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• Main Authors: R. G. Halliday, A. T. Pinhorn
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Northwest Atlantic
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.424.5324; http://journal.nafo.int/j10/halliday.pdf

The delineation of geographic areas for the purpose of collecting fisheries statistics (referred to as "fishing areas") in the Northwest Atlantic is described from the first division by the North American Council on Fishery Investigations in the early-1930s, through development of the International Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries statistical system in the early-1950s, to the present Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) system. The bases for these fishing areas are examined, and, in particular, knowledge of biological stock structure at crucial decision points is reconstructed, to determine the extent to which fishing areas were designed to correspond to stock distribution areas of the important commercial species. This correspondence is also examined in the light of present knowledge of stock structure. It transpires that only cod and haddock stock structure is documented as being influential in statistical boundary determination. The present NAFO statistical grid system could be improved, particularly by incorporation of the boundaries between coastal state and NAFO Regulatory Area waters, but is basically too inflexible to serve the needs of diverse modern fisheries. A hierarchical system, with the basic unit being a 10 ' or 15 ' graticule,as has already been adopted by some countries for domestic statistics, should be established in the international context of NAFO to promote regional science and management initiatives. Biologists need to define more precisely the correspondence required between stock and management areas for the effective control of exploitation rates.