The National Academies Testimony before Congress

Public Laws Containing Studies for the National Academies

Briefings to Congress

Congressionally Mandated Reports

Policy Statements and Historical Documents

The OCGA staff

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
National Research Council
Division on Earth and Life Studies
Ocean Studies Board
Committee on Defining Best Scientific Information Available for Fisheries Management

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Congressional Briefings
Tuesday, July 13, 2004 -- 10:00a.m.
227 Hart Senate Office Bldg.

and

Wednesday, July 14, 2004 -- 3:00 p.m.
1334 Longworth House Office Bldg.

on

Improving the Use of the "Best Scientific Information Available"
Standard in Fisheries Management

This workshop report examines the original rationale behind the application of the term "best scientific information available" as the basis for fishery conservation and management measures required under National Standard 2 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and its subsequent application in developing fishery management plans. It also explores the interpretation of this standard by the courts in response to legal

challenges of the scientific basis of regulatory actions. Questions considered include the following: How should adherence to the standard be measured? How and when should it be employed? Should the standard be applied to exclude information deemed inadequate or should information be ranked and applied in relation to relevance and rigor? Finally, recommendations are offered for more uniform application of "best

scientific information available" in the preparation of fishery management plans.

These series of briefings were for members of Congress and congressional staff only. The report was publicly released on July 15, 2004 and can be found, in its entirety, on the Web site of the National Academies Press.