Figures 1-4 The Fisheries Science Services Team www.marine.
ie
In order to ensure the sustainable harvesting of the fisheries
resources, it is essential that management is underpinned by A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING...
sound marine science that is clear, transparent, timely, impartial
and inclusive.
The Marine Institute’s Fisheries Science Service Team works
closely with the fishing industry to provide this marine science
WHAT IS FISHERIES
through.
• Research Vessel Surveys (Acoustic, Groundfish, Egg and Larval
SCIENCE ?
Fish, Underwater TV)
• Surveys on Commercial Vessels
• Market Sampling of Landings
• Discard Sampling at Sea
• Analysis of Logbook Data
• Studies on the Biology of Fish
• Working with the Regional Advisory Councils (RAC’s)
• Articles in the trade press
• Working with our international scientific colleagues
• Regular meetings with Industry Representatives and DCMNR
• Regular Meetings with EU
This information is essential to our understanding of the current
state of the fisheries resources and the ecosystem in which they
live.
More detailed information, as well as similar leaflets on related
issues are available from
Marine Institute, Fisheries Science Services (FSS), Rinville,
Oranmore, Co. Galway, Ireland. Phone: + 353(0) 91 387200
FISHERIES SCIENCE SERVICES
Or your local Port Based Technician in
Clogherhead (041) 9889788
Dunmore East (051) 385011 Assessing, researching and advising on
Castletownbere (027) 71937
Ros a Mhíl (091) 572584 the sustainable exploitation of living
Killybegs (074) 9741871 marine resources in a healthy
ecosystem
HEADQUARTERS MARINE INSTITUTE REGIONAL
OFFICES & LABORATORIES
MARINE INSTITUTE MARINE INSTITUTE MARINE INSTITUTE
Rinville, 80 Harcourt Street Furnace
Oranmore, Dublin 2 Newport
Co. Galway Tel: +353 1 4766500 Co. Mayo
Tel: +353 91 387200 Fax: +353 1 4784988 Tel: +353 98 42300
Fax: +353 91 387201 Fax: +353 98 42340
www.marine.ie
What Does 'State Of The Stock' Mean?
Sampling Fish Stocks
This term defines how "healthy" the stock is. There are four
Where does all the Data Go ? characteristics of a commercially exploited fish population
that are used to indicate the 'state of the stock'. These
Catch characteristics are;
Research Vessel Surveys
Sampling 1. Fishing mortality (F) - the proportion of fish stock killed
Abundance and Distributionof
Length Age each year through fishing.
Juvenile and Adult Fish
Weight 2. Spawning stock biomass - the total weight of mature fish
in the population
What is Fisheries Science ? 3. Landings - The annual tonnage of commercial landings
taken from a fish stock
Fisheries science is a branch of marine science that deals with 4. Recruitment (Spawning success) - The number of off-
studies on the life history and state of fish stocks. The term ‘ spring produced by a fish stock each year.
Marine Institute Sampling Data
life history’ refers to the general biology of a fish stock (e.g.
Local Industry Information
when/where do the fish spawn ? How fast do they grow ?). The Each year scientists plot these parameters when they carry
Studies on the Biology of Fish Stocks
term ‘state of a fish stock’ refers to the number and weight of out the annual "fish stock assessments" for each stock. They
fish in the stock (i.e. current stock biomass in tonnes). look at trends over time and decide on the "state of the
stock". They also try to predict what will happen the stock in
The overall aim of fisheries science is to provide information to Fish Population Analyses the future.
managers on the state and life history of the stocks. This (How Many Fish in the Stock)
information feeds into the decision making process. Fisheries So lets take a look at an example from a fictitious stock
science, economic, social and political considerations all have an (See overleaf).
impact on the final management decision. We will look at the Fishing Mortality, Spawning Stock
Scientific Advice to Managers Biomass, Landings & Recruitment from 1968 to 2004.
(EU and Department ) See Figure (1-4)
How is Fisheries Science Used ?
The diagram describes, in a very general way, how sampling Have a look at the plots and see what has happened in
carried out by the Marine Institute fits into the decision making this stock over time.
process that leads to the annual TAC’s and other management • Are Landings increasing/decreasing?
TAC Proposals • Is Recruitment high or low in recent years?
measures such as effort control and closed areas. EU Regulations • Is Fishing Mortality rising or failing?
• How does the current Stock Biomass look?
The Marine Institute sample commercially caught fish from port
landings (landings) and from sea trips (catch). Juvenile fish are
The Future of Fisheries Science
sampled through research surveys. Fish are ‘aged’ to give an
indication of the health of the stock. A broad range of ages EU Fisheries Council Fisheries science is changing rapidly and has diversified to
signifies a healthy stock; a lack of young fish could mean poor (Every Month) include studies on the impacts of fishing on seabirds,
spawning in a particular year; a lack of older fish may signifies mammals, rare fish, habitats and ecosystems. Fisheries science
overfishing. is now concerned with providing advice on fisheries (e.g.
trawl fisheries in the Irish Sea) rather than on single stocks
Data collected by fisheries scientists are assessed each year EU Management Measures (e.g. cod in the Irish Sea). Managers and the public are asking
using special computer packages. These produce estimates of TAC's new questions about the management and use of the oceans.
stock size (biomass). If we know about the biomass and Effort, Closed Areas Fisheries science must respond by providing the science to
biology of the fish stock, we can estimate on how many fish can answer these questions.
be safely removed from the stock in order to ensure a
sustainable resource. The need for scientists, managers and industry to continue to
work closely together, is greater than ever.
