Harvest Control Rule (HCR)

A primary mechanism for achieving sustainable use, preventing overfishing, preserving habitat, rebuilding depressed stocks, and recognizing the importance of non-consumptive uses. HCRs must be based on objective, measurable criteria such as population size, productivity, or density, or other inputs. An HCR specifies the approach to setting acceptable biological catch, maximum sustainable yield, or another catch parameter for a stock or stock complex as a function of the scientific uncertainty in the estimate of overfishing limit and any other scientific uncertainty. The HCR may include explicit, stock- or complex-specific definitions of overfished or other categories. Once established, an HCR becomes the default harvest policy for managers. In general, HCRs help identify key management measures appropriate to the fishery.