Aligning monitoring design with fishery decision-making: examples of management strategy evaluation for reef-associated fisheries

Authored by Elizabeth A Babcock, William J Harford

Date Published: 2016

DOI: 10.1051/alr/2016018

Sponsors: United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

Platforms: R

Model Documentation: ODD Flow charts Mathematical description

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

Limitations in data quantity and quality are common in fisheries management and affect whether and how stock assessments are carried out. We demonstrate the applicability of spatially-explicit management strategy evaluation (MSE) for connecting sampling designs of substrate-associated fishes in highly heterogeneous habitats to evaluation of stock status and to decision-making. Simulation-based analysis is conducted to understand how survey precision influences assessment and decision-making performance for a black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci) fishery within the Florida Keys reef tract. Rather than delving into statistical principles of survey design, we examine the performance of well-designed surveys in the currency of achieving fishery management objectives. In practical terms, our approach draws attention to subtle aspects of how data precision can affect achievement of management objectives. Our discussion centers on the idea that the interconnected properties of survey precision, stock assessment, and precaution taken in decision-making must be jointly considered in fisheries management policies.

Tags

Individual-based model Marine protected areas Random-walk Reserves Data-poor fisheries Independent assessment Harvest strategies Neutral landscape Reference points Control rules