Adaptive Management Programme

Data collected from fishing industry logbooks are at the heart of an industry-led initiative, known as the Ministry of Fisheries Adaptive Management Programme (AMP).  This programme allows for increases in the Total Allowable Commercial Catches for Fishstocks for which little information is available with the intent of increasing the knowledge and understanding for that Fishstock. However, there is a requirement that the AMP stock is thought to be above the B_msy level (the biomass level that produces the maximum sustainable level).  The TACC increase goes hand in hand with a monitoring programme to track the response of the fish stock to the increased level of exploitation. 

The Seafood Industry Council's Science team has been involved with the AMP since its inception in 1991. The AMP is a vehicle for industry to collect data for low information stocks at a reasonable cost through improved monitoring and subsequent assessment within the context of the purpose and principles of the Fisheries Act 1996. 

The objectives of the AMP include improving the understanding of stock status and providing estimates of yield through the collection of additional biological information from commercial fisheries.  Logbook programmes designed to provide representative and cost effective biological sampling coverage of important fisheries are the core of this initiative. 

The attached 'History and documentation of AMP logbooks' paper provides comprehensive documentation for current and historical AMP logbook programmes which the New Zealand Seafood Industry Council has designed and administered in support of the fishing industry AMP initiative.