Underpinning all fisheries management is an assessment of the status of the target stock in relation to one or more benchmarks or biological reference points to support effective decision making. Methods used to estimate stock status vary considerably and depend on the quality and quantity of data available. Appropriate data collection and management through an effective survey design is therefore an important pre-requisite to resource assessment.

Where data is limited, risk assessment techniques can be used based on qualitative or semi-quantitative information leading to more sophisticated data-rich methods such as biomass dynamic, statistical catch at age models and acoustic echo-integration, for example.

MRAG can provide a wide range of services, providing expert advice and practical implementation of conducting stock assessments. Our core in-house team of experts provide a multi-disciplinary approach to provide a comprehensive and integrated resource assessment.

We have undertaken assessments on a diverse range of both marine and freshwater living resources including fish, crustacean and molluscan species. These include assessments of complex multi-species, multi-gear artisanal fisheries typically with over 10,000 small vessels and other highly mechanised industrial single-species fisheries where catches may exceed 750,000 tonnes.

Our broad level of experience in resource assessment and fisheries management also compliments our experience on bycatch assessments, biodiversity surveys and environmental impact assessments. Combined, these have strengthened our ability to provide specialist advice on ecosystem-based fisheries management.

Projects

Title Region End Date
Study to assess the robustness of mixed fisheries scenario assumptions

This project supported the ICES mixed-fisheries assessment process, investigating the…

Europe
Conduct situation analysis for artisanal fisheries enhancement, through functional development of CMAs and TURFs in Sierra Leone.

To improve fisheries governance and implementation of four marine protected areas (…

Africa
Scientific and technical advice for the management of maritime waters in British Indian Overseas Territory (BIOT)

A 200 nautical mile Fisheries Conservation and Management Zone (FCMZ) was declared…

Indian Ocean
MRAG Project The management of Scotland’s seal populations

The purpose of this work was to provide a robust analysis and synthesis of the…

Europe
Development of Marine and Diadromous Fish Sensitivity Assessments for FeAST

This project prepared sensitivity assessments for 34 Scottish fish species of…

Europe
Overview of the state of data collection and scientific advice in the European Outermost Regions with case study on a roadmap towards regular stock assessment in French Guiana

The European Commission has recognised a need to assess the state of fisheries data…

Europe
Population Structure of Bluenose Warehou (Hyperogplyphe Antarctica) Around Tristan Da Cunha on Behalf of Cefas and the Tristan Da Cunha Government

Within the Tristan da Cunha region, a number of substantial fisheries are utilised,…

Atlantic Ocean
Improving scientific advice for the conservation and management of oceanic sharks and rays

One of the objectives of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is to restore and…

Global
Sea cucumber assessment - Seychelles

A stock assessment of the Seychelles sea cucumber fishery was first undertaken by MRAG…

Indian Ocean
Second Review of the ICCAT Atlantic-Wide Research Programme on bluefin tuna (ICCAT GBYP PHASE 6-2016)

The Atlantic-wide research programme for bluefin tuna was officially adopted by the…

Atlantic Ocean
MRAG Project Scientific research, fish stock assessment and training of IMBO and MFMR staff and students (WARFP)

The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources had received a loan from the IDA and a…

Africa
Towards a sustainable tuna fishery in the coastal states of the West Africa sub region

MRAG provided a Senior Tuna Management Specialist Adviser to BNF Liberia and MFMR…

Africa
MRAG Project Sea Cucumber Stock Assessment in the Seychelles

The objectives of this consultancy were to assess stock status for the main commercial…

Indian Ocean
MRAG Project Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Survey Management Contract

Research surveys are now conducted annually at South Georgia by MRAG/BAS. In the past…

Atlantic Ocean
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Fisheries Management.

The work undertaken by MRAG for Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich…

Atlantic Ocean
Analysis and advice on Ross Sea fisheries For Argos Georgia Ltd

MRAG provided scientific assistance to Argos Georgia Ltd to support their Ross Sea…

Antarctic Ocean
West Africa Fisheries Programme – Liberia. Participatory Survey for Fisheries Resource Assessment

The objective of the assignment was to support the Bureau of National Fisheries in…

Africa
Bigeye tuna species Stock Assessment in Mauritius EEZ (CU/PE1/MZ/10/007)

The main objective of this project was to contribute to the sustainable and equitable…

Indian Ocean
Environmental Support for Exploration Operations for Offshore Falkland Islands

Contributed towards the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for an exploration…

Atlantic Ocean
MRAG Project Studies in the Field of the CFP and Maritime Affairs No. FISH/2006/09. Lot 4: Impact assessment studies related to the CFP. Technical analysis (Phase 2) of the Impact Assessment for the CFP 2012 reform

The purpose of the project was to apply the methodology developed in Specific Contract…

Europe
Training in the implementation of ParFish methodology in Madagascar

The WWF Southern Toliara Marine Natural Resource Management project aims to achieve…

Africa
MRAG Project Studies in the Field of the CFP and Maritime Affairs No. FISH/2006/09. Lot 4: Impact assessment studies related to the CFP. Economic and social impacts of multi-annual management plans for North Sea plaice and Sole

Council Regulation (EC) No 676/2007 established a multi-annual management plan (MAMP)…

Europe
Background Paper for Workshop on Resource Assessment in Data-Poor Fisheries

MRAG was asked by the FAO to produce a background document for a workshop on practical…

Europe
MRAG Project BIOT Inshore fisheries

The inshore fishery in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT, Chagos Archipelago)…

Indian Ocean
MRAG Project Assessment of drivers of over fishing inside and outside Europe (EEA/IEA/09/007)

The EEA requested this study as part of their preparation of their periodic State of…

Global