SIS - Status Determination

The Status Determination dataset within the Species Information System (SIS) contains information related to overfishing, overfished, and approaching overfished status determinations; FSSI score for FSSI stocks; management action required, based on stock status; and information related to rebuilding programs for overfished and rebuilding stocks.

This data set includes information related to the status determinations of overfishing and overfished for federally-managed fish stocks and rebuilding programs for rebuilding stocks.

No Restrictions

Data for FSSI stocks can be accessed through the SIS Public Portal. Additional data can be obtained by sending a request to Stacey.Miller@noaa.gov.

No Restrictions

No Restrictions

No Restrictions

No Restrictions

All regional personnel submit a signed document in accordance with the Data Quality Act, that the stock status information has undergone a pre-dissemination review.

Awaiting guidance from the PTT

This application is hosted by the Office of Science and Technology within the NOAA System 4020 and is compliant with all applicable Federal Government security policies.

Edit access to data is subject to role-based authentication and access control.

The Secretary of Commerce is required to determine the status of a stock (Section 304 (e) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), and the guidelines for National Standard 1.) This authority has been delegated to the Assistant Administrator (AA) for NOAA Fisheries. Stock Status Decision Memos (DM) are used to make stock status determinations whenever stock status changes, or when a negative status (e.g. overfished, subject to overfishing) continues. Stock Status DMs differ from the DMs used for most fishery management actions because the status determination is being made by the AA based on a recommendation from the Regional Administrator or SF Office Director.

1. If the stock status has remained unchanged from previous determination, a stock status DM is not needed and a status determination record can be entered in SIS by the Regional Office (or HMS) after the stock assessment has been finalized and entered in SIS.

2. If the stock status determination for overfishing and/or overfished is anticipated to change from previous determinations, the regional office (or HMS) and Office of Sustainable Fisheries prepare a Decision Memo (DM). The Assistant Administrator (AA) determines the stock’s status based on the Regional Administrator’s / OSF Director’s recommendation contained in the DM.

3. After the AA signs the DM determining the stock status:

- Office of Sustainable Fisheries (OSF) will provide a signed copy of the DM to the regional office.

- The Regional office sends the Council a signed notification letter with a cc to OSF for stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, or approaching an overfished condition.

- The Regional office (or HMS) enters status determination records in SIS.

4. The OSF publishes a notice in the Federal Register for stocks found to be subject to overfishing or overfished using information contained in the DM and Council notifications.

5. If a stock assessment does not include results that clearly indicate stock status, it may still contain sufficient information to reasonably make a determination. When an assessment does not provide adequate information for management advice (such as determining target fishing levels or rebuilding projections), but there is adequate data to support a status determination, the steps above are still followed.