Cindy Thomson (NMFS/SWFSC, PFMC SSC) – Overview Dan Georgianna (U Mass, NEFMC SSC) – Discussion Leader National SSC Workshop October 4-6, 2011 Williamsburg, VA Social Sciences Breakout Discussion 3: Procedural/Data Issues

 What is the role of social scientists and social science in the context of SSC structure and process?  What practices exist or could be developed to improve social science inputs to the Council?  How can the SSC develop and improve social science data and methods that are useful to the Council?  What can be done more generally to develop and improve social science data and methods that are useful to the Council?  What are best practices for data collection and research that address Council social science needs? Trigger Questions

 Requirement to include social scientists on SSC?  How well are social scientists and social science review integrated into SSC process?  What types of social science topics appear on the SSC agenda?  Who conducts social science analysis for the Council?  How rigorously is social science analysis reviewed by the SSC?  How is outcome of social science review conveyed to Council?  Any follow-up to ensure that SSC recommendations are implemented? What is the role of social scientists and social science in the context of SSC structure and process?

 To what extent can/does the SSC take the initiative to highlight social science issues to the Council? o e.g., White Paper by PFMC SSC on overcapacity in groundfish fishery  Are there formal mechanisms for recognizing/prioritizing/addressing social science along with biological and other needs? social science along with biological and other needs? o “Economics and Social Science” section in Council Research and Data Needs document o Inclusion of social science models as candidates for methodology reviews  Other informational opportunities? o Social science training for new Council members o Include social science research and data collection in NMFS reports to Council o SAFE reports o Presentations to Council regarding socioeconomic trends in fisheries/outcomes of social science workshops/etc. What practices exist or could be developed to improve social science inputs to the Council?

 Include social science as topic in Council Research and Data Needs  Rigorous SSC review o Terms of Reference to set expectations o Potential review topics: appropriateness/representativeness of data, model specification, estimation methods, plausibility of underlying assumptions, model validation (statistical tests, predictive ability), interpretation of results, consideration of uncertainty o Documentation must be adequate to allow replication of results o Adequate follow-up to ensure that SSC recommendations are actually implemented How can the SSC develop and improve social science methods and data that are useful to the Council?

 Just because a method is widely accepted in a particular discipline does not necessarily mean that it addresses Council needs  Methods development o E.g., how to differentiate among regulatory alternatives in terms of community effects? o Interdisciplinary collaboration often helpful o Address ‘divide’ between economics and other social sciences o Consider particular subdisciplines that might contribute to collaboration (e.g., economic geography) o Focused workshops with practical outcomes What can be done more generally to develop and improve social science methods and data that are useful to the Council?

 Council Research and Data Needs o Use as vehicle for publicizing social science priorities o Encourage funding entities (e.g., Sea Grant) to utilize Council’s social science priorities as a ratings criterion  Recruitment of social scientists from NMFS and academia to serve on Council advisory bodies (including but not limited to SSC) o Provide not only expertise but also some avenues for data collection and research (e.g., S&T funding, grad students) o Council involvement encourages research that is policy relevant  Participation of social scientists on interagency data management committees that provide fishery data to the Council (e.g., PacFIN, RecFIN) What are best practices for data collection and research that address Council social science needs?

Current SSC ProcessNew SSC Process SAW/SARC prepares stock assessment PDT develops proposal for reference points SSC may advise on methods to develop reference points Social science impact analysis of reference points SSC sends advice to Council (including OFL and ACL) New England Fishery Management Council SSC Process