Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management: The 2016 Context for New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and Stakeholder 2013 Perspectives

To honor Stephen Weithman’s work in socioeconomic fisheries research, this presentation will summarize Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management: Perspectives of fishery management councils and stakeholders in New England and the Mid-Atlantic, which received the 2014 Stephen Weithman Best Student Paper in Socioeconomics Award.  The 2014 presentation summarized the results of a 2013 mail survey distributed to Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) and New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) decision makers and stakeholders.  The study objectives were to: Evaluate agreement and accuracy between Council decision makers and stakeholders about Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management and Identify factors influencing the Mid-Atlantic and the New England Fishery Management Councils’ adoption of Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is currently developing an Agency-wide Ecosystem-based Fishery Management policy.  In 2011, the MAFMC initiated development of an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management guidance document, which is ongoing.  The NEFMC created an EBFM Committee in 2014 and an EBFM Plan Development Team began meeting in 2015.  Both are working to incorporate EBFM principles into NEFMC processes.  Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management continues to emerge as a priority for NOAA, the MAFMC, and the NEFMC, and socioeconomic research is an important component of this evolution.