APPENDIX III APPENDIX III 
Management controls 
Atlantic 
NMFS personnel believe, that in view of the fishery 
conditions, a management plan, biologically oriented, is 
necessary for the survival of the Atlantic menhaden fishery. 
NMFS made a stock status analysis for 1955-69 and 
concluded that: 
--fishing had a considerable effect on the resources, 
--the stock had been diminished as a result of excess 
fishing, and 
--the resource could recover only if the fishing rate 
were reduced. 
NMFS personnel think that sufficient data is available 
to establish an adequate management plan and landings for the 
Atlantic menhaden could be doubled within 3 years if the in- 
dustry reduced its effort by 25 percent. 
The history of landings shows the benefits to be gained 
by regulating fishing effort at a level which will produce 
the maximum sustainable value. 
The current industry attitude is to use a management 
plan that will involve cooperation between States, Federal 
agencies, and the industry. Consulting fishery biologists 
for industry also endorse management. 
Gulf 
NMFS believes that the MSY for gulf menhaden is being 
approached but cannot be certain as yet to definitely state 
what is the approximate MSY. 
Predictive yields for the gulf menhaden are made each 
year by NMFS. Forecasts for the last 3 years were reasonably 
close to observed catches and differed from actual landings 
by 2 percent in 1973, 1 percent in 1974, and 17 percent in 
1975. “NMFS ‘Vs'not ‘technically “positive “of “the MSY “for this 
fishery. Their opinion is, however, that future increases 
in effort may result in increased landings but the fishery's 
maximum production level should be approached with a definite 
plan and caution. 
NMFS states that the system must not be too restrictive, 
but must allow for expansion, until there is clear evidence 
that the peak of production has been reached or slightly 
passed. 
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