To ensure the highest standards of scientific credibility in all of our work, we conduct independent reviews of stock assessments, key technical reports, and scientific products.
Our scientific reports are important tools for management decisions and deserve careful scrutiny to ensure accuracy and completeness. Therefore, we request independent expert reviews of stock assessments, biological opinions, specific research programs, Endangered Species Act status reviews, and other key documents that require critical review. The NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology contracts the Center for Independent Experts to conduct independent peer-reviews of important scientific work.
The Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review (WPSAR) is a complementary process, focusing on fisheries stock assessments. We also conduct external reviews to help ensure the quality, integrity, credibility, and transparency of our science programs.
Blue marlin occurs in tropical and sub-tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. In the Pacific, recreational fishermen prize the species. Commercial fisheries also catch and market it, primarily as a result of bycatch in the tropical tuna longline fisheries. In 2013, a new Pacific blue marlin assessment was conducted by the Billfish Working Group of the International Scientific Committee for Tuna and Tuna-like Species in the North Pacific Ocean. Three expert scientists reviewed the Pacific blue marlin stock assessment.
Commercial and recreational fisheries of many nations harvest striped marlin in the Pacific Ocean. Striped marlin in the North Pacific was previously assessed as a single stock. The definition of the stock was revised and two stocks were identified—the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the Western and Central North Pacific Ocean. Three independent experts reviewed the stock assessment report for striped marlin in the Western and Central North Pacific Ocean.
The Hawaiian monk seal population was declining steadily at more than 4% per year and headed toward extinction unless survival of the seals, particularly pups, increased significantly. At French Frigate Shoals, one of the primary breeding sites in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, shark predation on monk seal pups was the major threat in nearshore waters. Our researchers carried out a multi-faceted program at French Frigate Shoals to mitigate predation by sharks. To ensure proper peer review of the science underlying the shark predation mitigation project, three reviewers conducted independent evaluations of the documents that guided shark removal actions and monk seal recovery strategies.
Deep-slope bottomfish support important fisheries in Hawaii, providing significant benefits to both commercial and non-commercial fishers and consumers. Fishery management strategy for Hawaii bottomfish, developed by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, focuses on a group of seven high-value species (six snappers and a grouper) known as the "Deep 7." Our scientists conducted a stock assessment of the Deep 7 complex using data through fishing year 2010. Three independent experts reviewed the draft stock assessment and several background documents detailing ancillary analyses and previous stock assessments.
In response to a petition to list 83 coral species as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, NOAA Fisheries identified 82 corals as candidate species. Of these species, 8 are found in the Atlantic Ocean and 75 in the Pacific Ocean. A team of scientists from NOAA, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey prepared a report on the status of these 82 candidate coral species and evaluated extinction risk. Three independent experts reviewed the draft document before the final report was published.
A team of federal scientists conducted a status review of the bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) in response to a petition to list the species under the Endangered Species Act. Three experts reviewed the draft report with information on species distribution, biology, abundance trends, threats and risks, population structure and genetics, and danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
Stock assessments for yellowfin tuna in the western and central Pacific Ocean are conducted regularly by the Oceanic Fisheries Programme of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, in collaboration with the Scientific Committee of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. Two experts reviewed the 2009 stock assessment for yellowfin tuna in the western and central Pacific Ocean. The reviewers also critically read a description of a sensitivity analysis of the previous assessment, conducted in 2007.
The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center developed and applied a variety of research tools and survey procedures using active acoustics. The research focused on deriving fishery-independent measures of biomass for tunas and other economically-important fish species in the tropical and subtropical Pacific. Another focus of the active acoustic program was to study micronekton that are forage items for economically important fishes, such as tunas. Three experts provided an independent review of acoustic program procedures, methods, analytical approaches, and acoustic applications, and provided guidance on future directions.
A team of federal scientists conducted a status review of Hawaiian insular false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) in response to a petition to list the species under the Endangered Species Act. The status review included all aspects of species biology and ecology, determined that false killer whales in Hawai‘i are a distinct population segment, and assessed extinction risk. Before publishing the status review, four experts reviewed the draft report.
The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center developed several fisheries oceanography time-area distribution models of swordfish and loggerhead turtles related to management of the Hawai‘i longline fishery. Socioeconomic researchers provided economic trade-off estimates of the time-area closure options. Two experts evaluated this research into the use of time-area closures in order to limit the interaction between loggerhead and leatherback turtles and the Hawai‘i-based longline swordfish fleet while considering net revenue.
Swordfish in the North Pacific are harvested multi-nationally, primarily with longline fishing gear. The fishing effort and catch—about 18,400 metric tons of swordfish caught in 2008—are monitored by the International Scientific Committee for Tuna and Tuna-like Species in the North Pacific Ocean. The committee's Billfish Working Group conducts stock assessments of North Pacific swordfish. The 2009 stock assessment of swordfish was documented in a report by working group members Jon Brodziak of NOAA's Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center and Gakushi Ishimura of the Center for Sustainability Science, Hokkaido University, Japan. Results of the swordfish stock assessment were presented to the Committee Plenary in Taiwan and three experts reviewed the draft report.
Bottomfish support important fisheries in Hawai‘i, providing significant benefits to both commercial and non-commercial fishers and consumers. The main Hawaiian Islands 2008 bottomfish stock assessment was the first to be conducted under the WSPAR process. The review panel consisted of experts in stock assessment and fisheries data, with at least one reviewer from the Center for Independent Experts. In addition to contributing to the joint panel report, the independent reviewer also conducted a peer review in a separate report.
The Hawai‘i Longline Association proposed to expand the Hawai‘i-based shallow-set longline fishery. The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center conducted a population viability assessment for Pacific loggerhead and leatherback turtles to analyze the impacts of increased mortality from the proposed expansion. The assessment was designed to be a general tool for managers to determine how different levels of fishery interactions may impact the extinction risk of marine turtle populations. Three experts reviewed the report.
Our scientists use simulation modeling to address questions of meta-population connectivity and larval transport of insular species in the Hawaiian Archipelago. These simulation approaches utilize a variety of remotely-sensed and modeled oceanographic data in a Lagrangian modeling framework. Two experts participated in a workshop to provide external, independent peer reviews of this modeling program.
Stock assessments for bigeye tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean are conducted by the Oceanic Fisheries Programme of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, in collaboration with the Scientific Committee of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. The 2006 assessment indicated that overfishing of bigeye tuna was likely to be occurring in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. The assessment was the basis for scientific advice on the status of the stock that is provided regularly at both national and regional levels, with a direct influence on U.S. resource policy. Two experts reviewed the stock assessment of bigeye tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean for 2006, including an analysis of management options.
Stock assessments for yellowfin tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean are conducted by the Oceanic Fisheries Programme of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, in collaboration with the Scientific Committee of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. Results of the 2005 assessment indicated that overfishing of yellowfin tuna was likely to be occurring Western and Central Pacific Ocean. The assessment was the basis for scientific advice on the status of the stock that is provided regularly at both national and regional levels, with a direct influence on U.S. resource policy. Two experts reviewed the stock assessment of bigeye tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.
Leatherback turtle in the Kei Islands. Credit: Scubazoo/Jason Isley
Non-commercial fishing in the Pacific Islands. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
Female Hawaiian monk seal RO28, one of the “monk seal matriarchs,” and her pup on Kaua‘i. Credit: Val Bloy
