June 17, 2013 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
Arlington, Va — The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission announces the release of its report, Research Priorities & Recommendations to Support Interjurisdictional Fisheries Management. The report highlights research priorities and data critical to the continued success and improvement of the Commission’s 25 species management programs. The report can be used by state and federal marine fishery agencies, and university research programs to develop projects to answer outstanding research questions.
The report identifies research priorities and recommendations by individual species and species groups, as in the case of diadromous species (American eel, shad, river herring, Atlantic sturgeon, striped bass), as well as socioeconomic data needs for all species. Research needs were identified from a variety of sources, including Commission fishery management plans and amendments, annual plan reviews, and peer-reviewed stock assessments. Research focal areas were prioritized by the Commission’s species stock assessment subcommittees and technical committees, with additional input from management boards and advisory panels, the Habitat Committee, the Committee on Economics and Social Sciences, and the Management and Science Committee.
State, federal, and non-profit organizations are encouraged to use the report to identify research projects and design studies for future funding programs. To ensure its usefulness and relevancy, the report will be is updated periodically as research priorities are met and new research needs are identified. The full report can be obtained here, with species-specific sections available on the individual species pages. For more information, please contact Jeff Kipp, Stock Assessment Scientist, or Patrick Campfield, Director of Fisheries Science, at 703.842.0740.