A statistical model developed by DTU Aqua, which contributes the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) work, is proving popular with fishermen looking to better manage their fisheries.
The State-space Assessment Model (SAM) was originally developed to allow fishermen to study the work done by researchers, but has now become one of the most highly acclaimed tools for estimating fish populations in Europe thanks to its ‘transparency’.
Jean-Jacques Maguire, recently retired chair of the ICES Advisory Committee, said: “Transparency in the [estimation] process is extremely important when we are making recommendations for fisheries, and SAM allows us to open up the process to everyone. This assures more valid and better documented establishment of the populations.”
The model is web-based, so anyone can enter data via an interface and everyone can see and check the intermediate calculations and figures used to generate a result.
It is used today to estimate development in at least 10 of the most economically important fisheries in Europe, according to DTU Aqua.
“Previous calculation models were complicated to use and implement, so SAM is a giant leap forward in this area,” added José De Oliveira, The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, the authority that works with fisheries in the UK. “Because the quality of the estimates is better, the estimates themselves are more stable than the one from earlier models. Fishermen are very pleased with this, as it allows them to plan their fishing more accurately.”
DTU Aqua says while the model is proving popular with the fishing industry, it has also generated interest from other professionals, such as bird researchers, inspired by marine research.
