NOAA technical memorandum NMFS-SEFSC ; 685

"In southeastern US Atlantic coast waters (hereafter SEUS), multiple fish species of management importance inhabit continental shelf-break and upper slope habitats, particularly in depths ranging from ~ 50 250 m. These demersal, 'deep-water' species are managed under the South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan (see http://safmc.net/resource-library/snapper-grouper and focal species list below). Demersal deep-water species in the SEUS tend to be data-poor, with stock assessments relying heavily on fishery-dependent data. Because annual catch limits (ACLs) for many demersal species are low and/or declining, there is essentially a negative feedback loop on the availability and utility of fishery-dependent data: as ACLs are reduced, there are fewer landings data, resulting in greater uncertainty about catch estimates, leading to still-lower ACLs. This report describes the results from a workshop held April 7-9, 2015 at the NOAA Laboratory in Beaufort, NC devoted to the challenge of monitoring deep-water resources, with emphasis on increasing the role of constituents. The objective of the workshop, attended by fishermen and scientists with relevant experience and expertise across the SEUS, was to identify optimal approaches and associated costs for surveying (for stock assessment and management) the SEUS deep-water species complex"--Executive summary. [doi:10.7289/V5GB222C (http://dx.doi.org/10.7289/V5GB222C)]

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)

Atlantic Coast (U.S.)