As Assessment of the Fisheries Research Program of the National Marine Fisheries Service

The nation's fishery management regime has three primary sets of players: the scientific advisors, the managers, and the fishermen. The advisors include federal agencies, state agencies, universities, regional and interstate bodies, and international bodies. The National Marie Fisheries Service (NMFS) has the lead role as scientific advisor. As used here "management" is defined broadly to include the instructions and funding that the researchers are given. "Fisheries research" is also defined broadly for the purposes of this paper. It means the collection of any biological, economic, or social information which is relevant to fisheries management.