Stock assessment: the science of counting fish
The driving force behind fisheries science is to produce advice relevant to the use and conservation of marine resources and ecosystems. It, therefore, has a very practical motive. The collapse and closure of fish stocks are well known, and fisheries scientists are primarily tasked with quantifying and describing ways to promote sustainability in fisheries. Often, mathematical modeling processes called “stock assessments” are used to describe the health and status of fisheries resources. Although stock assessments are extremely important to modern fisheries management, they can be complex and difficult to understand. In this presentation, I will explain the stock assessment process in an easy-to-follow format and referencing specific fisheries examples from the Hawaiian Islands.