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MAKE SUSTAINABLE YIELD TRULY SUSTAINABLE 



Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) continues to be the goal of fisheries 

 management, but MSY may be impossible to calculate and unattainable due to the 

 unpredictable nature of the marine ecosystems that sustain fish populations and other 

 biological complications. In addition, optimistic estimates of key parameters in fish 

 population assessments are sometimes used, leading to inaccurate assessments and 

 excessive allowable harvest levels. 



* Language is needed in the MFCMA to strengthen requirements that harvest level 

 determinations be based on the best available scientific information, and to mandate 

 a precautionary approach designed to prevent overfishing and adverse ecological 

 effects of fishing. 



* Language is needed in the MFCMA to direct fisheries managers to re-examine the 

 concept of maximum sustainable yield (MSY) with a view toward the development 

 and implementation of a more conservative management concept, subject to less 

 uncertainty. 



* An alternative would be to direct the National Academy of Sciences to evaluate 

 MSY and propose alternatives if necessary. 



* While use of the MSY concept continues, measures to account for natural 

 variability and scientific uncertainty should be incorporated into the process of setting 

 Total Allowable Catch (TAC) levels. Conservative values for stock assessment 

 parameters should be used. Consideration should be given to the application of a 

 "safety factor" to the TAC, similar to safety factors used in setting other 

 environmental standards. 



* The MFCMA should be amended to make clear that economic and social factors 

 cannot compromise the requirement that fish populations with an appropriate number 

 of fish and distribution of life stages necessary for sustainable harvest and for the 

 maintenance of ecological integrity will always remain in the water. 



* Restrictions on the modification of allowable catch levels designed to ensure 

 sustainable harvest and/or to rebuild depleted populations by economic and social 

 factors are especially needed. 



* The MFCMA should specify that management decisions must be risk-averse; i.e., 

 they should err on the side of conservation when stock status is uncertain. 

 Conservative estimates of parameters used in stock assessments and TAC-setting 

 should be employed. Fish populations should not be exploited unless sufficient 

 information exists for the determination of MSY and major ecological impacts of 

 harvest. 



EXAMINE AND IMPLEMENT ALTERNATIVES TO CONVENTIONAL 

 FISHERIES MANAGEMENT 



Open access to fisheries is at the root of the serious biological and economic 

 problems besetting US fisheries. Because individual fishers have no guarantee of a 



