The SSC and Council reviewed a draft NMFS document focused upon Best Scientific Information Available (BSIA) as it relates to our current specifications process for all managed stocks, and provided comments. In 2019, NOAA issued a procedural directive that required each Region to develop a regional Best Scientific Information Available (BSIA) framework that describes how it implements NOAA Fisheries general BSIA framework. The required elements of this framework should include: a timeline, the roles of each partner in the process, and a description of modifications from the general framework (if required). Per Council direction, the SSC’s comments will be provided to the agency for incorporation prior to finalizing the document for submission to NOAA in May 2022. Once final, the document will be broadly available to the public.
Staff contact is Diana Stram.
