Fisheries Glossary F-J

F

F - See fishing mortality.

Fmax - The level of fishing mortality (rate of removal by fishing) that produces the greatest yield from the fishery.

FCMA - See Fishery Conservation and Management Act

FCZ - See fishery conservation zone.

FMC - See fishery management council.

FMP - See fishery management plan.

Fecundity - A measurement of the egg-producing ability of a fish. Fecundity may change with the age and size of the fish.

Fishery Conservation and Management Act - The federal law that created the regional councils and is the federal government’s basis for fisheries management in the EEZ. Also known as the Magnuson Act after a chief sponsor, Senator Warren Magnuson of Washington.

Fishery - All the activities involved in catching a species of fish or a group of species.

Fishery Conservation Zone (FCZ) - The area from the seaward limit of state waters out to 200 miles. The term is used less often now than the current term, exclusive economic zone.

Fishery Dependent Data - Data collected on a fish or fishery from sport fishermen, commercial fishermen, and seafood dealers.

Fishery Independent Data - Data collected on a fish by scientists who catch the fish themselves, rather than depending on fishermen and seafood dealers.

Fishery Management Council (FMC) - See council

Fishery Management Plan (FMP) - A plan to achieve specified management goals for a fishery. It includes data, analyses, and management measures for a fishery.

Fishing Effort - See effort.

Fishing Mortality (F) - A measurement of the rate of removal of fish from a population by fishing. Fishing mortality can be reported as either annual or instantaneous. Annual mortality is the percentage of fish dying in one year. Instantaneous is that percentage of fish dying at any one time. The acceptable rates of fishing mortality may vary from species to species.

Fork Length - The length of a fish as measured from the tip of its snout to the fork in the tail.