38 



II. HADDOCK ASSESSMENTS 



In 1962 it had long been assumed by assessment scientists that the 

 haddock stock for Georges Bank (ICNAF Subarea 5) was being utilized close 

 to MSY. With the exception of reduced landings during the Second World 

 War, annual yields from Subarea 5 had remained relatively constant, pro- 

 duced almost entirely by American vessels, since the 1920s. A report by 

 the "Working Group of Scientists on Fishery Assessment in Relation to 

 Regulation Problems" for ICNAF in 1962 indicates the preparedness of the 

 assessment community to deal with the events that occured in 1965.'^^' 



As indicated in the foregoing summary of developments on Georges Bank, 

 foreign governments had stated in the early 1960s that increased effort in 

 Subarea 5 would concentrate on underutilized species. However, the assess- 

 ment community stated in 1962 that little effort increase whatsoever was 

 expected for Subarea 5: 



"As forecasts are lacking from a number of countries, no quan- 

 titative estimates of future changes in total fishing can be 

 made, except for Subarea 5 (fished mainly by U.S.A.) where no 

 substantial changes in effort are anticipated. "(46) 



As a summary chart of expected changes in fishing effort indicates, 



the expectations of the assessment community for the period 1960-1970 



were incomplete and vastly underestimated.^ ' 



