Using a Simple Multi-Attribute Rating Technique to Prioritize Release and Discard Mortality Needs

NOAA Fisheries has created a simple multi-attribute rating technique (SMART) tool that can be used by managers, scientists, and other stakeholders to identify high-priority release mortality estimate needs.  This tool was tested at a 2015 workshop that brought together a varied but small group of experts to evaluate a limited list of species from different regions of the United States.

The SMART tool is designed to be an objective, repeatable, and fairly quick assessment of the need for improved release mortality estimates for certain species.  Results of the SMART tool are not meant to be prescriptive but are intended to provide a starting point for discussions of release mortality research priorities.  The SMART tool incorporates a "management sensitivity filter" and five criteria:

1. Restricted or rare
2. Vulnerability
3. Economic impact
4. Political sensitivity and stakeholder engagement
5. Discard ratio

This presentation will describe the scoring procedure for an example fish species.  In general, the SMART tool can:

• Be customized based on regional needs.
• Be utilized by a wide group of regional stakeholders, including members of Council Scientific and Statistical Committees, as well as fishermen.
• Evaluate multi-species complexes, overlapping fishery sectors, and/or gear types to help address larger ecosystem-based factors.