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
MRAG Project Support to assessment of progress of halting biodiversity loss with respect to the marine environment for the EEA 2005 State of the Environment and Outlook Report (EEA)

The European Environment Agency (EEA) publishes a report every five years on the state…

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 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
MRAG Project The use of recovery plans to rebuild depleted fish stocks - a review

This project arose from a Marine RTDI Desk Study DK/01/005. The aims of the project…

Europe
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
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 1) of the Impact Assessment for the CFP 2012 reform

The objective of this study was to produce the STATUS QUO impact assessment of the…

Europe
MRAG Project Scoping the potential benefits of undertaking an ecosystem assessment for England

This study reviewed the potential benefits of a Millennium Assessment (MA) type…

Europe
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
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
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
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
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
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
Training in the implementation of ParFish methodology in Madagascar

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

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
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
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
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 Sustainable fisheries: testing methods for improving livelihoods in coastal communities in northern Kenya

The overall goal of the project was to provide a sustainable management plan for one…

Africa
Implementation of a Fisheries Management Plan for Lake Victoria

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

Africa
MRAG Project The status of hake fisheries off western Africa and the role played by subsidised fishing fleets

The project aim was to investigate the impacts of subsidized fishing vessels on the…

Africa
MRAG Project Environmental Assessment in Lake Volta, Ghana

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

Africa
MRAG Project Oluvil Tuna Fisheries Port Project

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

Asia