basis of management decisions) all contribute to the shortcomings in 

 assessment science. 



Depletions have, in addition, placed pressures upon the scientific 

 community to make yield estimates that are far more precise than the 

 capacity of the science. A full understanding of the marine ecosystem 

 the interactions that occur within it, and the effects upon that ecosystem 

 of environmental conditions require studies based on years of observation. 

 When combined with the rapid and significant changes introduced by fishing 

 fleets (factory- type operations, stern trawlers, pair trawlers, improved 

 electronics, and increased mobility), all of which accelerate the depletion 

 of resources, it becomes clear that assessments have been forced to function 

 within a highly variable situation that has placed enormous strains on the 

 design of research programs. 



In spite of such strains, however, assessments have achieved a rela- 

 tively high level of accuracy. When determining species abundance— resource 

 surveys--assessments are highly accurate; prediction of available yields 

 based on fishing pressures, even given the present problems with catch and 

 effort data, provide a degree of accuracy of roughly seventy percent. As 

 outlined in Part III ("Assessment Capabilities and Needs"), data analysis 

 through models and extensive programming appear to be sufficient, but two 

 difficulties remain: 



t Problems concerning the accuracy of the data generated ; 



• Problems concerning the application of useful information within the 

 short-term time requirements necessary to design management systems 

 that will restore threatened stocks . 



Extended jurisdiction has invested tremendous responsibility in 



domestic assessment science. While international perturbations may well 



