Publication Abstract

Stock assessment and projection of abundance - from environmental parameters to biological processes

C.M. O'Brien

This paper presents the findings of, and conclusions from, the three meetings held in 1999, 2001 and 2002 of the ICES Study Group on the Incorporation of Process Information into Stock-Recruitment Models [SGPRISM]. The task of incorporating environmental parameters and their assessment into the management of commercial fisheries are considered and discussed. The paper addresses the potential use of environmental information in increasing knowledge of the underlying stock-recruitment relationship, as it is currently used in population assessments, and consider how accurate knowledge of the impact of environment variations on recruitment can be used to constrain moderate-term (5-10 year) projections of stock abundance. Although it is not possible to directly control factors such as sea temperature and wind, changes in the environment clearly influence recruitment and the future size of fish stocks. A better understanding of the relationships between environment, parent stock and recruitment should contribute to the design of robust management methods for commercial fisheries. Research aimed at addressing these issues is currently on-going and is briefly discussed.

Reference:

C.M. O'Brien, 2002. Stock assessment and projection of abundance - from environmental parameters to biological processes. ICES Copenhagen, CM2000/X:11, 22pp.