Northern Albacore

MSE work for northern albacore began officially with Recommendation by ICCAT to establish harvest control rules (HCRs) for the North Atlantic Albacore stock (Rec. [15-04]). The development of the interim HCR at ICCAT was based on simulations conducted using a specifically designed (MSE) framework. The SCRS concluded that the advice provided was robust to a wide range of uncertainties. The ICCAT Commission adopted Recommendation [17-04], in 2017, that included an interim Harvest Control Rule (HCR) for North Atlantic albacore (Thunnus alalunga), which represents the first harvest control rule adopted in the history of ICCAT. The Commission will review the interim HCR in 2020 with a view to adopting a long-term management procedure (Rec. [17-04], para 17). The simulation software that was used to do the simulation for the Albacore was reviewed in 2018 (SCRS 2018)


Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Atlantic bluefin tuna has complex dynamics involving two stocks (eastern and western) with long-distance movements and mixed-stock fisheries. MSE for Atlantic bluefin tuna has been under development since at least 2014. Detailed histories of BFT MSE activities can be found in the 2018 SCRS Report as well as Documents/Activity Reports of the ICCAT Atlantic-Wide Research Programme for Bluefin Tuna (GBYP). All the element of MSE including operating models and management procedures are active areas of development. ICCAT’s 2019  Intersessional Meeting of Panel 2 and Resolution [18-03] have provided guidance on initial operational management objectives. These will be tested and will, in turn, inform further development of management objectives. The MSE Technical Group and the Bluefin Tuna Working group plan to tune management procedures for presentation to the SCRS in order to provide advice to the Commission in 2019.


Northern Swordfish

Elements of MSE for northern swordfish has been explored at ICCAT for some time (see the Report of the 2018 ICCAT Swordfish Species Group MSE Intersessional Meeting for a summary of work to date). In 2018, ICCAT contracted with MSE technical experts to develop simulation framework; define initial set of Operating Models; and to do initial conditioning of Operating Models. Further refinement of operating models and testing of alternative Management Procedures is expected to continue through 2019 and 2020.


Tropical Tunas

Given the complexities of developing operating models to capture the dynamics of a mixed, three-stock purse seine fishery, the MSE for tropical tunas is at a nascent stage. Some preliminary work has been on all MSE elements. These include some preliminary work on a simulation toolbox, Flbeia for multi-stock bio-economic impact assessment fisheries management strategies; operating model conditioning, observation error models, and management procedure development. Continued development of these elements is expected through 2019 and 2020.


Year Document
2019 FINAL REPORT OF THE ICCAT SHORT-TERM CONTRACT: MODELLING APPROACHES - SUPPORT TO ICCAT TROPICAL TUNAS MSE PROCESS
2019 RECOMMENDATION BY ICCAT TO REPLACE RECOMMENDATION 16-01 BY ICCAT ON A MULTI-ANNUAL CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME FOR TROPICAL TUNAS
2019 Observation Error Model for Tropical Tuna Fisheries in a Management Strategy Evaluation Framework
2018 The steps to consider during the conditioning of the oms of a multi-specific model of tropical tuna fisheries in a management strategy evaluation framework
2018 A simple operating model for a basis of a discussion about the development of a management strategy evaluation for tropical tuna fisheries