Review Of Ices Framework For Marine Fisheries Advice And Salmon Advice

No abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author.

Since 1998, ICES has provided advice to clients within a framework of limit and precautionary reference points set by technical experts, and target reference points set by managers, and has used a probabilistic framework suitable for risk-based management. Management of Atlantic salmon in the North American and Greenland Commission areas is based on a fixed escapement strategy. This fixed escapement for North American salmon has some properties of both limit and target reference points, as the terms are used by ICES. The resemblance to a limit reference point is due to expected recruitment declining below the fixed escapement. Declining recruitment is a conservation concern, and hence, spawning escapement to North America below the fixed escapement is an undesirable event to be avoided with high probability. The similarity to a target reference point arises because the fixed escapement is also the escapement thought to produce maximum productivity for North American salmon, and hence is a desirable state that managers have agreed they wish to achieve with high probability. Challenges created by the dual nature of the fixed escapement are explored. Some suggestions are made for language that might contribute to standardisation of ICES advice on salmon with other fisheries advice. However, some of the challenges may require more than just terminology to resolve, and some science needs here are highlighted.