Final Report Released On Salmon Validation Monitoring
Current Status of Accomplishment or Milestone: A panel of salmon experts prepared a report "The Scientific Basis for Validation Monitoring of Salmon for Conservation and Restoration Plans." This report was released on 1 December, 2000 at a public workshop in Olympia, WA.
Background: A challenge to fisheries scientists and resource managers is to develop and carry out a plan for monitoring the effect of conservation actions on salmon stocks. The University of Washington Olympic Natural Resources Center and the USDA Forest Service convened the Validation Monitoring Panel, a diverse panel of experts, to define the appropriate scientific approach to do this.
Purpose of Activity/Goal of Project: The goal was to prepare a report that presents a scientific basis for assessing salmon stocks as a means to determine the effects of conservation and restoration practices designed to improve the status of salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest.
Description of Accomplishment and Significant Results: A workshop was held recently in Olympia WA to launch and discuss a new report "The Scientific Basis for Validation Monitoring of Salmon for Conservation and Restoration Plans." The report discusses the scientific principles of validation monitoring for salmon conservation plans, provides justification for this monitoring, and introduces the scientific issues and statistical principles related to it. Frank Schwing represented the SWFSC and NMFS on the presentation panel at the workshop, and was a member of the writing team that prepared this report. Over 100 scientists, resource managers, and representatives of local, state, and Federal jurisdictions attended the workshop. Significance of Accomplishment (e.g., to the Center, to Management, and to NMFS Strategic plan Goals): NMFS is mandated with the recovery of listed stocks of salmon in the Pacific Northwest. This report provides scientists and managers with a scientific basis for monitoring the effects of conservation and restoration activities designed to enhance salmon populations.
Problems: None.
Key Contact: Franklin B. Schwing (831-648-9034; fschwing@noaa.gov).