Assessment boost for fisheries
Measuring and assessing fish stocks can be a challenging task, and doing so based on daily catches has not been very reliable. The EU-funded project 'Fisheries independent survey based operational assessment tools' (Fisboat) aimed to design new tools to improve assessments, diagnostics and management for fisheries. It developed software to achieve its aims based on research survey data that was independent of fisheries. The project employed assessment models, monitoring procedures and simulation evaluation tools to diagnose and manage fisheries. It developed, monitored and interpreted indices for biological traits, demography, mortality and space occupied, considering also data such as biomass, length, age, abundance and catch ability. This led to the successful development of reliable tools that provide stock evaluations in all examined conditions. The tools provided valuable information on trends and published the new methods in manuals to encourage an ecosystem approach for monitoring and management. Another important project achievement was the Internet-based evaluation platform which offered operating, observation and harvest control rule (HCR) models that work synergistically. Different variations and options were made available to users, enabling the system to be applied in many regions and situations. The project's outcomes were disseminated through journals, conferences, working groups and online, including the project's website. The results are expected to support the fishing sector and future research in the field, which in turn will contribute to a more efficient and eco-friendly supply of seafood.
