Terms of Reference

National Workshop

Techniques for the Provision of Advice in Information-Poor Situations

11-13 May, 2010

SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue
580 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC - 320 Strategy Room

Chairpersons: Alan Cass and Ross Tallman

Background

DFO is responsible for assessing many stocks that are data or information poor. Advice is being requested for an increasing number of these stocks because of new fisheries, SARA obligations, etc. Some data poor stocks can have consequences on other data rich stocks because of by-catch considerations, etc. The Technical Expertise in Stock Assessment (TESA) program held its first planning meeting in January of 2009, at which it was concluded that the initial broad theme for the first Stock Assessment Methods Committee (SAMC) workshop should be Techniques for the Provision of Advice in Information-Poor Situations. This includes stocks with few data or stocks with much data that are not informative with respect to the advice requested. It was recognized that this workshop theme covers a broad spectrum.

Objectives

1. Review the state-of-the-art in assessment and management approaches for information-poor fisheries;
2. Review case studies of information-poor fisheries to determine what assessment approaches are useful for providing management advice.
3. Produce a decision tree that includes guidelines and assessment/management tools for various data poor situations.
4. Describe the types of advice that can be produced, and what the uncertainties will be, in various data poor situations.

Proposed approach

The workshop will review progress made by other agencies/researchers, and case-studies selected from proposals from DFO regions. The workshop will make recommendations regarding approaches to use in stock assessments and future research requirements. The workshop may involve subgroups.

Products

A CSAS Proceedings Document will be produced to summarize the workshop discussions and conclusions. A significant product will be a decision tree outlining assessment approaches for various data poor situations.

Participation

Participation will include DFO stock assessment staff and especially those who proposed case studies considered at the workshop, members of SAMC, invited experts, and other local university researchers. Contact Noel Cadigan (noel.cadigan@dfo-mpo.gc.ca) for registration and logistical information.

TESA Background

The Technical Expertise in Stock Assessment (TESA) program was created in 2008 to help rebuild capacity in fish stock assessment and to develop technical approaches in a common venue separate from the advisory meeting itself. The TESA program is composed of three related elements: 1) Stock Assessment Methods Committee; 2) annual National Stock Assessment Methods Workshop; 3) Stock Assessment Technical Training/Upgrading program. TESA is led by a Steering Committee composed of the chair, one stock assessment expert from each region, a National Science Directors Committee (NSDC) champion and a Science manager.