This isn't my area of expertise, but I'm sure there are plenty of good models.
I like what Dr. Hutchings said. The question of how many fish are out there is a science question. The question of what is the effect on the population of different levels of harvest is a science question. Once you know that, it then becomes an informed public policy discussion. Given that, what is the level of harvest that we want to undertake?
I think there's a “render unto Caesar what is Caesar's” mode here, where science informs the discussion, but in the end there's a public policy discussion about what we're willing to accept and not accept. It's that interplay.