SEDAR Assessments

Contact by email preferred.

Contact by email preferred.

Contact by email preferred.

Gulf Of Mexico, U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. South Atlantic (North Carolina To Florida)

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Describes SEDAR Types Of SEDAR Assessments

Summary of SEDAR Grant Funding 2020-2023

What organizations are involved with SEDAR

A number of agencies, or “Cooperators”, are involved in the SEDAR process.

These agencies include: the South Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils (FMC); NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC), NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office (SERO), and the Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Division; and the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions (ASMFC and GSMFC). SEDAR also relies on state agencies and universities throughout the region for research, data collection and stock assessment expertise.

What is SEDAR ?

The Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process is a cooperative effort to improve stock assessments in the Southeast Region. The purpose of SEDAR is to: improve the quality and reliability of fishery stock assessments in the southeastern United States; increase the relevance of research and monitoring programs in the region; increase participation in the assessment process; and provide the best available science.

Who is in charge of SEDAR ?

Oversight of the SEDAR program is provided by the SEDAR Steering Committee. This Committee oversees the overall process and project scheduling. Each Cooperator listed above is represented on the Steering Committee. Specific members include: the NOAA Fisheries SEFSC Director; the NOAA Fisheries SERO Administrator; the Executive Directors and Chairmen of the three Regional Councils; the HMS Division Chief; and the Executive

Directors of the ASMFC and the GSMFC

What does SEDAR do ?

SEDAR brings together scientists, researchers, data collectors and managers,

fishermen and constituent representatives to participate in the development and review of stock assessments. Most SEDAR activities are conducted by appointed panels and in-person workshops or webinars. The primary objective of the panels is stock assessment analyses for Cooperators. SEDAR also provides a venue for addressing data and procedural issues that are relevant to multiple assessments through its Procedure Workshops series.

Can fishermen take part in SEDAR?

Yes. SEDAR is an open, Council process. All meetings are open to the public. In

addition, Cooperators can appoint fishermen and other constituent representatives to SEDAR panels.

How can I participate in the SEDAR process?

SEDAR provides considerable opportunities for participation. Each Cooperator

appoints participants to the various workshop panels or groups required for

assessment projects under its jurisdiction. Additionally, because it is a Council

process, all SEDAR workshops and activities are open to public attendance. Public comment may be taken during SEDAR workshops. Written comment may be submitted to the Cooperator or directly through SEDAR.

How are people appointed to the SEDAR process?

Cooperators appoint participants to the SEDAR panels for the stocks under their jurisdiction, and each Cooperator has its own process for making those

appointments. Interested parties are advised to contact the Cooperator

associated with a particular assessment to find out how they can get involved.

What is the difference between an assessment conducted under a benchmark,

a standard, or an update approach?

The benchmark approach is used to develop first-time assessments for stocks and to incorporate new datasets or new analytical methods into existing assessments. It is the most time-consuming and intensive approach, taking around 9 months to complete, and is structured around 3 stages: Data, Assessment, and Review. This approach involves consideration of all aspects of the assessment, including its input data and specific analyses. It also includes rigorous peer review by independent experts. Benchmark projects are uniquely numbered and often address multiple stocks. The standard approach is used to incorporate recent information into existing assessments. It is only used for stocks that have successfully been through the benchmark approach. The time allotted for standard projects ranges from 4 to 6 months. Existing input datasets are updated, and there is some leeway for consideration of new information and changes in model configuration. Standard projects typically include a single workshop that combines data evaluation and the assessment process. Peer review is provided by a Cooperator's technical panel such as a Council Scientific and Statistical Committee. SEDAR standard projects are uniquely numbered and seldom include more than a single stock

The update approach, used strictly to incorporate the most recent information into assessment analyses, is the most rapid of the three approaches. Updates only allow for applying additional years of data to an existing assessment and are typically completed in around 3 months. No workshops are convened and no SEDAR panels are involved; instead the lead analytical agency obtains the recent information and updates the analytical model accordingly. Similar to the Standard process, peer review is provided by a Cooperator's technical panel such as a Council Scientific and Statistical Committee. SEDAR update projects are not numbered. They are listed by the year of the update with the Benchmark or Standard process documentation which developed the model framework that is updated. A particular assessment framework may be updated several times. For example, project 1, the first SEDAR assessment, developed an assessment of South Atlantic red porgy that has been updated in 2006 and 2012.

How can I find a report or document from a particular assessment?

Documentation for each assessment is available on the SEDAR website:

sedarweb.org. Assessments are listed according to their SEDAR project number. If you know the project number, you can use the ‘SEDAR Project Quick-links’ or visit the ‘SEDAR Assessments’ page under the ‘SEDAR Projects’ menu. If you do not know the project number for a particular assessment, you can search for a project by species or Cooperator in the ‘Find a Project’ menu or look up the project number on the SEDAR Project List, available on the home page or under the ‘About’ menu.

Is there a comprehensive list of all of the SEDAR assessments?

The SEDAR Project List, available on the home page or under the ‘About’ menu,

provides a quick reference for past and future assessments. It contains

information on the species and regions assessed, terminal year of data,

assessment approach, and project start and completion date. This list is updated annually following the fall SEDAR Steering Committee meeting.

How are species selected for an assessment?

Each Cooperator identifies short-term and long-term assessment priorities,

using a process of their choosing. The Steering Committee then decides how

Cooperator priorities will be balanced with overall regional workload to

determine the timing of individual assessments. Assessments are typically

scheduled two years in advance, with longer term priority stocks also indicated to allow researchers to develop updated inputs and to assess the techniques and models for use in the assessments.

Is there a comprehensive list of all of the SEDAR assessments?

The SEDAR Project List, available on the home page or under the ‘About’ menu,

provides a quick reference for past and future assessments. It contains

information on the species and regions assessed, terminal year of data,

assessment approach, and project start and completion date. This list is updated annually following the fall SEDAR Steering Committee meeting.