Development of a Process for the Long Term Monitoring of MMPA Category I and II Commercial Fisheries: Proceedings of a Workshop held in Silver Spring, Maryland, June 15-16, 1998; Technical memo

摘要

A National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) workshop to discuss the development of a process for the long term monitoring of Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) Category I and II commercial fisheries, and to evaluate the utility of rotational scheduling in that process, was held on June 15-16, 1998 in Silver Spring, Maryland. The workshop has two goals: (1) to determine whether a rotational schedule can and should be developed for MMPA observer programs; and (2) to begin to develop a long-term plan for monitoring all MMPA Category I and II fisheries. Specific objectives include determining the ultimate goal of an observer program, taking into consideration target precision levels, management needs, logistical concerns, and the goal of bycatch reduction; developing criteria for determining how often and at what level fisheries should be observed; and identifying options for alternative monitoring programs, and when they may be appropriate.