Skip to main content
European Commission logo print header

Probabilistic assessment, management and advice model for fishery management in the case of poor data availability

Final Report Summary - POORFISH (Probabilistic assessment, management and advice model for fishery management in the case of poor data availability)

The POORFISH project aimed to facilitate assessment and management of fisheries for sustainability in data poor situations through the creation of an advisory system approach, using expert knowledge and published information along with existing data sets. The main categories of data poor situations were small fisheries with several target species, large scale but recently developed fisheries and large scale fisheries where the data quality was deteriorating.

POORFISH focused on each case through the examination of different case studies. The simulation framework of the already completed EFIMAS and COMMIT projects was employed, with POORFISH focusing on management and advice issues. POORFISH aimed to further develop some of the previous projects outcomes, as well as to simplify complicated approaches. It also tried to establish links with the existing ISTAM project.

The project structure included distinct work packages (WPs) related to the following activities:

1. Review of the potential assessment and management approaches applied in data poor fisheries and case studies definition.
This WP ensured that all partners had sufficient understanding of the methodologies employed within the project and compiled the necessary case studies information for the other WPs through the extensive use of questionnaires. The acquired knowledge was disseminated through scientific publications and the creation of a database of scientific literature, hosted on the POORFISH website.

2. Development of the principal linkages within the probabilistic assessment and management advice model on a case study basis.
Specialised model structures and model codes were developed, suitable for the specific features of the project case studies. Thus the modelling approach was differentiated to the one originally anticipated, which involved the development of a generic methodology, applicable in all cases.

3. Application of the probabilistic assessment and management advice model to specific case studies, in order to examine the performance of the novel approaches and define the model applicability.
This activity was split between two WPs. WP3 focused on the development of prior information to case studies, through identification of data availability, collection of expert information, data meta-analysis and determination of the most adequate approach. WP4 initial objectives were to evaluate the developed model applicability, examine the information importance for assessment and management, test the model within real and simulated data sets and, finally, take into consideration the high uncertainty of poor data. However, the lack of a generic model that could be reliable in all cases resulted in forming a series of approaches along with considerations on their applicability, the quality of the results, the associated uncertainty and the identified weaknesses that required further development.

4. Determination of guidelines for assessment and management in poor data situations, along with dissemination of POORFISH model principles, identification of operational management tools and understanding of the benefits and failings of the modelling approach on a case study basis.

POORFISH developed guidelines for fishery advice in poor data situations and identified the elements of the project that should be applied in cases of better data quality. The generated framework was highly assisting in defining the most appropriate routes to formulate scientific advice regarding fisheries management, in all different categories of poor data fisheries cases.