TABLE OF CONTENTS 

 INTRODUCTION i 



Part I STOCK ASSESSMENT BACKGROUND, METHODS AND 



COMPLEXITIES 1 



I ■ Background 1 



II- Stock Assessment Information Requirements 6 



III. Biological Assumptions for Marine Resource 



Assessment 8 



IV. Stock Assessment - Methods 15 



V. Complexities 22 



Part IT THE GEORGES BANK GROUNDFISHERY EXAMPLE 31 



I. Historical Overview 31 



II. Haddock Assessments 38 



III. Lessons from the Haddock Example 46 



Part III ASSESSMENT CAPABILITIES AND NEEDS 54 



I. Assessment Tools 54 



II. Catch and Effort Statistics 62 



III. Biological Issues 66 



Part IV RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE 77 



I. Need 77 



II. Recommendations 80 



References 85 



Comments from Reviewers 91 



