Office of Science & Technology Overview

Stock Assessment Science Program Review

September 9-12, 2014 – Silver Spring, MD

Ned Cyr, Ph.D.

Director, Office of Science and Technology

U.S. Marine Fisheries Management

Mandates for NMFS’ Stock Assessment Science

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act

• Federal fisheries (also international provisions)

• Administered by US Sec. of Commerce

Atlantic Tunas Convention Act

• Atlantic highly migratory species (ICCAT)

• Administered by US. Secs. of State and Commerce

Agreements with international/regional management bodies

• Other highly migratory species and interstate fisheries

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 2

Magnuson-Stevens Act

Established 8 Fishery Management Councils

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 3

Magnuson-Stevens Act

Established 10 National Standards

• NS1: prevent overfishing; optimize yield on a continuing basis

• NS2: measures based on best scientific information available

Requires Fishery Management Plans for managed stocks

• Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) and Accountability Measures

• Council Scientific and Statistical Committees interpret/review science and recommend Acceptable Biological Catch (sets max ACL)

• NMFS science centers conduct assessments and provide science advice

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 4

U.S. Marine Fisheries Management

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 5

Plan Team

(State, NMFS)

Implementation Plan Scientific & Statistical Committee

(academic, State, NMFS scientists)

PRODUCT: Science Advice,

Fishing Level Recommendation Industry/Public

Advisory Panel

Fishery

Management

Council

Recommended

Annual Catch Limit

Draft

Assessment

Product

(NMFS science

with partners)

Public

Peer-Review

(with external, independent

and regional scientists,

some from SSC and Plan Team)

Secretarial

Approval,

Implementation

By NMFS

ST provides support for

development and

advancement (methods,

capacity, ...)

ST coordinates CIE

reviews

ST provides national

reporting of results

and communication

of the process

Office of Science & Technology

Mission

Sustain and enhance NMFS’ science programs to enable sound conservation and management of LMRs and their ecosystems.

Role

• Liaison: NMFS’ scientists and NOAA/NMFS leadership and facilitate interactions with Congress and other key partners/stakeholders.

• Help direct national programs, funding, education, and training

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 6

Office of Science & Technology: 5 Divisions

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 7

Dr. Frank Schwing

Office of Science & Technology: 5 Divisions

• Fisheries Statistics (ST1): Integrate/disseminate commercial fishery statistics & administer recreational survey

• Assessment & Monitoring (ST4): Support resource surveys; stock assessments; habitat, protected resources and seabird science; fisheries observers; cooperative research; independent peer review; advanced sampling technologies

• Economics and Social Analysis (ST5): Focus on economic and sociocultural data collection, analysis, and research

• Science Information (ST6): Develop data management support, services, and applications

• Ecosystem (ST7): Develop and coordinate science to advance incorporation of ecosystem information into LMR management

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 8

Office of Science & Technology: 110 Employees

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 9

Director

Deputy

Director

Fish Program Spec

Executive Officer

Information Architect

Administrative

Officer

Secretary

Chief,

Fisheries

Statistics Div.

Chief,

Assessment

& Monitoring

Div.

Chief,

Economics &

Social

Analysis Div.

Chief,

Science

Information

Div.

Chief,

Ecosystem

Div.

Contractor

Staff 23

FTE 16

Contractor 7

Staff 18

FTE 11

Contractor 6

Fellow 1

Staff 22

FTE 13

Contractor 9

Staff 27

FTE 7

Contractor 20

Staff 13

FTE 10

Contractor 2

Intern 1

Office of Science & Technology: Budget

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 10

$0

$10,000

$20,000

$30,000

$40,000

$50,000

$60,000

$70,000

$80,000

$90,000

$0

$100,000

$200,000

$300,000

$400,000

$500,000

$600,000

$700,000

$800,000

$900,000

FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14

ST

Bu

dg

et (

$x10

00)

NM

FS

OR

F A

mo

un

t ($

x100

0)

ST Allocation

ST Executed

Office of Science & Technology

Strategic Science Plan: 4 themes

• Theme 1: Collect data & conduct assessments of LMR, ecosystems, habitats, and communities

• Theme 2: Advance science – improve data collection and assessments

• Theme 3: Manage and disseminate information

• Theme 4: Integrate and coordinate support services

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 11

Office of Science & Technology

Strategic Plan: Theme 1 - Collect data & conduct assessments of LMR, ecosystems, habitats, and communities (7 objectives)

• Support observations (NOAA ships, charters, aircraft, advanced technology)

• Coordinate commercial observer program

• Produce/disseminate rec. fishing statistics

• Develop national commercial fishery and fish market information

• Coordinate/support socioeconomic data collection

• Lead/coordinate science support to assessment programs

• Provide tools to estimate socioeconomic impacts

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 12

Office of Science & Technology

Strategic Plan: Theme 2 - Advance science – improve data

collection and assessments (6 objectives)

• Support new/innovative observation platforms,

technologies, and survey methods

• Develop/test new rec. fishing and industry survey designs

• Guide stock assessment improvement programs

• Enhance integration of climate/ecosystem in assessments

• Develop decision support tools for rec./comm. activities

• Develop economic and stakeholder valuation tools

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 13

Office of Science & Technology

Theme 3: Manage and disseminate information (5 objectives)

• Assist in application of best data management practices

• Provide data reporting and analysis tools

• Improve collaboration with fishery-dependent data partners

• Use modern/secure IT data management

• Edit/publish/disseminate publications

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 14

Office of Science & Technology

Theme 4: Integrate and coordinate support services (8 objectives)

• Coordinate science activities across Centers, line offices, and goal teams

• Develop and implement center and ST program reviews

• Monitor science quality through peer review

• Exchange information, improving protocols, and developing policy guidance

• Contribute to earth and ocean observing systems

• Build workforce capacity and increase diversity

• Support NMFS international science enterprise

• Support coordination across centers via Science Board

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 15

Office of Science & Technology Highlights

Highlights

• Programs: Stock Assessment Program; Marine Recreational Information

Program; National Observer Program; National Cooperative Research

Program; Integrated Ecosystem Assessment Program; Ocean Acoustics

Program; Large Marine Ecosystems; Climate Science; Economics and

Socio-Cultural Programs

• Communications: Fisheries of the U.S.; Fisheries Economics of the U.S.;

Stock/Habitat/PR Assessment Improvement Plans; Assessment Quarterly

Reports; Our Living Oceans; National Bycatch Report

• Data: Enterprise Data Management; Species Information System;

Fisheries One Stop Shop; Fishery-Independent Surveys; Protected

Species Take; Plankton Databases

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 16

Programs Communications Data

Stock Assessment Program Fisheries of the U.S. Enterprise Data Management

Marine Recreational

Information Program

Fisheries Economics of the U.S. Species Information System

National Observer Program Stock/Habitat/PR Assessment

Improvement Plans

Fisheries One Stop Shop

National Cooperative

Research Program

Assessment Quarterly Reports Fishery-Independent Surveys

Integrated Ecosystem

Assessment Program

Our Living Oceans Protected Species Take

Ocean Acoustics Program National Bycatch Report Plankton Databases

Large Marine Ecosystems

Climate Science

Economics and Socio-

Cultural Programs

Office of Science & Technology Strengths

• Strong staff with diverse skill set

• Location and ability to communicate with Congress, DOC, NOAA, NMFS

Leadership

• Ability to track national and international science developments

• Ability to influence Agency budget

Challenges

• Small staff for number of programs administered

• National coordination with limited travel capability across 5k miles and 6 time zones

• Limited opportunity to engage in hands-on research and develop stock assessment

expertise

Solutions

• Heavy reliance on virtual meetings

• Increase field experience through recruiting and developing staff

• Create staff rotations between ST and field offices (and vice-versa)

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 17

Thank You!

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 18