Tag Archives: Richard Merrick
NOAA scientist says federal fish counts suffer from ‘perception issue’
It’s not easy counting fish. Just ask the people who have to do it. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s fisheries division is responsible for estimating the health and size of dozens of fish stocks in U.S. waters, measurements that help eight regional councils determine which fish commercial and recreational anglers are allowed to catch. The accuracy of NOAA’s counts is at the heart of a national debate over whether to loosen current catch limits. NOAA defends the data, obtained through a combination of sampling methods and statistical models. But recreational fishermen and their backers on Capitol Hill, who want to loosen the catch limits, claim they’re based on “flawed science.” Read the rest here 09:19
As Our Climate Changes, We Must Base Our Policies in Sound Science – Richard Merrick, Chief Scientist for NMFS
For some people, climate change is just a theoretical possibility. But ask fishermen, and many will tell you that climate change is well underway. Along the Atlantic Coast, commercially valuable species of fish, including silver hake and winter flounder, are moving north to stay within their preferred temperature range. Read more here noaa.gov 16:47 about nmfs
