Pacific Fishery Management Council reviews SSC preliminary research and data needs, to adopt final priorities in June

The Pacific Fishery Management Council reviewed preliminary research and data needs compiled by its Scientific and Statistical Committee on April 10, 2025, part of a three‑meeting process required under the Magnuson‑Stevens Act, staff said.

Marlene Bellman, staff with the Pacific Fishery Management Council who staffs the Scientific and Statistical Committee and groundfish items, told advisory bodies the council is using Council Operating Procedure 12 to guide a roughly five‑year review cycle and is aiming to streamline and better prioritize research needs documented in the council’s research priorities database.

The review is intended to produce a single, council‑adopted list of research and data needs that will be transmitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service. "The council's required, to review these, research and data needs and update and communicate them, by the Magnuson Stevens Act," Bellman said. She said the process began with an November 2024 meeting to identify cross‑plan science and management challenges, continued with the SSC’s compilation of preliminary recommendations for April, and will conclude with council adoption in June 2025 and a transmittal letter to NMFS.

The SSC grouped preliminary recommendations under a set of broad challenges that span multiple Fishery Management Plans (FMPs). The largest category, data collection, was subdivided into four subcategories: age structures (2 recommended needs), indices of abundance (6), catch (landings and discards; 6), and ecosystem monitoring (2). The SSC also compiled 9 recommendations under stock assessment methodologies; 8 under life history and stock structure; 7 under evaluating fishery impacts; 6 on changing ecosystems and environmental variability; 10 on harvest policy (including a sardine harvest control rule recommendation and a time‑area salmon management item); 8 on economic data and analytical tools; 4 on social science focusing on fishing communities; and 4 on habitat science and spatial management.

Bellman emphasized that the SSC’s list does not imply an internal ranking: "there is no implied ranking or inherent order," she said, noting the council will consider prioritization during the April and June meetings. She invited advisory bodies to provide statements under agenda item C.2 and pointed participants to the advanced briefing book and the council website for full descriptions of each challenge and data need. Bellman also noted that the SSC planned a remote meeting on Thursday, April 10 at 11 a.m. to discuss the item in more detail.

The council plans outreach to partner agencies and research organizations after final adoption to help address prioritized needs. Bellman said the presentation and the meeting recording will be posted to the council meeting website. Next steps include council refinement of preliminary priorities between April and June and final adoption at the June council meeting; the June outcome will be incorporated into the transmittal to NMFS as required by the Magnuson‑Stevens Act.

No formal votes or ordinance actions were recorded on the item during the April briefing; advisory body input, SSC deliberations, and the council’s April deliberation are procedural steps toward the June adoption.