Under the auspices of the Magnuson Fishery Convervation and Management Act of 1976, the National Marine Fisheries Service is responsible for providing scientific support for fishery management to the Regional Fishery Management Councils. Accordingly, this is the second annual report on the status of the Florida stone crab (Menippe mercenaria) fishery which is being managed under the Fishery Management Plan for Stone Crabs by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Manage- ment Council. The report updates the fishery statistics and reevaluates the previous estimate of MSY. The current best estimate of MSY is 1.88 million pounds of claws.

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)

Florida