General Overview
The Council can identify research and data needs on an impromptu basis, and also has a routine process. An example of a specialized effort is the white paper “Social Science in the Pacific Fishery Management Council Process”.
The Research and Data Needs document is used to track research and data needs and coordinate efforts to fulfill those needs. They are timed and updated so that they will have the best chance to influence the annual operating plans and budget requests of the National Marine Fisheries Service. They also provide information about the Council's data needs to other researchers, agencies and institutions.
At least every five years, the Council staff present an updated version of these documents to the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) for review at the April meeting. The SSC reviews the documents, and they are finally approved in September. After approval, they are sent to NMFS, regional Sea Grant institutions, and other institutions and
agencies. This schedule is not binding, and may be changed depending on other Council staffing needs.
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Social Science in the Pacific Fishery Management Council Process
White Paper “Social Science in the Pacific Fishery Management Council Process”
This white paper addresses non-economic social science needs in the fisheries management process—
specifically, for the Pacific Fishery Management Council (referred to here as the Council or Pacific
Council, depending on context). Many federal rules mandate the consideration of social information in
fisheries decision making. In addition, social science can be used for non-mandated purposes such as to improve outreach and education efforts, increase participation by stakeholders, and increase the
effectiveness of enforcement.
This paper briefly summarizes how regional fishery management councils (RFMCs) and other natural
resource agencies use social science; provides a brief history of social science use in the Pacific Council
process; and describes federal mandates for social science, current social science efforts, barriers to using
social science in the council process, and social science information needs for the Pacific Council.
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The Research and Data Needs Document 2008
At its September 2008 meeting, the Council adopted a final 2008 Research and Data Needs document. The Council continually identifies research and data needs through a variety of processes, including the stock assessment and fishery management cycles. Council Operating Procedure 12 outlines the Council's process for documenting research and data needs and the schedule for completing and communicating these needs to organizations which may be able to support additional research.
The January 2007 reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) added several new provisions and programs specific to research, data collection, and reporting, including a requirement that the Council shall develop five-year research priorities for fisheries, fisheries interactions, habitats, and other areas of research that are necessary for management purposes. The Research and Data Needs document, when adopted in its final form by the Council in September 2008, is intended to record and communicate the Council's research and data needs through 2013 to ensure continued well-informed Council decision-making into the future and to fulfill the Council's responsibilities under the reauthorized MSA.
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Who to Contact
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For Research and Data Needs, contact Mr. Mike Burner at (503) 820-2280 or toll free 1-866-806-7204
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For the Social Science in the Pacific Fishery Management Council Process white paper, contact Ms. Jennifer Gilden at (503) 820-2280 or toll free 1-866-806-7204
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For the Economic Data Plan, contact Mr. Jim Seger at (503) 820-2280 or toll free 1-866-806-7204
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PFMC
10/22/08
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