. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. Key issues One of the key issues that remains to be resolved in the implementation of the Fishery Conservation and Man- agement Act is whether reliable data on the biological and socio-economic aspects of fisheries can be developed. In determining the optimum yield of a fishery—that is setting the catch quotas—councils must consider all three factors. But according to Ernie Premetz, ex- ecutive director of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, "First generation plans are very weak in the area
. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. Key issues One of the key issues that remains to be resolved in the implementation of the Fishery Conservation and Man- agement Act is whether reliable data on the biological and socio-economic aspects of fisheries can be developed. In determining the optimum yield of a fishery—that is setting the catch quotas—councils must consider all three factors. But according to Ernie Premetz, ex- ecutive director of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, "First generation plans are very weak in the area of optimum yield development. I think as time goes on that situation will ; Mandatory catch reports may help. And studies are underway now to pro- vide more information on recreational catches and on the socio-economic fac- tors. But for now, Premetz says, "What we're having to work with, quite frank- ly, are some really lousy statistics. And we're having to make the assumption that the fishery is fully utilized and that is maximum sustainable yield and optimum ; Premetz adds "I'm hoping that the National Marine Fish- eries Service (NMFS) can begin to pro- vide useful statistics. If they don't we're just not going to be able to manage ; Ted Rice, director of the NMFS Beaufort Laboratory, acknowledges that the act has made NMFS aware of the data it doesn't have. While data are being developed, Premetz says, the council is attempt- ing to maintain the status quo in the fisheries until "we can make some meaningful decisions on what will turn the fisheries around. We're trying to get all the information together first before we go willy ; The lack of information also may af- fect the council's progress. Chuck Oravetz of the National Marine Fish- eries Service office in Miami says that among the South Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Carribean councils only one plan has so far been submitted for federal approval. But he
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