Dynamics and Evaluation of Marine Living Resources

Objectives

1. Knowledge of the theoretical concepts used in population dynamics;
2. Understand main theoretical models, their basic assumptions and approximations;
3. Know the type of data needed for the assessment of marine living resources;
4. Know how to use some models of marine living resources assessment tools;
5. To interpret results of assessment of the state of exploitation of marine living resources.

Program

Introduction
- Importance of fisheries, fisheries management, research, and stock assessment. Major global fisheries.

Models
- Introduction of concepts, rates of change, regression. Length-length and weight-length relationships. Growth rates. Cohort dynamics. Mortality rates. Selectivity. Stock-recruitment relationship. Biological reference points. Abundance indices. 

Stock assessment models
- Introduction, general production models, and structured models.

Teaching Methodologies

In this discipline the modules are organized as separate chapters. For each chapter will always be introduced theoretical concepts. Next, class will be held at a few exercises using previously prepared information sheets. It is intended to introduce theoretical foundations, assumptions and approximations, using projections or movies where relevant, and then demonstrate (mechanized) in a practical way using a spreadsheet. For private chapters student will be asked to search for information (e.g., Fishbase, RFMOs from the exploitation) to familiarize them with the sources of information, data analysis (assessment methods) and recommendation to the management. These practices research assignments should also be encouraged to study particular cases of stock assessment that students must present in seminars. Whenever possible practical activities involving industry partners (associations of fishing, fishing masters, managers, inspectors, etc.) will be encouraged.

Bibliography

Cadima, E. L. 2000. Manual de avaliação de recursos pesqueiros. FAO Documento Técnico sobre as Pescas, Nº393. Roma. FAO, 162p.
Hilborn, Raymond & Carl, J. Walters. 1992. Quantitative Fisheries stock assessment: choice, dynamics and uncertainty. Chapman and Hall. New York.570p.
Hilborn, R. and M. Mangel. 1997. The Ecological Detective: confronting models with data. Princeton University Press, Princeton, N.J. 315 p.
Lassen, H. and Medlay, P. 2001. Virtual Population Analysis - A Practical Manual for Stock Assessment. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper, Nº 400, Rome, FAO, 129p.
Quin, T. J. II and Deriso, R. B. 1999. Quantitative Fish Dynamics. New York, Oxford University Press, 542p.
Sparre, P.;Venema, S. C. 1997. Introdução à avaliação de mananciais de peixes tropicais. Parte 1: Manual. FAO Documento
Técnico sobra as Pescas. No. 306/1, Rev. 2. Roma, FAO. 404 pp.
Walters C. J., and Martell, S. J. D. 1994. Fisheries ecology and management. Princeton University Press. 399 p.