1999 

 NATIONAL OVERVIEW 



Long-term potential yield (LTPY) is the maximum long-term average catch that can 

 be achieved from the resource." This term is analogous to the concept of maximum sustain- 

 able \'ield (MSY) in fisheries science. 



Stock level relative to LTPY is a measure of a stock's biological status. The current 

 abundance level of the stock is compared to the level ot abundance that, on average, would 

 support the LTPY. This level is expressed as below, near, above, or unknown relative to the 

 abundance level that would produce LTPY.' 



Status of resource utilization describes the degree to which a stock is utilized by its 

 fisherv (i.e. underutilized, fully utilized, overutilized, or unknown). It shows how the exist- 

 ing fishing effort compares with levels necessary to achieve LTPY irom the resource. 



Alaska snow crab. 



Threatened or endangered are terms specifically defined under the ESA. A species is 

 considered endangered if it is in danger ot extinction throughout a significant portion oi its 

 range; it is threatened if it is likely to become an endangered species within the loreseeable 

 future. 



Potential biological removal (PBR) is a concept that establishes a quantitative pro- 

 cess for setting levels of take such that marine mammal stocks will equilibrate within their 

 optimal population size. PBR (calculated in numbers ot animals) is the sustainable removal 

 level defined by the MMPA 1994 Amendments. Stocks for which bycatch levels exceed 

 PBR are classified as strategic (stocks listed as depleted under the MMPA, or threatened or 

 endangered under the ESA, are also considered strategic regardless of the level of take). 



PRODUCTIVITY OF STOCKS 



The LInited States is ranked fifth in the world for fisheries landings as reported by the 

 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations for 1996, its latest survey 



'Since 1997, NMFS has been required to produce an .uinu.il "Report to Congress on the St,uus of Fisheties ot 

 the L'nitcd States," which classifies stocks as overfished, nor overfished, or approaching an oxerhshed condi- 

 tion. As explained in Appendix 4, there is not a one-to-one correspondence benveen the status classifications 

 in Our Iji'iiig Oceans and those in the Report to Congress. 



