Which statement best describes how DAS and TAC interact in PFMC management?

• A. DAS has no influence on TAC.
• B. TAC is computed independently of DAS and is unaffected by the number of Days-at-Sea.
• C. DAS limits fishing effort by time, while TAC sets the allowable catch; together they control harvest.
• D. TAC determines DAS daily quotas.

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that harvest control in PFMC management comes from combining how many days you can fish with the total amount you’re allowed to catch. Days-at-Sea limits fishing effort by time, restricting how many days vessels can go out in a given period. The Total Allowable Catch sets the cap on total landings for the stock in that period. Taken together, these controls shape actual harvest: the TAC provides the maximum catch allowed, while the DAS turns that cap into practical fishing opportunities by limiting the number of days available to fish. If DAS is reduced, the potential harvest is constrained by fewer fishing days, even if the TAC is high; if the TAC is lowered, the total possible catch cannot exceed that cap, even with full DAS. So they work in tandem to manage harvest and stock status.

Options that say DAS has no influence on TAC or that TAC is computed independently ignore how effort limits translate into actual catch, and the idea that TAC determines DAS daily quotas reverses the direction of control.