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Independent Scientific Advisory Board background
Sponsorship
In 1996, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council and NOAA
Fisheries established the Independent Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB).
The ISAB was formed to provide independent scientific advice and
recommendations regarding scientific issues posed by the respective
agencies on matters that relate to their fish and wildlife programs. In
2002, the Columbia River Basin Indian Tribes were added as equal partners
in the sponsorship of the ISAB.
Purpose
The ISAB is to foster a scientific approach to fish and wildlife
recovery and the use of sound scientific methods in research related to
the programs of NOAA Fisheries, the Council, and the Tribes. It is
understood that the interests of NOAA Fisheries relate particularly to
anadromous fish conservation and management, while those of the Council
and the Tribes include all fish and wildlife populations affected by
operation and development of the Columbia River Basin hydroelectric system.
NOAA Fisheries is responsible for Federal stewardship of the Nation's
marine and anadromous fish, and marine mammals. The Council is charged to
?protect, mitigate and enhance? fish (anadromous and resident) and
wildlife as affected by operation and development of the hydroelectric
system. The Tribes manage fish and wildlife resources on their respective
reservations, are co-managers on ceded lands, and are responsible to
ensure treaty provisions governing natural resources are secured to future
generations.
The ISAB is a standing body with general tasks that guide the ISAB
workplan. Specific ISAB assignments are generated throughout the year.
General tasks
The ISAB will address scientific and technical issues relating to the
Council's Fish and Wildlife Program, tribal fish and wildlife programs,
and the NOAA Fisheries Recovery Program for Columbia River Basin salmonids.
Principal activities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Evaluate the Council's Fish and Wildlife Program scientific
principles to ensure they are consistent with the best available
science.
- Evaluate the Council's Fish and Wildlife Program on its scientific
merits in time to inform amendments to the fish and wildlife program
and before the Council requests recommendations from the region.
- Provide scientific review of NOAA Fisheries recovery planning
activities for Columbia River Basin stocks when requested.
- Review the scientific and technical issues associated with efforts
to improve anadromous fish survival through all life stages, based on
adaptive management approaches.
- Review and provide advice on priorities for conservation and
recovery efforts, including research, monitoring, and evaluation and
data management.
- Provide scientific reviews of topics identified as critical to fish
recovery and conservation in the Columbia River Basin.
- Evaluate the scientific merits of plans and measures proposed to
ensure satisfaction and continuation of tribal treaty fishing rights
in the Columbia River Basin and other tribal efforts to restore and
manage fish and wildlife resources.
- Compare the various plans, strategies, analytical tools and methods
employed by the Council, NOAA Fisheries, the Columbia River Basin
Indian Tribes, and others related to the management of Columbia River
Basin fish and wildlife to identify areas of consensus, disagreement,
uncertainty, and opportunity.
In addition, the Council's 2000 Fish and Wildlife Program directs the
Council to work with the Independent Scientific Advisory Board to develop
a series of reports to survey past research and summarize the state of the
science in key areas ? "State of the Science" reviews. This
effort may include the use of reports, journals, surveys, and conferences.
To the extent allowed by time and resources, the ISAB is responsive to
questions and issues posed by the region's management agencies and other
parties. Questions for consideration by the Board should be submitted to
the ISAB's coordinator.
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