....................83