Highly Migratory Species: Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Documents

Background

Federal Regulations (40 CFR 600.315[e]) pursuant to National Standard 2 in the Magnuson-Stevens Act, state that “Conservation and management measures shall be based upon the best scientific information available” which the Council addresses in part by the annual require preparation of a stock assessment and fishery evaluation (SAFE) report for each FMP. The HMS FMP summarizes the requirements for a SAFE report as follows:

The SAFE report is a document or set of documents that provides the Council with a summary of information concerning the most recent biological condition of stocks and the marine ecosystems in the management unit and the social and economic condition of the recreational and commercial fishing interests, fishing communities, and the fish processing industries. It summarizes, on a periodic basis, the best available scientific information concerning the past, present, and possible future condition of the stocks, marine ecosystems, and fisheries being managed under Federal regulation.

The Secretary of Commerce has the responsibility to assure that a SAFE report or similar document is prepared, reviewed annually, and changed as necessary. The Secretary or Council may utilize any combination of talent from Council, state, Federal, university, or other sources to acquire and analyze data and produce the SAFE report.

The SAFE report provides information to the Council and Southwest Region of NMFS for determining annual harvest levels from each stock, documenting significant trends or changes in the resource, marine ecosystems, and fishery over time, and assessing the relative success of existing state and Federal fishery management programs. Information on bycatch and safety for each fishery should also be summarized. In addition, the SAFE report may be used to update or expand previous environmental and regulatory impact documents, and ecosystem and habitat descriptions.

Top

Current SAFE Document

Top

Useful Links to Highly Migratory Species Management and Research

International Regional Fishery Management Organizations and Scientific Bodies
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission http://iattc.org/
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission http://www.wcpfc.int/
International Scientific Committee for Tuna and Tuna-like Species in the North Pacific Ocean http://isc.ac.affrc.go.jp/
U.S West Coast Regional Fishery Management Councils
Pacific Fishery Management Council http://www.pcouncil.org
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council http://www.wpcouncil.org
State and Interstate Fisheries Commissions
California Department of Fish and Game http://www.dfg.ca.gov/
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife http://www.dfw.state.or.us/
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission http://www.psmfc.org
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife http://wdfw.wa.gov/
Institutions Conducting HMS Research
American Fishermen’s Research Foundation http://www.afrf.org/
California State University, Long Beach http://www.csulb.edu
Centro de Investigacion Cientofica y Educacion Superior de Ensenada http://www.cicese.mx/
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission http://www.iattc.org
Monterey Bay Aquarium http://www.mbayaq.org/
Monterey Bay Aquarium Tuna Research and Conservation Center http://www.tunaresearch.org
Moss Landing Marine Lab http://www.mlml.calstate.edu/
NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov
NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center http://swfsc.noaa.gov
NOAA Southwest Regional Office http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov
Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research http://www.pier.org
Scripps Institute of Oceanography http://www-sio.ucsd.edu
Southern California Elasmobranch Consortium http://www.sharkbight.com
Tagging of Pacific Pelagics http://www.topp.org
Sport and Commercial Fishing Industry Related Associations
American Albacore Fishing Association http://www.americanalbacore.com
Oregon Albacore Commission http://www.oregonalbacore.org/
Sportfishing Association of California http://www.sacemup.org
United Anglers of Southern California http://www.unitedanglers.com
Western Fishboat Owner’s Association http://www.wfoa-tuna.org

Top

Past SAFE Documents

Top