The SEDAR Stock AssessmentsThe SEDAR (Southeast Data, Assessment and Review) process is a three step process for conducting stock assessments. It consists of a Data Workshop to compile available data, a stock assessment workshop to prepare the actual assessment, and an Assessment Review Workshop to provide an independent review of the assessment, conduct additional analyses if necessary, and make recommendations regarding the status of stock and acceptable biological catch levels. In most cases the stock assessment will be prepared by NOAA Fisheries assessment biologists, but on occasion the assessment may be prepared by a state agency or by a university or independent assessment biologist under contract to NOAA Fisheries or a state agency. For more information about the SEDAR process, including reports from previous SEDAR meetings, visit the NOAA Fisheries SEDAR website at: http://www.sefsc.noaa.gov/sedar/. The SEDAR process includes three steps: 1. Data Workshop - key people involved in collecting, keeping, and maintaining the data, biologists who understand the species, and experienced fishermen are brought together. Workshop participants research and review all data available, determine what data should be used for the assessment, and what data and research is still needed. 2. Stock Assessment Workshop - stock assessment biologists, scientists, and fishermen meet to determine what tools are to be used to formulate the stock assessment, how to interpret information from the assessment, and how uncertainty is to be incorporated into the assessment. 3. Peer Review - the products of steps one and two is a stock assessment report. This report is peer reviewed by the Review Committee, a group of independent experts. The Review Committee then formulates its conclusions and recommendations in a final consensus report and an advisory report that includes strengths and weaknesses in the assessment and recommendations to fishery managers for future data and research needs.
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