tion of the councils and preparation of 

 management plans, in very general language, 

 were published in the Federal Register in draft 

 form in September, 1976>i This failure to 

 standardize operations within NMFS before 

 the initial plans were written may have com- 

 plicated the councils' job of preparing suc- 

 ceeding plans by failing to give them a model 

 after which to pattern their work. It may also 

 perpetuate regional differences within NMFS 

 and complicate the national review process. 



As the councils consider the preliminary 

 plans and attempt to develop the management 

 process, much must be learned about the 

 effectiveness of management techniques and 

 presentation of plans. The most pressing need 

 for improvement, however, is in the area of 

 developing and considering economic, social, 

 and biological data to be used to modify the 

 catch figures presented in the preliminary 

 plans. 



Figure 22 



1977 Northeast Stock Assessment and U.S. and Foreign Quotas 



(In IVIetric Tons) 



•Includes 10.000 MT Quota of River Herring (or U S Fishery 

 * *No River Herring (Alewite or Blueback) May Be Harvested by Foreign Vessels 

 ' "TAC (total allowable catch) 



'Includes Angler, Cusk. Ocean Pout, Sculpins, Soup, Searobins, Tilefish. White Hake. WoUtishes. Bluefish. Buttertish, Alewite, Argentine, Croaker. Black Sea Bass. Dogfish, 

 American Shad, Skates. Spot. Squeateagu. Striped Bass 

 *( ) Denotes Questionable Data 



NOTE Quotas for 1977 are proposed only Management plans developed by NMFS setting quotas are preliminary until such time as the regional councils are able to 

 establish their own plans Northeast fisheries not listed {including ocean perch, cod. haddock and yellowlail flounder) will be 100% US, and no foreign fisheries 

 (except incidentally) will be allowed 



Source: National Fisherman 



72 



