The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) reviewed the Groundfish and Crab Economic SAFE reports as presented by economists Ben Fissel and Brian Garber-Yonts, respectively, from the Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s Economic and Social Science Research Division. Through dialogue with the SSC, these Economic SAFEs are continually being improved in order to better capture and communicate economic and sociological conditions relative to the groundfish and crab fisheries. Improvement in the quality and quantity of socio-economic information available to the SSC increases their ability to assess actions proposed by the Council. The Economic SAFEs characterize economic and social conditions from the latest complete year for which data are available. For the February 2018 review, the data were complete through 2016.
The SSC also received a presentation from social scientist Sarah Wise (AFSC) on community metrics in the SAFE, and an overview of programmatic research on human dimensions in North Pacific fisheries that will be undertaken. This research is important for understanding how important fisheries are to the culture and economy of individual communities, and for identifying communities that are vulnerable to changes in fisheries or fishery management.
Steve Kasperski presented updates on other socio-economic programs and projects to keep the SSC informed about developments in research relevant to Alaska fisheries and affected communities, and also to solicit recommendations from the SSC to improve these programs and projects. Ongoing revisions to improve the Economic Data Reports required under Amendment 91 to the BSAI Groundfish FMP (Chinook salmon bycatch management) were reviewed. The SSC supported revision of the EDR process including the skipper surveys to better reflect current issues.
Staff contact is Jim Armstrong.
