PFRP Statistics & Modeling Projects

Integrating Electronic and Conventional Tagging Data into Modern Stock Assessment Models

Progress Reports: FY 2012, FY 2011

Project Summary

Extensive electronic and conventional tagging data sets exists for tuna species however the information available is not fully utilised in the tuna stock assessment models. The project outlined in this proposal aims to maximize the utilization of movement information contained in tagging data. A one-year work program is proposed that will integrate electronic and conventional tagging data into the stock assessment models used in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This research program is based on the four key elements of the tagging data that could directly or indirectly inform stock assessment and management advice:

Analysis of horizontal movements for estimation of movement parameters (both conventional and electronic tags);
Direct estimation of movement parameters from other models;
Conversion of movement parameters estimates into block-transfer rates that are used in Multifan-CL and Stock Synthesis;
Incorporation into stock assessment models through one or more priors.

Stock assessments undertaken in 2012 are expected to benefit from this development thereby assisting RFMO with the sustainable management of tuna resources.

Objectives

The main objective is to improve the available management advice for Regional Fishery Management Organizations (RFMOs), and others concerned with fisheries management, by enhancing the used of electronic and conventional tagging data in current stock assessment models for highly migratory species.

To improve the stock assessment models used in the Pacific Ocean (and in the Indian Ocean) a one-year work program is proposed that will integrate electronic and conventional tagging data into the stock assessment models. This research program is based on the four key elements of the tagging data that could directly or indirectly inform stock assessment and management advice:

Analysis of horizontal movements for estimation of Advection Diffusion Reaction (both conventional and electronic tags);
Direct estimation of ADR from other models (eg. SEAPODYM);
Conversion of ADR estimates into block-transfer rates;
Incorporation into stock assessment models through one or more priors.

SPC, NOAA and IATTC are also currently responsible for undertaking stock status assessments for the equatorial tuna species in the Pacific Ocean and have been at the forefront of developing and applying integrated stock assessment models. They are well placed to further develop these models to fully utilize the tagging data available for the management of tuna stocks in the Pacific Ocean

Whilst ADR estimates can be obtained by different methods the significant challenge of integrating the different spatial and temporal scales of the independent ADR estimates into block transfer rates remains. The project will address this issue by conducting an expert workshop on this topic which will develop the necessary method.

Expected Outcomes

The results of these analyses will be presented to relevant RFMOs and scientific bodies and will be published in the scientific literature. The key expected outcomes of this part of the project will be improvements in management advice based on stock assessment models that will:

better account for the impacts of local fisheries on local abundance and the performance of fisheries in other areas; and
allow explicit modelling of biological phenomena related to movement, e.g. ontogenetic shifts in movement and ENSO induced east/west shifts in abundance observed in WCPO fisheries;
Enhanced stock assessments models from 2012 for the Pacific Ocean.

Funding for this project to be available late 2010.

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Principal Investigators
Dr. Simon Nicol Oceanic Fisheries Programme Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) BP D5 98848 Noumea CEDEX New Caledonia email: simonn@spc.int	Dr. Mark Maunder Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission I-ATTC 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive La Jolla, CA 92037-1508 USA email: mmaunder@iattc.org
Dr. Pierre Kleiber NOAA Fisheries National Marine Fisheries Service PIFSC - Honolulu Laboratory 2570 Dole Street Honolulu, HI 96822 USA email: Pierre.Kleiber@noaa.gov	Collaborators: Dr. Patrick Lehodey, CLS email: plehodey@cls.fr Dr. Inna Senina, CLS email: isenina@cls.fr Dr. John Hampton, SPC email: johnh@spc.int Dr. Shelton Harley, SPC email: sheltonh@spc.int Dr. Dale Kolody, IOTC Dr. Alexandre Aires-Da-Silva, I-ATTC Dr. Simon Hoyle, SPC Dr. Michael Hinton, I-ATTC

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