Moreover, the participation of scientists in cooperative studies serves to mute the allegation that studies involving industry participation are analogous to having the fox guard the chickens. Fishermen understandably are critical of fisheries data that are not consistent with their personal observations. Their participation in cooperative data collection will provide them an opportunity to gain a realistic appreciation of the time and resource constraints involved in collecting, processing and compiling a base of scientifically sound fisheries data. It will also give them an opportunity to provide constructive suggestions for making data more reflective of real time conditions. The recent increase in interest in cooperative studies is largely due to inadequate federal funding relative to the need for fisheries data.
Fisheries management is data intensive and data needs are extremely broad.
In the absence of adequate funding by Congress, other sources of funding are being explored by the fishing industry and fisheries managers including the use of quota set asides to fund research and data collection to address specific data needs for particular fisheries. In considering the merits of cooperative studies and alternate sources of funding, the participants need to address a related concern regarding future funding for data collection. He is retired chief of the environmental effect branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and former chairman of Hood College's Department of Biology. The information contained herein is the personal statement and opinion of the author and should not be taken as a statement of position or policy of the Mid-Atlantic Council.