Office of Science and Technology 

Implementing a 

Next Generation 

Stock Assessment 

Enterprise 

Policymakers’ Summary

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/SPO-184

June 2018
Foreword

NOAA Fisheries strives to maintain the United States as a global leader in marine resource science and 

stewardship. The U.S. approach for sustainable fisheries management serves as an international model 

for addressing the challenges facing global ocean fisheries. As a steward, NOAA Fisheries conserves, protects, and manages living marine resources. Working towards this goal ensures that functioning marine 

ecosystems and recreational and economic opportunities are available for the American people today and 

for future generations.

NOAA Fisheries, with our partners, has been managing our nation’s fisheries for 40 years under the 

Magnuson-Stevens Act. During that time, the agency has built a robust and reliable stock assessment 

enterprise that provides world-class scientific advice to resource managers that is needed to keep our 

fisheries sustainable. NOAA Fisheries manages nearly 500 fish stocks and stock complexes, and conducts 

nearly 200 stock assessments each year. This data-intensive endeavor is costly. NOAA Fisheries and our 

partners therefore continually work to ensure that the funds provided by Congress for this vital work 

are utilized efficiently to produce the highest-priority and highest-quality data and assessment results 

possible. This funding, and the work it supports, enables us to sustain and enhance our fisheries and the 

millions of jobs they support.

In 2001, NOAA Fisheries published the Stock Assessment Improvement Plan (SAIP). We sought to bolster the capacity, content, extent, and infrastructure for conducting stock assessments. The SAIP also led 

to the development of important performance metrics that gauge progress in the NOAA Fisheries stock 

assessment enterprise. This has allowed us to measure our progress as we have recovered stocks and 

dramatically reduced overfishing over the last 40 years.

In light of changes in legal mandates, new research, and development of new scientific tools, we embarked on developing a new strategic document for our stock assessment enterprise. This 2018 update to 

the SAIP is our plan to implement a next generation stock assessment enterprise. The ocean is a dynamic 

system. As changes occur, we must adapt and progress toward fishery management approaches that 

are more holistic and ecosystem linked. We should also continue to improve our assessments through 

investments in innovative science and technologies, and improvements in the timeliness and efficiency of 

the stock assessment process. By continued investments in improving our stock assessment enterprise, 

NOAA Fisheries will help ensure the future sustainability of our valuable living marine resources and the 

people, businesses, and communities that depend on them. 

Francisco Werner, Ph.D.

Director, Scientific Programs and Chief Science Advisor

NOAA Fisheries
Office of Science and Technology 

Implementing a 

Next Generation 

Stock Assessment 

Enterprise 

Policymakers’ Summary

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/SPO-184

June 2018

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service

Office of Science and Technology

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 5

Contents

Executive Summary 6

Overview 8

NOAA Fisheries’ Stock Assessments 8

Updating the Stock Assessment Improvement Plan 9

The Next Generation Stock Assessment Enterprise 10

Holistic and Ecosystem-Linked 11

Innovative Science 12

Timely, Efficient, and Effective 13

Priority Actions 17

Holistic and Ecosystem-Linked 17

Innovative Science 17

Timely, Efficient, and Effective 18
6 Implementing a Next Generation Stock Assessment Enterprise

NOAA Fisheries conducts stock assessments to provide fundamental scientific advice in support of 

sustainable fisheries management. Managers use the results of stock assessments, along with other 

information, to establish catch targets and limits that strive to maximize yield while ensuring that 

overfishing does not occur and stocks do not become overfished. While NOAA Fisheries is currently 

achieving quality stock assessments across the country, there are increasing demands and challenges 

facing NOAA’s stock assessment programs. This document provides a summary of NOAA’s Next 

Generation Stock Assessment (NGSA) framework, which is an update to the 2001 Stock Assessment 

Improvement Plan (SAIP). 

The NGSA strategic vision is designed to complement NOAA Fisheries’ other strategic efforts in order 

to accomplish its mission of sustainable fisheries through resource conservation and management. The 

NGSA framework has three main themes: 

1. Expanding the scope of stock assessments to be more holistic and ecosystem-linked

2. Using innovative science and advanced technologies to improve data and analytical methods

3. Establishing a more timely, efficient, and effective stock assessment process

The new NGSA framework acts as a road map to guide efforts by NOAA Fisheries to address these 

three themes. First, it advocates for expanding the scope of stock assessments to support harvest policies 

that are more holistic in nature. This means that more stock assessments will consider ecosystem and 

socioeconomic factors that affect the dynamics of fish stocks and fisheries. Such expansion aligns 

with the “Tier III” goal of the 2001 SAIP and it is reemphasized as a priority here, accompanied with 

decision trees that help determine when this information is of greatest importance and how it should 

be incorporated. Secondly, it advocates for the continued use of innovative technologies to reliably and 

efficiently provide data for maximizing use of advanced modeling methods. Examples of clear benefits 

from this emphasis include improved calibration of data collection methods, streamlined analytical 

processes, and establishment of robust harvest policies to manage fisheries between assessments. 

Finally, the plan provides a method for objectively determining stock-specific goals that create a stock 

assessment process that is timelier, more efficient, and effective at optimizing available resources and 

delivering results to fishery managers and the public. Ultimately, the NGSA framework will achieve 

the best balance among the “4Ts” of stock assessment: throughput, timeliness, thoroughness, and 

transparency. 

Implementation of the NGSA framework will require strong collaboration among NOAA Fisheries, 

management partners, and stakeholders. There are already strong data collection partnerships in 

place, and these will need to be leveraged to achieve improvements in data collection, processing, 

and management. Similarly, enhancing and expanding assessments to include new data types can be 

accomplished through cooperation and utilization of diverse platforms, such as unmanned systems 

and industry partnerships that provide innovative approaches and opportunities for interdisciplinary 

collaboration. Wise investments in advanced sampling technologies must be guided by stock assessment 

priorities to resolve key information gaps. Unmanned platforms (e.g. aerial systems, moorings, gliders, 

and autonomous and remotely operated underwater vehicles) will become relatively low-cost options 

for deploying acoustic and optical technologies, especially when compared to the cost of building, 

running, and staffing a traditional research vessel. Investments in training and retention of assessment 

Executive Summary
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 7

scientists will be paramount for capitalizing on recent advancements in software and statistical modeling 

techniques. Finally, standardizing aspects of the assessment process, while emphasizing regional 

priorities through national initiatives such as classifying data inputs, setting targets for assessment level 

and frequency, and conducting gap analyses will focus productivity and increase communication to 

stakeholders and the public. The new NGSA framework helps NOAA Fisheries accomplish its mission of 

conserving healthy ecosystems while achieving productive and sustainable fisheries. 

The specific actions and recommendations under each theme facilitate the transition to an NGSA 

enterprise. These are provided as goals that will improve NOAA Fisheries’ ability to meet its mandates. 

They are not prioritized or associated with specific timelines or resource requirements or reallocations. 

Rather, the items provide a directional framework that NOAA Fisheries can use to ensure a high quality 

and quantity of stock assessments that meet the growing demands of the fishery and management 

process. 

Theme Recommendation

Holistic & 

EcosystemLinked Stock 

Assessments

More and routine consideration of ecosystem, environmental, and socioeconomic drivers in the assessment process and in the research conducted to develop operational assessments; use the proposed 

decision processes, in combination with ongoing research, to determine when and how to expand stock 

assessments to be more holistic.

Coordinate stock assessment results and the advice being provided to managers across stocks; consider 

broader ecosystem and fishing community factors in a more holistic evaluation of harvest control rules; 

improve communication of stock assessment issues and gaps to inter-disciplinary researchers.

Innovative 

Science for 

Improving 

Stock 

Assessments

Maintain and improve fishery-independent data collection capabilities; conduct more studies to directly 

calibrate fish abundance from surveys; adjust coverage for shifting species distributions; expand broad 

spectrum collection of ecosystem and environmental data.

Maintain and improve fishery-dependent data collection including remote data collection (remote monitoring); develop low-cost fish and environmental survey methods deployable from fishing vessels.

Utilize advanced technologies, such as sonar, robotic and unmanned camera systems, automated image 

processing, e-DNA, and others to expand coverage, reduce stock impacts, and streamline data collection.

Improve the assessment modeling approach with a focus on advanced statistical methods, expanding 

assessment model scope and broader use of management strategy evaluation simulations, and improving characterization of uncertainty, including the use of model ensembles; improve professionalism of the 

assessment data management and model development process.

Timely, 

Efficient, and 

Effective Stock 

Assessment 

Enterprise

Prioritize stock assessment activity through implementing the new assessment data classification system 

and gap analysis.

Establish timely and efficient stock assessment processes by separating research from operational assessments; streamlining the operational process; expanding the scope and inclusivity of the research 

process; and establishing a timely and efficient degree of peer-review focused on relevant issues.

Maintain effective stock assessments with standardized approaches and improve communication of data 

needs and assessment results; improved stakeholder outreach and engagement; improve training of current and future assessment scientists; and improve opportunities for assessment scientists to engage in 

research.

Summary of major recommendations to support transition to NOAA Fisheries’ next generation stock assessment enterprise
8 Implementing a Next Generation Stock Assessment Enterprise

NOAA Fisheries’ Stock Assessments

Stock assessments provide crucial scientific 

information to resource managers on stock status, 

forecasts of future catch and abundance, and 

harvest policy recommendations. They play a key 

role in the management process by providing the 

scientific basis for setting annual catch targets and 

limits to ensure that stocks are not overfished and 

overfishing does not occur. Stock assessments are 

a key component to fulfilling NOAA Fisheries’ 

mission as a steward of living marine resources 

to benefit the nation through science-based 

conservation and management and to promote a 

healthy environment.

This road map to the Next Generation Stock 

Assessment (NGSA) enterprise seeks to balance 

the various demands on the stock assessment 

enterprise. NOAA Fisheries is expected to deliver 

an increasing quantity and quality of stock 

assessments in support of sustainable fishery 

management. The NGSA Enterprise complements 

many other NOAA Fisheries strategic efforts 

(see box below), which collectively help NOAA 

Fisheries best accomplish its overall mission and 

fulfill its mandates under the Magnuson-Stevens 

Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Marine 

Mammal Protection Act, and others.

Stock Assessments

Achieving Ecosystem Based Fisheries 

Management in NOAA Fisheries

HAIP

NCSS

SAIP

EBFM 

Road Map

PRSAIP

Science 

Program Reviews

Stock Assessments

Research

Observations 

& Data

Synthesis 

& Modeling 

EBFM APPROACH

MANAGEMENT

ADVICE

STRATEGIC GUIDANCE

Integrated Ecosystem

Assessments

PROGRAMS

NOAA Fisheries’ scientific programs are guided by numerous strategic efforts and products to provide advice to fishery managers under an 

interdisciplinary ecosystem-based approach to fishery management. Strategic guidance includes the Habitat Assessment Improvement Plan 

(HAIP), the National Climate Science Strategy (NCSS), the Stock Assessment Improvement Plan for fisheries (SAIP; updated by the NGSA 

Enterprise) and Protected Resources (PRSAIP), the Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management Road Map (EBFM Road Map), Science Program 

Reviews, Agency Strategic Plans, and Legislative Mandates. Ultimately, this process results in scientific advice necessary for implementing an 

Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management Framework. 

Overview
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 9

Updating the 

Stock Assessment 

Improvement Plan

This summary, and the full NGSA 

document, is an update to the Stock 

Assessment Improvement Plan (SAIP) 

published by NOAA Fisheries in 

2001. The next generation SAIP 

has been developed in response to 

the results of recent independent 

reviews of NOAA Fisheries’ science 

programs, the many strategic drivers 

and mandates guiding NOAA 

Fisheries, and the development of 

new scientific tools and research. It 

will help build upon improvements 

made under the original SAIP and 

facilitate progress toward fishery 

management approaches that are 

more holistic and responsive to 

ecosystem and socioeconomic 

considerations. NOAA Fisheries has 

expanded its efforts towards building 

a robust and reliable stock assessment 

enterprise. These advances have 

created a strong foundation that has 

facilitated the development of the 

NGSA Enterprise described here. 

Since the release of the first SAIP in 2001, 

NOAA Fisheries’ capacity to conduct stock 

assessments has increased (see Box above 

right). The number of assessments conducted 

annually has dramatically increased-from 

50 in 2001 to nearly 190 in 2015. These 

assessments provided the science information 

to help reduce the number of stocks 

experiencing overfishing by 30 percent over 

the same period and reduce the number of 

overfished stocks by 24 percent. The expansion 

of NOAA Fisheries’ data collection and 

monitoring capabilities has been substantial. 

Improvements to catch monitoring programs 

have resulted in better coordination of data 

for both commercial and recreational fisheries 

statistics. Investments in educational efforts 

have allowed NOAA Fisheries and partners to 

train the next generation of stock assessment 

scientists. National working groups that are 

focused on mission-critical topics help NOAA 

Fisheries to support advancements in fisheries 

science, and lead to increased opportunities 

for collaboration with our partners. A rigorous 

peer review process for stock assessments led 

to improvements in the fishery management 

process, as well as improved levels of quality 

assurance. NOAA Fisheries has also expended 

considerable effort to improve communications 

and public outreach related to stock 

assessments. 

Through these efforts, 

the NOAA Fisheries 

stock assessment 

enterprise has played 

a major role in 

establishing the U.S. as 

a leader in managing 

fisheries sustainably. 

Our assessments have 

directly improved the 

overall understanding 

of the current state 

of U.S. fisheries, and 

provided the science 

needed to manage for 

sustainability. 

Since the release of the 2001 Stock Assessment Improvement Plan, NOAA Fisheries’ core 

stock assessment budget line (Expand Annual Stock Assessments; EASA) has increased 

incrementally (green bars, left axis). These funding increases have improved many 

aspects of NOAA Fisheries’ stock assessments, including the number of assessments 

completed per year (blue line, right axis). 
10 Implementing a Next Generation Stock Assessment Enterprise

Despite the improvements made since the 

last SAIP, numerous developments, advances, 

challenges, and opportunities have occurred in 

the last 15 years which warrant the re-evaluation 

of NOAA Fisheries’ stock assessment enterprise. 

Federal mandates, fishery managers, and 

stakeholders all provide numerous and sometimes 

conflicting demands on NOAA Fisheries’ stock 

assessments. Requests to make stock assessments 

simpler, more comprehensive, based on better 

data, more transparent, prioritized, updated, 

quicker to produce, and other demands may be 

incompatible to varying degrees and must be 

carefully considered. 

The overall goal of the NGSA document is to offer 

potential solutions to primary issues currently 

facing NOAA Fisheries’ stock assessment 

enterprise. There are three main objectives to this 

NGSA framework:

1. Expanding the scope of stock assessments to 

be more holistic and ecosystem-linked

2. Using innovative science and advanced 

technologies to improve data and analytical 

methods

3. Establishing a more timely, efficient, and 

effective stock assessment process

NOAA Fisheries

Next

Generation

Stock

Assessment

Enterprise

Timely, Efficient,

& Effective

Innovative

Holistic &

Ecosystem-Linked

The Next Generation Stock Assessment 

Enterprise
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 11

Under the objectives of the NGSA framework, 

this document will help guide NOAA Fisheries 

towards its vision of resilient ecosystems, 

communities, and economies for future 

generations. 

Holistic and Ecosystem-Linked

Why?

The common approach to stock assessment is to 

analyze a dynamic system in which fishing is the 

dominant driving force and ecological drivers are 

largely assumed to constitute random variation 

in assessment models. This has had success in 

reducing overfishing to date; however, it may 

prove inadequate in the face of current and future 

environmental change. This points to a growing 

need to more thoroughly consider factors beyond 

fishing, such as ecological and socioeconomic 

drivers, in stock assessments. Incorporating this 

information will help increase the precision and 

accuracy of assessment models, and improve 

the capability of stock assessment scientists and 

managers to determine appropriate biological 

reference points and harvest control rules, 

particularly in the context of future ecological 

change.

How?

Inclusion of ecological or socioeconomic 

drivers may not be necessary for all stocks or 

assessments. Incentives to expand assessments 

may be based on a stock’s value, status, and/or 

biology. Other considerations include whether 

there is evidence to suggest that stock or fishery 

dynamics are tightly coupled with some variable 

ecosystem or socioeconomic feature. 

Potential Linkages Between

Ecosystem/Socioeconomic Drivers and Fish/Fisheries

Drivers Potential Effects

Fish

● Reproduction

● Growth

● Natural mortality

● Distribution

Ecosystem

 Physical

 ● Climate

 ● Habitat

 ● Oceanography

Socioeconomic

Human Behavior

 ● Incentives

 ● Risks & uncertainties

 ● Demographics

Biological

● Food webs

● Diseases

● Parasites

Fishery

● Catchability

● Selectivity

● Time/location

● Targeting

 and bycatch

Human Organization

● Market dynamics

● Institutions

● Infrastructure

Three-step process to determine whether and how stock 

assessments should be expanded to be more holistic

Step 1: Use the prioritization process described in Chapter 10 of the NGSA 

document to set target levels for stock assessments, and identify those 

stocks that are highest priority for expanded assessments

Step 2: For stocks that are a priority for expanded assessments, use 

potential linkages between ecosystem/socioeconomic drivers and fish/

fisheries (shown in the figure below) and other available information to 

guide which factors should be considered for in an assessment

Step 3: Once potential ecosystem or socioeconomic factors are identified, 

use information described in the NGSA document (e.g. Table 8.1 and Box 

8.1) to help determine how the factors should be included
12 Implementing a Next Generation Stock Assessment Enterprise

It is important to determine when it is most 

necessary to include such factors in the 

assessment process. A systematic, three-step 

decision-criteria approach (outlined in the 

box on previous page) is described in the full 

NGSA document to guide the consideration of 

ecosystem and socioeconomic information in 

the stock assessment process. Such investigations 

should not come at the expense of NOAA’s ability 

to produce the usual number of assessments 

each year, and it is expected that this decision 

process will continue to improve over time. Even 

for stocks where it is deemed not appropriate to 

expand the assessment to include ecosystem or 

socioeconomic linkages, the process of evaluating 

stock and fishery dynamics from a broader 

system-level perspective is generally beneficial. 

Thus, stock assessment terms of reference 

(ToR) should formally consider ecosystem and 

socioeconomic information. 

Innovative Science

Why?

Stock assessments provide reliable, complete, 

and transparent advice to fishery managers. 

To provide the best information possible and 

meet the demands for increased quality and 

quantity of stock assessments, it is important 

to continually improve stock assessments with 

new developments in science and technology. 

There needs to be a focus on achieving a 

higher calibration of stock abundance data, an 

expansion of the data collection and data delivery 

system, and utilization of new statistical and 

mathematical modeling techniques and software. 

Such investments will result in measurable 

improvements in the scientific advice from stock 

assessments made available to resource managers. 

How?

Data Collection & Processing

Data collected from fisheries are important 

sources of information on numerous factors 

(e.g. total catch levels and catch composition) 

that are key inputs to stock assessments. This 

fishery-dependent data collection can be 

improved through partnerships with fishing 

and environmental organizations, and by 

developing low-cost data collection methods as 

part of normal fishing operations. Additionally, 

increasing remote fishery data collection (i.e. 

electronic monitoring and electronic reporting) 

is recommended to improve the accuracy, 

timeliness, and cost-effectiveness of fisherydependent data collection. 

The collection of new data types, particularly 

ecosystem information, can be enhanced 

by expanding fishery-independent data 

collection aboard NOAA ships to collect more 

interdisciplinary data for both fisheries and 

ecosystem research. Improvements to calibration 

of stock abundance data can also be accomplished 

by increased research aboard existing NOAA 

fishery surveys, focusing on catchability and 

selectivity, and species distributions and habitat 

associations, which could also potentially 

affect survey catchability. Utilizing advanced 

sampling technology is another important way 
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 13

NOAA is improving data collection, and NOAA 

Fisheries will continue to work with partners 

among academic, industry, and other agencies, 

for research, development, and evaluation of 

advanced sampling technologies, including 

unmanned systems. 

To improve data management, NOAA Fisheries 

will develop a more streamlined system for 

compiling, processing, and distributing data. As 

a first step, NOAA Fisheries will work to provide 

centralized open access to updated and processed 

stock assessment data that are organized 

according to standardized formats and data 

dictionaries. 

Stock Assessment Modeling

Advancements in software and the increase in 

open source software packages and statistical 

programming languages have greatly facilitated 

numerous developments in stock assessments. 

NOAA stock assessment scientists continue 

to rely on and contribute to the advancement 

of these statistical modeling platforms. An 

important component of the NGSA framework 

is the recommended approach to develop and 

advance assessment models using professional 

software architecture and creating modular 

applications to facilitate the rapid incorporation 

of new features as needed. In advancing 

the professionalism of assessment model 

development, the features available and standard 

practices in stock assessments should expand to 

include advanced statistical and mathematical 

methods that will allow a maximum amount 

of information to be extracted from available 

data. Also, the characterization of uncertainty 

will be more complete as NOAA Fisheries’ 

assessments utilize more ensemble modeling 

and decision analysis tools to better convey 

structural uncertainty. Investments in research 

to develop innovative science and technology 

and the resources needed to implement these 

advancements should be decided based on stock 

assessment priorities. 

Timely, Efficient, and Effective

Why?

NOAA Fisheries is responsible for managing 

many more stocks than can be assessed and 

reviewed in a given year. However, frequent 

assessments may not be necessary for all stocks, 

particularly those which are not highly valued 

commercially, recreationally, or ecologically. 

In order to meet the increasing demands being 

placed on NOAA Fisheries’ stock assessment 

programs, efficiency in the stock assessment 

process needs to improve. However, it is 
14 Implementing a Next Generation Stock Assessment Enterprise

important that an appropriate level of detail, 

transparency, and review be maintained for each 

assessment. The full NGSA document describes 

an objective national approach to conducting 

an assessment portfolio analysis, and offers 

suggestions for achieving more efficient regional 

assessment processes. 

How?

A portfolio approach will help NOAA Fisheries 

maximize the return on available stock 

assessment resources, guide future investments, 

and achieve sustainable fisheries and resilient 

communities. This approach includes five main 

components: 

1. Classifying stock assessments

2. Setting stock-specific targets for frequency 

and level of assessment

3. Developing annual prioritized lists of stock 

assessments for each region

4. Conducting gap analyses 

5. Using the resource assessment to evaluate 

stock assessment capacity and determine 

where expansions are of highest priority

Classifying Stock Assessments

Having a standardized approach to classifying 

stock assessments is essential for tracking 

assessments and can help in determining 

frequencies and levels at which to conduct 

assessments. The 2001 Stock Assessment 

Improvement Plan (SAIP) described a stock 

assessment classification system based on five 

categories. This previous system lacked the detail 

needed to fully categorize modern assessments, 

particularly with regard to how they utilize 

ecological data inputs. The new Stock Assessment 

Classification System described in the full 

NGSA document includes high-level model 

categorization, tracks the age of the assessment, 

and expands the categorization of data used in 

The 4Ts of Assessment Demands

Throughput

Expectation

Conduct a high number of 

assessments each year to 

support development of 

annual catch limits.

Reality

There are many more 

stocks under NOAA's 

purview than can be 

assessed in a year

with current capacity.

Solution

Apply consistent

prioritization to determine 

the stocks most needing 

assessment; conduct more 

routine update assessments.

Thoroughness

Expectation

Assessments should be 

comprehensive investiga- tions with fully-independent 

peer reviews.

Reality

Current data availability and 

assessment capacity do not 

facilitate comprehensive 

assessments for all stocks.

Solution

Apply consistent

prioritization to determine 

the stocks in need of 

comprehensive

investigations.

Timeliness

Expectation

Utilize current information 

and rapidly develop advice 

for management decisions.

Reality

Regional approaches to 

processing and assembling 

data, modeling, and 

reviewing assessments

vary substantially.

Solution

Standardize data delivery, 

modeling options, and

peer review.

Transparency

Expectation

Results should be fully 

documented, clearly 

communicated, and 

accessible for

public understanding.

Reality

Assessments are

complicated, produce 

numerous results, and a 

variety of communication 

formats are used.

Solution

Use standardized and

tiered reporting templates 

that summarize results at 

various levels of detail.
assessments. For example, this system includes a 

new category specific to ecosystem-linkages. The 

expansion of the classification system, particularly 

the addition of categories relating to ecosystem 

linkages and size and age data, will provide a 

more comprehensive understanding of how these 

key aspects of fisheries dynamics are incorporated 

into stock assessments. 

Prioritizing Stock Assessments 

and Setting Targets

The full NGSA document expands on the existing 

framework for prioritizing stock assessments. 

This prioritization process is being conducted 

regionally, and it helps NOAA Fisheries and 

its partners to determine how to best allocate 

limited federal resources to address regional 

needs. Additionally, this framework creates a 

transparent and predictable annual prioritization 

process that increases the utility of the overall 

assessment enterprise to meet national mandates. 

Within each region, the prioritization framework 

is being used to determine stock-specific target 

assessment frequencies and the stocks that are top 

priorities for assessment each year; the expanded 

framework provides guidance on determining 

the level of assessment needed for each stock. The 

protocol improves the overall efficiency of the 

stock assessment process, and seeks to enhance, 

not replace, ongoing regional approaches to 

prioritization.

Standardized Approach

Each region has its own species, habitats, and 

fisheries. This variability makes it challenging 

to create a standardized approach to stock 

assessments. However, establishing a more 

standardized approach across regions can help 

to improve efficiency and increase transparency 

and understanding of the assessment process. 
16 Implementing a Next Generation Stock Assessment Enterprise

Standardized data management systems and 

modeling frameworks make it easier for data to 

be prepared and utilized in models, especially 

by less-experienced stock assessment analysts. 

Additionally, it makes it easier to review model 

results and communicate those results to partners 

and stakeholders. 

Standardization should not stand in the way of 

innovation. Two parallel tracks are recommended 

for stock assessment: operational assessments and 

research to improve operational assessments (see 

box below). While research assessments will be 

subject to more intensive review by independent 

experts compared with operational assessments, 

all scientific products that are used to support 

fishery management decisions should have some 

level of review, appropriate for the novelty of the 

work, and the level of controversy and importance 

of the resulting management action. 

NOAA Fisheries Next Generation

Stock Assessment to Management Process

Products

Review / Approval Processes

Interpretation by advisory groups

Results that support...

 SSC (Scientific &

Statistical Committee)

Plan

Team 

Industry & Public 

Advisory Panel

OFL 

Overfishing Limit

ABC (Acceptable

Biological Catch)

FMC (Fishery Management Council)

Recommended ACL (Annual Catch Limit)

Secretarial 

Approval

Implementation

by NOAA Fisheries

&

&

Harvest level 

recommendation

Stock status

determination

Research

Stock Assessment

New methods and/or

data sources

Rigorous, independent

peer review

Stock Monitoring

Update

Previously applied

operational assessments

with updated catch only

Conducted between

operational assessments

Minimal review required

Operational

Stock Assessment

First time and repeated 

applications using previously 

reviewed methods

Streamlined peer review
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 17

Holistic and Ecosystem-Linked

• Apply more and routine consideration of ecosystem, environmental, and socioeconomic drivers in 

the assessment process and in the research conducted to develop operational assessments; use the 

proposed three-step decision process (see box on page 11), in combination with ongoing research, 

to determine when and how to expand assessments to be more holistic.

• Coordinate stock assessment results and the advice being provided to managers across stocks; 

consider broader ecosystem and fishing community factors in a more holistic evaluation of harvest 

control rules; improve communication of stock assessment issues and gaps to inter-disciplinary 

researchers.

Innovative Science

• Maintain and improve fishery-independent data collection capabilities; conduct more studies to 

directly calibrate fish abundance from surveys; 

adjust coverage for shifting species distributions; 

expand broad spectrum collection of ecosystem 

and environmental data.

• Maintain and improve fishery-dependent data collection including remote data collection (electronic 

monitoring); develop low-cost fish and environmental survey methods deployable from fishing 

vessels.

• Utilize advanced technologies, such as sonar, 

robotic camera systems, automated image processing, environmental-DNA, and others to expand 

coverage, reduce stock impacts, and streamline 

data collection.

The NGSA document recommends a series of 

priority actions to improve NOAA Fisheries’ 

stock assessment enterprise; these actions are 

categorized below. The list is broken into the 

three main objectives for NOAA Fisheries’ 

stock assessments: Holistic and EcosystemLinked; Innovative; and Timely, Efficient, and 

Effective. The full NGSA document contains 

specific recommendations under the categories 

listed here. Successful implementation of 

these recommendations will require strong 

communication and collaboration with our 

partners and stakeholders, as well as continual 

review and evaluation to ensure the highest 

priority actions are being implemented. 

Transitioning to the Next Generation Stock 

Assessment Enterprise will not come at the 

expense of NOAA’s ability to meet current 

mandates, but rather will improve that ability 

over time. 

Priority Actions
18 Implementing a Next Generation Stock Assessment Enterprise

• Improve the assessment modeling approach with a focus on advanced statistical methods, expanding assessment model scope and broader use of management strategy evaluation simulations, and 

improving characterization of uncertainty, including the use of model ensembles; improve professionalism of the assessment data management and model development process.

Timely, Efficient, and Effective

• Prioritize stock assessment activity through implementing the new assessment data classification 

system and gap analysis.

• Establish timely and efficient assessment processes by separating research from operational assessments; streamlining the operational process; expanding the scope and inclusivity of the research 

process; and establishing a timely and efficient degree of peer-review focused on relevant issues.

• Maintain effective stock assessments with standardized approaches and improve communication of 

data needs and assessment results; improve stakeholder outreach and engagement; improve training 

of current and future assessment scientists; and improve opportunities for assessment scientists to 

engage in research.
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 19

Editors:

Melissa Karp, Kristan Blackhart, Patrick Lynch

For more information, including access to the entire document, 

please visit www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/office-science-andtechnology

Or contact NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology at

(301) 427-8100.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce

Wilbur Ross

Acting Under Secretary of Commerce

for Oceans and Atmosphere

and NOAA Administrator

RDML Timothy Gallaudet, Ph.D., USN Ret.

Assistant Administrator for Fisheries

Chris Oliver

June 2018

www.fisheries.noaa.gov

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