Overview
The Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils and NOAA Fisheries are conducting the next three-year review of the Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology (SBRM). The review will evaluate how effectively SBRM is working and identify potential opportunities for improvement.
What is SBRM?
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) requires all federal fishery management plans to include a standardized methodology for assessing the amount and type of bycatch occurring in a fishery. In the Greater Atlantic Region, the SBRM provides a framework for meeting this requirement across fisheries managed by the Mid-Atlantic and New England Councils.
SBRM combines sampling design, data collection, and analytical methods used to estimate bycatch and evaluate how available observer coverage should be allocated among fisheries. Observer data collected through NOAA Fisheries monitoring programs provide important information about catch and discards that supports stock assessments, fishery management, and other scientific and management needs.
Each year, NOAA Fisheries uses the SBRM process to evaluate discard information and determine how available observer sea days should be distributed among fisheries. NOAA Fisheries also prepares annual reports summarizing discard estimates, observer coverage, and related information.
What is the SBRM 3-Year Review?
In addition to annual reporting, SBRM requires a more comprehensive review every three years to assess how well the methodology is performing. The review is conducted collaboratively by staff from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and New England Fishery Management Council.
The previous 3-Year Review is available here: https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/66723
Staff Contact
Jason Didden (jdidden@mafmc.org, 302-526-5254)
Timeline and Documents
Work on the 2026 SBRM 3-Year Review began in mid-2026 and is expected to be completed by early 2027. A joint Fishery Management Action Team/Plan Development Team (FMAT/PDT), consisting of NOAA Fisheries and Council staff, will review available information, conduct the required analyses, and prepare a report documenting its findings and recommendations.
Once completed, the review will be presented to the Mid-Atlantic and New England Councils for consideration. Information about upcoming meetings, review materials, and opportunities for public involvement will be posted on this page as they become available.
Information about upcoming related meetings is posted to the Council’s website Calendar and listed here: View Related Meetings