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
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
MRAG Project Application and promotion of FMSP Participatory Fisheries Stock Assessment (ParFish)

This project tested, revised and widely promoted a methodology for participatory…

Africa
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
Assessment of the Community financial contribution for the implementation of the control, inspection and surveillance systems applicable to the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)

This project carried out a detailed evaluation of MCS assets and their cost…

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
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
MRAG Project BIOT Inshore fisheries

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

Indian Ocean
MRAG Project Catch simulations and sustainability of the southern bluefin tuna (SBT) fishery.

This project used existing assessment models to evaluate:

1.      the effects…

Asia
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
Development of Marine and Diadromous Fish Sensitivity Assessments for FeAST

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

Europe
MRAG Project Environmental Assessment in Lake Volta, Ghana

This project is the fisheries assessment part of an Environmental Assessment being…

Africa
Environmental Support for Exploration Operations for Offshore Falkland Islands

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

Atlantic Ocean
MRAG Project Feasibility Study for an Indian Ocean Tuna Tagging Programme (RTTP) (including further services)

The objectives of this project were to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study for…

Indian Ocean
Field Study to assess some mitigation measures to reduce by-catch of marine turtles in surface long line fisheries (FISH/2005/28)

 

There have been wide-scale concerns regarding the numbers of turtles being…

Europe
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
Implementation of a Fisheries Management Plan for Lake Victoria

The objective of the project was to contribute to the sustainable economic growth and…

Africa
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
MRAG Project Iraq Marshlands Restoration Project

The USAID Iraq Marshlands Restoration Program (IMRP) supported the rehabilitation of…

Middle East
MRAG Project Jamuna Bridge Project - Independent review Panel, Environment and Resettlement Aspects

The co-financiers of the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge Project (JMBP) raised an…

Asia
MRAG Project Oluvil Tuna Fisheries Port Project

Working in a team composing of an economist and a marine engineer, on an appraisal…

Asia
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
MRAG Project Review of the origins and appropriateness of the current fish stock assessment and management areas for the waters around Ireland.

ICES Areas, Divisions and Sub-Divisions are of significance to the fishing industry,…

Europe
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 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