Research

development of essential biological data on fish stocks, including fecundity, age structure, and sources of mortality;

improved models of sampling design, population dynamics, habitat, and fishery performance;

evaluation of geographic and depth variations in stock structure and how these relate to the genetics, physiology and sexual dimorphism of species;

improved approaches to fishing to limit discard reduction through gear innovation and modifications in fleet deployment consistent with oceanographic processes;

improved assessment model formulations to better integrate available data; and

refined approaches to establishing biological reference points.