What is the purpose of Days-at-Sea (DAS) in PFMC management?

• A. Days-at-Sea; used to limit fishing effort and total allowable catch by time.
• B. Days-at-Sea; measures the total amount of fish a vessel can legally sell.
• C. Days-at-Sea; indicates the number of days vessels may repair gear.
• D. Days-at-Sea; determines the species richness of a harbor.

Answer: (A)

Days-at-Sea is a time-based limit that controls fishing effort. In PFMC management, vessels are allocated a certain number of days they may fish for target species in a season. By tying the allowable catch to the number of days rather than unlimited fishing, this system helps keep total removals within the established annual catch limits and spread fishing activity across the season. It’s about managing how long fishing can occur, not about how much fish a vessel can sell, gear repair time, or how many species are found in a harbor.