Fishery Data for Stock Assessment Working Group Overview
The Council formed the Fishery Data for Stock Assessment Working Group (FDSAWG) to explore the topic of how fishery dependent data can be used to inform stock abundance. The working group has four main deliverables:
- Explain how fishery dependent and fishery independent data is used in stock assessments, including how different data elements are used and interact in an age-based analytic assessment.
- Summarize the theoretical utility and limitations of using catch per unit effort (CPUE) and landings per unit effort (LPUE) as indexes of abundance for Northeast multispecies (groundfish) stocks, including recent efforts to create a CPUE for any of these stocks and the results of those efforts.
- Identify the fishery factors and fishery dependent data needed to create a CPUE that would be a reliable index of abundance for Northeast multispecies stocks – without regard to existing fishing practices, regulations, or monitoring systems.
- Compare the desired factors identified with existing conditions and data for the fishery through a gap analysis of factors and data needed, as well as the analytical approaches necessary, to create a CPUE that would be a reliable index of abundance for Northeast multispecies stocks.
Working groups meet on an ad hoc basis to explore and address specific issues that are forwarded to the Council for approval.