April 18, 2023

NOAA Ecosystem GoalFisheries Management Program

Performance Measures and

Strategic Planning

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Performance Measures

NOAA Fisheries has a number of performance measures used to support the budget and track agency performance

The work of the Regional Fishery Management Councils contributes to this performance in a number of areas

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Improving Stock Status• Increase the Fish Stock Sustainability Index (GPRA measure, for use

by FMCs) - Components for this measure include knowing the status of a stock, whether it is overfished or subject to overfishing, and what the estimated biomass level is relative to the biomass that produces the maximum sustainable yield (Bmsy).

• Percentage of Fish Stocks, known to be subject to Overfishing for longer than one year, with improved management measures to end overfishing in place. – This focuses on getting management measures quickly in place to end overfishing once the status determination is made.

• Percentage of required ACL amendments for overfishing stocks implemented on schedule.

Performance Measures most relevant to the Regional Fishery Management Councils p1

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Ecosystem Approaches to Management• Percentage of existing fishery management plans (FMPs) reviewed

within the past five years to update essential fish habitat (EFH) information per the EFH regulatory guidelines. (Habitat Conservation Program PM)

• Fishery Sustainability Index (FSI) (In Development) – This measure is intended to include the socio-economic health on fishing communities as well as the ecological fitness of the fish stocks within that fishery.

Fisheries Information• Number of fisheries regulated through the use of permits.• Number of fisheries with adequate catch data.• Number of fisheries with adequate social and economic data.

Performance Measures most relevant to the Regional Fishery Management Councils p2

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Catch Shares• Number of fisheries managed under Limited Access Privilege Programs.• The percentage of overfished stocks with rebuilding plans implemented as required.Bycatch Reduction• Number of key fisheries that meet bycatch reduction goals. - High-priority fisheries are

those fisheries where bycatch is (1) a significant biological concern (i.e., related to an overfished fishery or a fishery with an incidental take statement); (2) an economic concern (i.e., a fishery that closes prematurely due to excessive bycatch); and/or (3) of special concern to the Assistant Administrator of NOAA Fisheries.

• Number of additional bycatch reduction engineering projects whose results are incorporated into management systems.

International• Number of partnerships with non-Federal entities, including foreign governments that

implement and/or support international conservation and management of fisheries.Outreach and Education• Number of outreach and education activities completed.

Performance Measures most relevant to the Regional Fishery Management Councils p3

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Key Performance Measures

The following slides present more detail on some of the most important performance measures:—Number of LAPP programs (Catch Shares)

—FSSI

—Annual Catch Limit implementation

—Essential Fish Habitat 5 year updates

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Catch Shares

Catch shares are designed to promote economic and ecologically sustainable fishery management practices by supporting a direct link between the long-term ecological health of the fisheries and economic health of those fishing communities.

Catch shares are a general term and include Limited Access Privilege Programs (LAPPs), individual fishing quotas (IFQs), sectors, cooperatives, community development quotas (CDQs), etc.

NMFS is continuing to work towards its goal of doubling the number of LAPPs (from 8 to 16) by 2011.

Performance Measure: Number of fisheries managed under Limited Access Privilege Programs.

Pacific:1. Pacific Sablefish Permit Stacking Program2. West Coast Groundfish Trawl TIQ

New England:1. Georges Bank Cod Hook Gear Sector2. Georges Bank Cod Fixed Gear Sector3. Atlantic Sea Scallop General Category IFQ4. Northeast Groundfish Multispecies Sector Program

Number of Fisheries Managed Under Limited Access Privilege Programs (12)

South Atlantic:1. Wreckfish

Gulf of Mexico:1. Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper IFQ2. Gulf of Mexico Grouper and Tilefish IFQ

Caribbean:None

Mid-Atlantic:1. Surf Clam and Ocean Quohog2. Golden Tilefish IFQ

Blue = In Development

Western PacificNone

U.S. Department of Commerce

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service

Office of Sustainable Fisheries

North Pacific:1. Pacific Halibut & Sablefish2. Western Alaska Community Development Quota3. Bering Sea Pollack (AFA) Cooperatives4. Bering Sea King and Tanner Crab5. Central GOA Rockfish Pilot Program6. Bering Sea Groundfish Cooperative

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Fish Stock Sustainability Index

The FSSI is a performance measure for the sustainability of 230 U.S. fish stocks selected for their importance to commercial and recreational fisheries.

The FSSI will increase as overfishing is ended and stocks rebuild to the level that provides maximum sustainable yield.

The FSSI is calculated by assigning a score for each fish stock based on the five following criteria:

• “Overfished” status is known • “Overfishing” status is known • Overfishing is not occurring (for stocks with known “overfishing”

status) • Stock biomass is above the “overfished” level defined for the

stock• Stock biomass is at or above 80% of the biomass that produces

maximum sustainable yield (BMSY)2

Fish Stock Sustainability Index (FSSI)

530 fish stocks managed in the U.S.; 230 contribute 95% of total landings

If a stock is not overfished, overfishing is not occurring = 4 points per stock = 230 X 4 = 920 = maximum score

Steady progress given management & investmentsMust end overfishing in 2010

No overfishing = 1Not Overfished = 1

Status of overfishing known = ½Status of Overfished known = ½

At least 80% of Bmsy = 1

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Annual Catch Limits

The development and implementation of ACLs is intended as a measure to end overfishing, as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Performance Measure: Percentage of required ACL amendments for overfishing stocks implemented on schedule.

All stocks subject to overfishing are required to have ACLs in place in 2010.

All other stocks are required to have ACLs in place by 2011.

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New England:1. Cod – Gulf of Maine2. Cod – Georges Bank3. Yellowtail flounder – Georges Bank4. Yellowtail flounder – Southern New England/Middle Atlantic5. Yellowtail flounder – Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine6. White Hake7. Winter Flounder – Georges Bank8. Winter Flounder – Southern New England/Middle Atlantic9. Thorny Skate

Mid-Atlantic:1. Scup

South Atlantic:1. Vermilion

Snapper2. Red Snapper3. Snowy Grouper4. Tilefish5. Red Grouper6. Black Sea Bass7. Gag8. Black Grouper9. Speckled Hind10.Warsaw Grouper

Gulf of Mexico:1. Red Snapper2. Greater Amberjack3. Gag4. Gray Triggerfish5. Pink Shrimp – Gulf of Mexico

Caribbean:1. Snapper Unit 12. Grouper Unit 13. Grouper Unit 44. Queen Conch5. *Parrotfishes

Pacific:1.**Yellowfin Tuna – Eastern Pacific

Highly Migratory Species:1. **Blue Marlin – Atlantic2. **White Marlin – Atlantic3. **Sailfish – West Atlantic4. **Albacore – North Atlantic5. **Bluefin Tuna – West Atlantic6. Sandbar Shark7. Dusky Shark8. Blacknose Shark9. Shortfin Mako - Atlantic

*Indicates non-FSSI stock **Stock is fished by U.S. and International fleets. Blue = Also OverfishedNOTE: This map does not include the results of GARM III. Northeast multispecies stock status is based on GARM II (assessed in 2005).

Pacific and Western Pacific1. **Bigeye Tuna – Pacific

U.S. Department of Commerce

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service

Office of Sustainable Fisheries

North Pacific:None

Stocks “Subject to Overfishing” (41) – 2008

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Essential Fish Habitat

Performance Measure: Percentage of existing fishery management plans (FMPs) reviewed within the past five years to update essential fish habitat (EFH) information per the EFH regulatory guidelines. (Habitat Conservation Program Performance Measure).

This Performance Measure was added in 2008. The Fishery Management Councils and NMFS are mandated to periodically review the EFH provisions of FMPs and revise or amend those provisions no less than every five years.

There are several key issues the Councils and/or NMFS should evaluate that could affect existing EFH identifications and descriptions. These may include:

— Changes to the status of species (overfished or rebuilt),— Changes to restoration techniques that would allow historic ranges to be restored,— New information about the species and/ or lifestage distribution, abundance, density,

productivity, or habitat associations,— New analytical techniques such as modeling applications or mapping applications, — New information on habitat types not previously considered,— Changes in where, when or how gear is used in a fishery,— Improved information about how gear is used, or— New information about the effects of gear on habitat.

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Council 5-Year Programmatic Plans

Councils will soon be developing their next 5-year grant proposals.

Councils Executive Directors meeting this week to discuss upcoming grants and process.

What are potential key performance metrics for the Councils and how could they be incorporated effectively to show Council performance?

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Questions?

Ideas?

Next steps?