31 



PART II 

 THE GEORGES BANK GROUNDFISHERY EXAMPLE 



I. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW 



Stock assessment is essentially the study of marine fish populations 

 ir terms of their potential commercial yield, as well as the limits of that 

 yield. ^ ' ' Assessment first sought to determine the potential yield 

 from a specific fish population. Usually the population had existing or 

 imminent commercial value. In many cases, assessments sought, located, 

 and estimated the potential yield for populations located in remote or 

 lightly fished areas (often populations of species having existing value 

 elsewhere).^ ' 



It has long been clear that the resources of the ocean are not inex- 

 haustible. Fishing pressures have traditionally intensified until depletion 

 has occurred. 



Fisheries resources of the high seas have never been owned by an indi- 

 vidual or nation. Fresh water fisheries, forests, and most other resources 

 have been located on land and have consequently been owned by someone, either 

 an individual or nation. Fisheries resources are considered common property , 

 that is, owned by no one and thus available to all.^^' 



And just as no one individual has owned marine resources, no one has 

 been entirely responsible for the management of such resources. 



Most of the saltwater fisheries of the world, and particularly demersal 



