Toolbox for the estimation of fish population abundance

Funded Activity Summary

Abundance estimates are used both directly and indirectly in stock assessment processes to support fishery management. Australia’s fisheries research agencies all estimate fish population abundance in some way. These include genetic and conventional tagging, acoustics (active and passive), trawl and egg surveys, as well as using proxies of abundance such as catch. Each of these methods have benefits, biases and caveats linked to the method and to the fish species being assessed. For example, differences between life history and habitat can make an abundance estimation method that has worked for one species unsuitable for another. As the application of each method of estimating abundance is potentially species/scenario specific, potential use by researchers and managers can be fraught.

In developing or proposing an abundance estimate for use in fisheries assessment, researchers must have a clear understanding of the assessment framework in order to make sure that an abundance estimate can be used. Claims such as “this time series can then be used in stock assessment” must be verified by funding agencies (particularly beyond FRDC) and defensible. Proliferation of abundance estimation methods without links to the assessment process will not yield an expected benefit beyond knowledge accumulation.

A project is needed to capture the range of methods of estimating abundance for management purposes, and specify the conditions of use, limitations and readiness level for operational use. A decision tree and methods ‘toolbox’ that describes the techniques, their relative strengths and weaknesses will help researchers and managers identify the best suited abundance estimate approach, and guide research effort to overcome known weaknesses.

The development of a ‘toolbox’ of techniques would be used to inform:
1. techniques available to estimate abundance
2. suitability of them to different conditions such as life history, and data availability
3. requirements of the technique such as methods used, prerequisite expertise, data and cost; and
4. circumstances under which the technique can be used.
This project would also identify potential new approaches and technologies that might complement or replace current ones.

Objectives:
1. To document the various methods available to fisheries managers for estimating abundance.
2. To document a cost / benefit / needs and requirements basis for the various methods available to fisheries managers for estimating abundance.
3. Develop a ‘toolbox’ to disseminate details of fit-for-purpose methods of estimating abundance to fisheries managers and management agencies, that will informi. the techniques that are available to estimate abundanceii.the suitability of the technique to different scenarios such as life history parameters of species, data availability (or absence), assumed low population sizeiii.the requirements of the technique such as methods used, pre-requisite expertise, data and costiv.under what circumstances can the technique be used and the underlying assumptions.
4. To identify potential new (and non-lethal) approaches and emerging technologies that may offer an opportunity for capturing fishery dependent data that can be used to estimate abundance

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-08-2023

End Date: 30-08-2024

Funding Scheme: Funding Scheme not available

Funding Amount: $175,000.00

Funder: Fisheries Research and Development Corporation

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

There are no FoR codes available for this funding activity

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

RAC CMWTH | RAC NSW | RAC NT | RAC QLD | RAC SA | RAC TAS | RAC VIC | RAC WA

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