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II. RECOMMENDATIONS 



1. Test the Validity of Existing Assessment Methods 



Extension of jurisdiction provides the assessment community with 

 an opportunity to develop an harmonious time-series of data upon which to 

 predict yields. As demonstrated earlier in this report, resource abun- 

 dance surveys are extremely reliable; problems arise with incorrect catch 

 and effort data. United States jurisdiction over offshore waters; 

 properly managed, provides a possible solution to these problems. 

 Although assessments will continue to provide general information, the 

 specificity of that information may increase considerably. Specific 

 catch and effort information can be gained in the following manner : 



• Requirement upon foreign nations fishing off the United States 

 coast that observers be carried on offshore fishing vessels. 

 Although the legal problems concerning such a requirement may 

 be complex, the following information can be received and 

 reported frequently: 



- Precise catch data by species and area; 



- Precise effort data in terms of number of tows; 



- Species composition of bycatch by area and season. 



t Accurate compilation of domestic industry landing figures, 

 discards, and areas fished through development of a cooperative 

 extension program with the domestic fishing industry (see below). 



• Under the recognition that observers would be expensive if placed 

 on all foreign vessels when they entered the extended jurisdic- 

 tion zone, several alternatives are suggested: 



- Catch figures compiled through landing reports of foreign 

 nations, supplemented by an extensive inspection program 

 and a clear awareness that noncompliance or inaccuracy will 

 result in revocation of an operating license; 



