Considerations for research plan design and implementation in data-poor fisheries

The Scientific Committee has provided detailed advice on the preparation and evaluation of research plans in data poor fisheries submitted under CMs 21-02 and 24-01 in 2011 and in 2012. We formulate advice arising from extensive Working Group discussions and highlight additional design and implementation issues raised during research plan design and evaluations. Our aim is to streamline the review process, promote quality research designs, and make the proposed catch limits more explicit with regard to the inherent trade-off between quickly developing quality stock assessment input data and potential biological risks arising from uncertainty in the research implementation process.