Stock Assessment
The quality of stock assessment on major regional stocks has advanced rapidly in the last five years and there is an improving understanding of the overall impact of fishing on regional stocks. However, the national needs assessments showed a gap between the strength of this work at a regional level and, the level of understanding and use of stock assessment methods and results nationally. That gap in understanding reduces the effectiveness of dialogue at a national level about regional conservation measures and of participation by Pacific SIDS in the WCPF process and reduces the capacity of policy makers to frame appropriate national conservation and management policies and measures. A particular aspect of the gap in understanding relates to the impact of oceanographic change. Sub-component 1.2 will develop and apply an approach to stock assessment, including oceanographic factors, that can be used to assist technical staff, policy makers and other stakeholders to provide a better basis for national management policies, to enrich national dialogue about regional conservation and management measures and to enable Pacific SIDS to participate more effectively in the scientific work of the Commission. The core activity under this sub-component will be the preparation of National Oceanic Fisheries Status Reports for 6 countries annually. These reports will be prepared collaboratively by national scientific counterparts and SPC/OFP scientific staff (one of whom will be funded by the Project). The collaborative nature of report preparation and presentation will generate capacity-building spin-offs at the national level. The reports will be aimed at providing the best scientific information available as a basis for national oceanic fisheries management policies and measures. Under the Sub-Component, assistance will also be given to the Pacific SIDS to ensure a detailed understanding of the scientific issues so that they can be better prepared to develop positions and proposals within the Commission on such issues as data needs, research priorities, resources needed for science, scientific methods, etc.
Available Reports
