Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Crab Rationalization Program; Public Meeting

Riepilogo

NMFS has requested the Center for Independent Experts (CIE) to conduct a peer review of the agency's economic data collection program for the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands crab fisheries managed under the BSAI Crab Rationalization program. The CIE, operated by Northern Taiga Ventures, Inc., provides independent peer reviews of NMFS's fisheries stock assessments and other science products. The BSAI Crab Economic Data Report (EDR) program administered by NMFS began collecting cost, earnings and employment data in 2005, concurrently with the transition of BSAI crab fisheries to the rationalized management regime. The program was developed under the direction of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council). The CIE review will examine the scientific methods and practices employed by NMFS in the design and administration of the EDR program and dissemination of results, assess whether the data and information produced represent the best available science, and provide recommendations for methodological improvements to achieve best scientific practices in economic data collection and analysis of BSAI crab fisheries. The public is invited to attend and observe the presentations and