Highly Migratory Species: Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Documents
- Background
- Current SAFE Document
- Useful Links to Highly Migratory Species Management and Research
- Past 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.
Current SAFE Document
- Status of the U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species Through 2010; Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (Published September 2011)
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 |
Past SAFE Documents
- Status of the U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species Through 2009 (Published September 2010)
- Status of the U.S. West Coast Fisheries for HMS Through 2008 (Published October 2009)
- Status of the U.S. West Coast Fisheries for HMS Through 2007 (Published October 2008)
- Status of the U.S. West Coast Fisheries for HMS Through 2006 (Published September 2007)
- Status of the U.S. West Coast Fisheries for HMS Through 2005 (Published September 2006)
- Status of the U.S. West Coast Fisheries for HMS Through 2004 (Published October 2005)
