W2 ENR 3300 - Int For Wish Wildl

Fishery

An activity that leads to the harvest of fish, including both wild capture and aquaculture.

Aquaculture

The breeding and rearing of plants and animals in all types of aquatic ecosystems.

Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY)

The largest average yield or catch that can continuously be taken from a species' stock under existing environmental conditions.

Biomass (BMSY)

The long-term average biomass level needed to maintain maximum sustainable yield.

Fishing Mortality Rate (FMSY)

The rate at which fish are removed from a stock through fishing, resulting in biomass necessary to maintain maximum sustainable yield.

Precautionary Principle

A management approach that emphasizes caution when information is uncertain, unreliable, or inadequate.

Target Reference Point

A point intended to meet management objectives.

Limit Reference Point

A point intended to constrain catches within safe biological limits.

Stock Assessment

A process that uses data to estimate the abundance, biology, and catch of a fish stock.

Abundance Data

Data collected to estimate the amount of fish in a stock via numbers or biomass.

Biological Data

Data collected to determine the age, size, growth rates, and mortality of fish.

Catch Data

Data collected to record the amount of fish harvested from a fishery.

Ecosystem Based Management

An approach to fisheries management considering the entire ecosystem instead of only the target species.

Magnuson-Stevens Act

U.S. legislation that governs fisheries management in the U.S., aiming to prevent overfishing and ensure sustainable seafood supply.

IUU Fishing

Illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing.