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
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
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
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 Environmental Assessment in Lake Volta, Ghana

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

Africa
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
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 Catch simulations and sustainability of the southern bluefin tuna (SBT) fishery.

This project used existing assessment models to evaluate:

1.      the effects…

Asia
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 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
MRAG Project Synthesis and uptake promotion of FMSP stock assessment tools and guidelines

The purpose of this project was to improve fisheries dependent livelihoods through…

Global
MRAG Project The use of sluice gates for stock enhancement and diversification of livelihoods

The project has improved the understanding of the effects of using sluice gates…

Asia
MRAG Project Iraq Marshlands Restoration Project

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

Middle East
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
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 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 Oluvil Tuna Fisheries Port Project

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

Asia
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 Jamuna Bridge Project - Independent review Panel, Environment and Resettlement Aspects

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

Asia