Eighth National SCS Workshop (2024)

Applying Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) Control Rules in a Changing Environment

August 26-28, 2024 — Boston, Massachusetts

The Scientific Coordination Subcommittee will convene its 8th national workshop in 2024. The New England Fishery Management Council will host this workshop August 26-28, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts at the Seaport Hotel.  The workshop’s theme is “Applying Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) Control Rules in a Changing Environment.”

During the SCS8 workshop, participants will explore strategies for how to adapt ABC control rules given the highly variable and changing dynamics of climate, recruitment, and productivity. 

Each Council region is challenged with managing catch under data limitations and scientific uncertainty, though to varying degrees. Use of alternative reference points and indicators in the absence of analytical assessments will be discussed, as well as how stock status determination criteria and rebuilding plans may need to be adapted in the face of directional changes in stock productivity and/or distribution. 

Social science and economic information can provide critical insight to Councils and their Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSCs) on the potential for control rules to achieve management goals and how fisheries and communities can adapt to dynamic conditions. This SCS8 workshop will provide actionable guidance for SSCs on how to best support Councils in the management of fisheries given the non-stationarity of systems.

The agenda, workshop materials, and additional information will be posted below as they become available.