Data Source and Calculation
The Marine Resources Commission (MRC) is tasked with the management of a large and varied number of marine fisheries species. Distinct management plans, primarily based on species quota management, are in place for each managed species. Management plans take the form of fisheries regulations, often revised on a yearly basis, and enacted by the agency’s Commission Board in compliance with State Code. These regulatory plans are based on guidance from the interstate compact organization, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), comprised of representation from each State bordering the Atlantic Ocean. The MRC believes that proper management of a marine fisheries species on a yearly basis is demonstrated in two ways. These are that 1) the species is not overfished and that 2) the existing quota management in place for that species is successful. Any indication to the contrary, based on landings or other data, would require revision of the agency’s existing species management plan. The MRC has selected 8 key species to follow for this measure – black drum, black sea bass, bluefish, horseshoe crabs, speckled trout, striped bass (bay), striped bass (coastal) and summer flounder. Each year using ASMFC provided targets for the number of fish by species that may be landed and using species landings data from the MRC Mandatory Reporting System, the Commission Board, by use of the regulatory process, establishes a new or revised quota management plan for each species. This, coupled with guidelines on the ways to achieve the species quota, allows the State to demonstrate that a defined plan is in place for compliance with ASMFC targets. To ensure that targets are being met, the MRC monitors harvest and landings, and compares these to existing species targets plus a 3% tolerance for each of the 8 key species. On a yearly basis, each key species is deemed to be not overfished, if harvest and landings are within the established, acceptable tolerance. The number of species that are overfished are divided by the number 8, the total number of relevant species. If 1 species was overfished, dividing 1 by 8 gives us 12.5%, etc. This value is subtracted from 100%, telling us that 87.5% of these targeted 8 species landed in Virginia are not overfished, and that effective quota management tools are in place. Calendar year values are reported as the performance measure in the following year.