Headboat Data Evaluation.

The SEDAR 41 Data Workshop (DW) for South Atlantic Red Snapper and Gray Triggerfish was held on 4-8 August 2014, during which SRHS data were discussed and were anticipated to be an important data source for both assessments. On 27 August 2014, several industry representatives submitted a SEDAR working document that questioned the previous DW decisions (Nelson et al. 2014, SEDAR41-DW40). SEDAR41-DW40 asserted that SRHS data prior to 1992 were unreliable and should not be used in the assessments, because of

(1) errors in industry-reported data in the 1970s and 1980s (e.g., late, intermittent, or fabricated reporting in addition to any recall bias).

(2) regulatory changes over time in the red snapper fishery. These assertions have the potential to affect all stock assessments that use SRHS data. In response to SEDAR41-DW40, the SEDAR41 process was put on hold to allow the SEFSC time to investigate the assertions in the working paper, and ultimately to correct the database if any misreporting was found.

This document describes a comprehensive evaluation of the SRHS program and South Atlantic data in response to the SEDAR41-DW40 assertion of industry-reported data errors, with resulting recommendations for the use of SRHS data in support of South Atlantic stock assessments.

This document is a smaller version of a larger report that contains the full evaluation of the confidential database for all species and vessels over all areas and years. The 2 larger report cannot legally be made publicly available, because of the confidential data it contains; however, this document reports the findings without compromising the confidentiality of the SRHS data.

National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fishery Science Center, Beaufort Laboratory. 2015. Headboat Data Evaluation. SEDAR41-DW46. SEDAR, North Charleston, SC. 686 pp

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This information is distributed solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy.