CPUE

Catch Per Unit Effort

EAF

Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries
Management that takes into account the effects of fisheries on the ecosystem and the effects of the ecosystem on the fish stocks (ICES)

EMB

Ecosystem Based Management

FIRMS

Fisheries Resources Monitoring System

IEAs

Integrated Ecosystem Assessments

LRP

Precautionary Approach Limit Reference Point

MCS

Monitoring, Control and Surveillance

MSE

Management Strategy Evaluation

MSY

Maximum Sustainable Yield
The largest average catch or yield that can continuously be taken from a stock under existing environmental conditions (ICES)

NDF

No Directed Fishery

PA

Precautionary Approach

PAF

Precautionary Approach Framework

RBMS

Risk Based Management Strategies

SC

Scientific Council

SCR Doc

Scientific Council Research Document

SCS Doc

Scientific Council Summary Document

SPR

Spawner Per Recruit

SSB

Spawning Stock Biomass
Total weight of all sexually mature fish in the stock

TAC

Total Allowable Catch

VME

Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem
An area subject to significant adverse impacts from bottom fishing activity, identified by a threshold presence of indicator species

VMS

Vessel Monitoring System

YPR

Yield Per Recruit

Stock Biomass Reference Points

B_lim

Limit reference point for spawning stock biomass (ICES def.)

B_lim

A biomass level, below which stock productivity is likely to be seriously impaired, that should have a very low probability of being violated

B_buf

B_buf is a stock biomass set by managers above B_lim when biomass data is not available. There should be a very low probability that the estimated biomass above B_buf would actually be below B_lim. The more uncertain the stock assessment, the greater the buffer zone should be, signifying the need for more restrictive measures.

B_msy

Spawning stock biomass that results from fishing at F_msy for a long time (ICES def.)

Fishing Mortality Reference Points

F_lim

A fishing mortality rate that should only have a low probability of being exceeded. F_lim cannot be greater than F_msy. If F_msy cannot be estimated, then an appropriate surrogate may be used instead.

F_buf

A fishing mortality rate below F_lim that is required in the absence of analyses of the probability that current or projected fishing mortality exceeds F_lim. In the absence of such analyses, F_buf should be specified by managers and should satisfy the requirement that there is a low probability1 that any fishing mortality rate estimated to be below F_buf will actually be above F_lim. The more uncertain the stock assessment, the greater the buffer zone should be. In all cases, a buffer is required to signify the need for more restrictive measures.

F_msy

Fishing mortality consistent with achieving Maximum Sustainable Yield (ICES)