The year 2010 was a time for change as NMFS implemented a “National Catch Share Policy” (www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/domes_fish/catchshare/). Catch shares are a generic term for fishery management programs that allocate a specific portion of a total fishery catch to individuals, communities, or selfselected groups. Catch shares allow fishermen to decide when, how, and where to fish, taking advantage of favorable weather and market conditions. The sense of ownership provided by catch shares also creates an incentive for fishermen to conserve fish stocks. Implementing catch share programs requires the timely availability of high quality catch and bycatch data.

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