| The enactment of the Fishery Conservation and Management Act (FCMA) in 1976, PL 94-265 , initiated a dramatic change in the United States Government's approach towards fishery management. Previously, except for international agreements requiring federal implementation, state management agencies had the lead in setting regulations. Regulations typically included area and seasonal closures, gear restrictions, and recreational bag limits. Management was rather passive, usually intended to maintain the biological health of the resource.;Despite the increased emphasis placed on management to resolve many problems, little attention has been directed towards assessing the quality of information officials use in managerial roles. Two fundamental questions seem not to have received the attention they deserve. How well does the current information base support fishery management decisions, now and into the future? How can research efforts assist managers in making the best use of our fishery resources? We focus our attention on the Atlantic groundfish (cod, haddock, and yellowtail flounder) fishery in addressing these questions.;The FCMA mandated a management system utilizing regional councils. These councils are legally bound to develop management plans for fisheries based on the concept of obtaining the optimum yield from each fishery. Socioeconomic, ecological, and other issues are of paramount importance. This charge has produced a more comprehensive, costly, and "active" approach to fishery management. |
