This is often used as a management goal. A federal agency responsible for managing the nation's saltwater fish. It overseas the actions of the Councils under the Fishery Conservation and Management Act. A measurement of the rate of removal of fish from a population from natural causes. Natural mortality can be reported as either annual or instantaneous.
Annual mortality is the percentage of fish dying in one year.
Instantaneous is the percentage of fish dying at any one time. The rates of natural mortality may vary from species to species. A triangular pocket-shaped net that is towed through the water to catch aquatic organisms. Refers to fish and animals that live in the open sea, away from the sea bottom. An encircling net used to collect pelagic species swimming near the surface in open water.