45 



the 1969 statement that there should be little or no fishing for haddock. 

 In 1972, STACRES reported that bycatch inay be greater than the annual 

 surplus. (56) Despite United States efforts to ban directed fishing for 

 haddock altogether, ICNAF negotiated a 6,000 ton allowable haddock quota 

 for 1972. 



Clearly a study of ICNAF documents indicates that while assessments 

 on species abundance were quite good, the decisions finally made concerning 

 allowable catches were entirely political. With ICNAF member nations com- 

 peting over limited resources, quotas—finally established in 1970--were 

 initially negotiated in excess of STACRES assessments. This further points 

 to the issue of historical data, for regardless of whether assessments were 

 correct, decisions on future yields only agreed with STACRES recommendations 

 when it became clear to member nations that the stock in question was 

 severely threatened. 



