The Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review or SEDAR process is a multi-step method for examining stock assessments.  The process includes data collectors, biologists, fishermen, database managers, stock assessment biologists, Council members and staff throughout each stage.  These assessments are used to determine needed management measures.  The SEDAR process is utilized by fishery managers in the South Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico. All workshops are open to the public.  

SEDAR Fact Sheet (PDF)

The SEDAR process includes three steps:

1.  Data Workshop - key people involved in collecting, keeping, and maintaining the data, biologists who understand the species, and experienced fishermen are brought together.  Workshop participants research and review all data available, determine what data should be used for the assessment, and what data and research is still needed.

2. Stock Assessment Workshop - stock assessment biologists, scientists, and fishermen meet to determine what tools are to be used to formulate the stock assessment, how to interpret information from the assessment, and how uncertainty is to be incorporated into the assessment.

3. Peer Review - the products of steps one and two is a stock assessment report.  This report is peer reviewed by the Review Committee, a group of independent experts.  The Review Committee then formulates its conclusions and recommendations in a final consensus report and an advisory report that includes strenghts and weaknesses in the assessment and recommendations to fishery managers for future data and research needs.

For additional information, including up to date document listings, and the SEDAR Stock Assessment schedule, visit the SEDAR homepage.

 Workshop Highlights:

SEDAR 23 - Gulf and South Atlantic Goliath Grouper - Data Workshop: April 27-29, 2010; Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront, 333 First St. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. This is a joint workshop to include the Gulf of Mexico and is facilitate by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. Assessment Workshop: August 2-6, 2010 in St. Petersburg, FL. 

SEDAR 24 - South Atlantic Red Snapper - Data Workshop: May 24-28, 2010; Francis Marion Hotel, 387 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403.  Review Workshop: scheduled for October 12-14, 2010 in Savannah, GA.  Hotel TBD.  Note!  The final assessment report will be available on Sept 29, 2010.  Download South Atlantic Red Snapper Stock Assessment Project Schedule (pdf).

SEDAR Spiny Lobster Update -  Scheduled for September 28-30, 2010; Key West Marriot Beachside Hotel, 3841 N. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West, FL 33040. This is a joint workshop to include the Gulf of Mexico.

Download current SEDAR schedule (PDF)  (as of February 2010)