Data Collection Guide for Nearshore Fisheries

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The goal of this document is to provide both an overview of fishery data collection programs and a data collection manual for priority finfish. The collection and accurate interpretation of both fishery dependent and fishery independent data are of fundamental importance to our understanding of fished species. Both are needed to gain an understanding the magnitude of localized changes in fish communities, landings and productivity of the resource. This understanding is important for ensuring that management is based on reality: inaccurate data or poor interpretation of data leads to inaccurate assessments of stock status (for example is the stock depleted, rebuilding, healthy) which in turn leads to management measures that impose unjustified costs for no benefit.