The Contrast Between Marine and Freshwater Management Strategies

The recent mandate for Annual Catch Limits from all federally managed marine fisheries contrasts the diversity of management strategies and tactics applied to freshwater fisheries.  The development of U.S. Ocean Policy included advocacy for science-based catch limits, and the 2007 reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act requires Annual Catch Limits with accountability for all fishery management plans.  The Annual Catch Limit and Accountability Measure system specified by National Standard Guidelines is expected to be effective for achieving fishery management objectives (avoiding overfishing, rebuilding overfished stocks, optimum yield) when fishery monitoring and stock assessment programs are sufficient.  The Catch Limit system requires 1) fishery monitoring data with accuracy, precision, timeliness and transparency; and 2) stock assessments that are frequent, accurate and relatively precise.  When either of these requirements is not met, the Catch Limit system often fails to meet management objectives.  For example, application of the Catch Limit system to recreational fisheries, bycatch fisheries or data-poor fisheries are costly and generally ineffective, because catch estimates and stock assessments are uncertain and not timely enough for responsive management actions.  Alternative management strategies, such as those successfully applied to freshwater fisheries or marine fisheries in other countries, may perform better for marine fisheries that are not conducive to the effective implementation of Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures.