Science Quality Assurance

NOAA Fisheries Science Center Accreditation and Certification:

The objective is the development of nationally accepted standards for the NOAA Fisheries Science Center Accreditation and Certification program. This accreditation program, using an independent panel of experts, will formally set benchmarks for the quality and integrity of fisheries science data that the agency must meet.

Center of Independent Reviewers:

The Center of Independent Reviewers will establish a pool of experts from outside of NOAA Fisheries which the agency can call on to review the stock assessments, new management methods, scientific programs, grant proposals and to participate in the design of those enterprises.

Methodological Peer Reviews:

The objective of these peer reviews is to produce reliable information critical to the development of regional fishery management plans and subsequent amendments, and ultimately, to the building and maintenance of sustainable fisheries. Generally, these reviews are collated by collecting officials and comments are provided or summarized for public record. Many reviews are conducted in conjunction with the Fishery Management Councils or other cooperating agencies, ensuring a balanced perspective for the incorporation of review results that form the basis for management decisions. NOAA Fisheries uses the best available scientific knowledge in establishing population dynamic factors such as recruitment and reproduction that are fundamental for determining the total allowable catch of a particular species.

National Peer Reviews:

These reviews, mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management and Conservation Act, range from developing recommendations to expand the application of ecosystem principles in fishery conservation and management to evaluating the research and management of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico.