Annual International Stock Assessment Review Workshop
Over Monday 26 to Friday 30 November the annual International Stock Assessment Workshop funded by the NRF and DAFF will be taking place at UCT (Mathematics Building Room M212).
This year the four scientists invited to comprise the Review Panel are Carmen Fernandez (ICES), Mauricio Ortiz (ICCAT), Andre Punt (USA) and Tony Smith (Australia).
TOPICS
The main topics to be covered are the following
1) South Coast Rock Lobster – update of operating models to be used in the revision of the OMP for this resource due to be completed by July 2013
2) Squid – revised and updated resource assessment and implications of alternative harvesting strategies, taking particular account of the implications of moving in part from effort to catch-based controls to accommodate a possible small scale component in the fishery
3) Line fish – approaches to adjust CPUE-based trends for line fish species for different effort targeting strategies
4) Hake and small pelagics (sardine and anchovy) – discussion of optimal approaches to conduct surveys and adjust OMP TAC recommendations in circumstances where uncertainties exist about the availability of the main research survey vessel for imminent abundance surveys, and further the possibility of the use of an alternative industry vessel for these surveys.
SCHEDULE
Discussion will take place from 9 am to 5-30 pm each day, with 30 minutes breaks for tea at 10-30 am and 3-30 pm, and 90 minutes for lunch at 12-30 pm. A detailed schedule indicating which topics will be discussed at what times will be circulated shortly.
For the most part discussions will be at a fairly high technical level, but on the final day (Friday 30th) at 3-30 pm in room M304 in the UCT Mathematics Building, the international Review Panel will provide a summary of their recommendations at a level suitable for a lay audience, and open for questions from that audience. Dr Kim Prochazka, Director Research, DAFF Fisheries Branch, will chair this session.
DOCUMENTATION AND ATTENDANCE
Documents for background and for discussion at the event will be posted on a website for prior download as they become available. Details in this regard will follow shortly.
Because of the need to maintain a workshop type interaction, chairs will limit discussion during each session primarily to panel members and selected key contributors to sit at a central table. However others are welcome to attend, and their interventions will be entertained in the discussions to the extent that time permits.
Cheers
Doug Butterworth (for workshop overseeing group which includes also DAFF’s Kim Prochazka)
