Fisheries Research Articles

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

2024

Journal Title

ICES Scientific Reports

ISSN

2618-1371

Disciplines

Marine Biology

Abstract

ICES Technical Report Contributors (Editors)

Martina Scanu; Zachary Radford

Contributors (Authors)

David Curtis; Didzis Ustups; Eneko Bachiller; Estanis Mugerza; Gwladys Lambert; Hans Jakob Olesen; Ioannis Thasitis; Ivo Sics; Jonnathan White; Karina Ryan; Kieran Hyder; Kjell Nedreaas; Lennert van de Pol; Lucia Zarauz; Manos Koutrakis; Marie Storr-Paulsen; Martina Scanu; Matthew Farthing; Nicola Walker; Paul Bouch; Pia Schuchert; Sean Tracy; Simon Weltersbach; Sophy Phillips; Zachary Radford.

Executive summary

The Workshop on Recreational Fisheries in Stock Assessments (WKRFSA) aimed to establish a process for integrating recreational fisheries (RF) data into stock assessments. The workshop addressed three questions: identifying obstacles to RF inclusion, creating a decision tree for RF data inclusion and reconstruction, and establishing criteria based on data quality and catch quantity. It had three sections: assessing where RF data fits in the assessment cycle, schematizing RF data reconstruction, and discussing blockers to RF inclusion. To prioritize stocks for RF data inclusion, a productivity-susceptibility analysis (PSA) by the WGRFS is ongoing. This PSA will provide a list of species within each ecoregion where RF could impact stock sustainability levels. When a risk is identified for a stock, RF data should be included in the data-call process for consideration in the benchmark. Key blockers to RF inclusion were categorized into data issues, communication challenges, and resourcing problems. Data issues focused on quality, quantity, and consistency of the RF data. A need for better communication about RF data availability was outlined. Resourcing challenges included knowledge gaps within ICES stock roles, communication of RF-specific advice, and capacity needs for improved inclusion methods. A flowchart-based framework for integrating RF data into the stock assessment process was developed, addressing survey errors, different catch levels, and reconstructing commonly missing RF data under different scenarios. Acknowledging data limitations, the framework proposed capturing RF exploitation levels in the assessment model or as a statement in the advice only. The workshop addressed several of the blockers to inclusion of RF data into the assessment/advice cycle through identifying avenues for improved RF communication, devising methods within the framework for handling data quality, quantity, and consistency issues. However, the workshop was not able to resolve all the issues identified. Five key tasks for future development to resolve further blockers emerged: ICES supporting both stock assessment and RF communities to enhance capacity, considering a dedicated RF data coordinator role for each stock, improving communication between WGRFS and assessment WGs, compiling a priority list of species through PSA analysis, and ACOM providing standardized guidance for RF-specific advice.

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