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Fish Stock Model to Improve Future Management of Reef Fish in Puerto Rico
CSCOR-sponsored scientists at the Coral Reef Ecosystems Studies - Caribbean Program (CRES) are fine tuning a coral reef fish stock assessment model that will ultimately improve managersí ability to assess stocks in a routine and timely manner. Researchers have focused their efforts on developing a method to interpret the status of exploited populations of reef fish relative to management objectives and stock productivity. By interpreting length-frequency distribution data, against theoretical distributions in the absence of fishing based on life-history parameters, scientists are able to compute sustainability benchmarks for the exploited reef fish community in Puerto Rico. The model is intended to enable the user to conduct management scenario evaluations of the multi-species reef fisheries in Puerto Rico, with particular emphasis of the region around La Parguera.
The CRES Program was initiated in FY 2002 as a science-based, integrated approach to understand coral reef dynamics and processes, and to provide tools, ecosystem forecasts and options for coral reef management strategies in the Caribbean (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands), and is a core component of NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program.
For more information, please contact Michael.Dowgiallo@noaa.gov