Future Developments in the 

 Fishing Industry 



Recommendation for Improved Manage- 

 ment Information (See pages 81 to 86.) 



Problem: Most of the regional economic 

 studies which have been done and the 

 economic and social data generated by NMFS 

 would be of limited use to the Regional Coun- 

 cils in their management work because it is 

 outdated or not maintained in a format ap- 

 plicable to fisheries managers. 



Recommendation: The National Marine Fish- 

 eries Service consulting with the Regional 

 Councils could evaluate the economic and 

 social-data needs and the suggestions for im- 

 provement which are outlined in this report 

 and develop a comprehensive management 

 information system. 



18 



Information Needed To Evaluate Oppor- 

 tunities 



In order to make decisions on how to im- 

 prove an existing fishery or develop a new 

 fishery by enhancement techniques, new in- 

 formation is necessary. This includes an in- 

 tensive and integrated examination of all 

 facets of a fishery: resource assessment, 

 harvest and processing technologies and 

 costs; market potentials; and institutional 

 factors including artificial barriers to trade. 

 None of this information presently exists 

 within the Federal agencies. (See pages 96 to 

 99.) 



Sufficient data about various segments of 

 the fishing industry are not now available 

 for determining what, if any, actions should 

 be taken by the Government to encourage 

 growth in the fishing industry. (See pages 

 99 to 104.) 



Underutilized Species Not Defined 



In addition to the possible prices which 

 presently underutilized species might 

 bring, stock assessments and projections of 

 yield from the species are needed in order 

 to determine if the stocks can sustain a 

 market. (See pages 98 to 99.) 



Recommendations for Addressing New Op- 

 portunities (See pages 95 to 104.) 



Recommendation: Data collected by the 

 General Accounting Office, the Eastland 

 Resolution group, the Office of Technology 

 Assessment, and NMFS should be synthesized 

 and analyzed by a committee of the Regional 

 Councils which could identify missing infor- 

 mation, fill the gaps itself or contract for 

 research, and make recommendations for con- 

 gressional action or administrative changes 

 which would be helpful in revitalizing the 

 fishing industry. 



Recommendation: The Federal fishery infor- 

 mation structure that exists in Sea Grant and 

 NMFS should be expanded and improved to 

 reach a larger segment of the industry with a 

 variety of information from many sources. 



