Quantitative Fisheries Science using FLR and a4a

25-29 AUGUST 2014 @JRC, Italy

OBJECTIVES

• Introduce the tools available in FLR for Quantitative Fisheries Science
• Present the a4a stock assessment model
• Explore computational issues and possibilities in fisheries management advice
• Discover Management Strategy Evaluation through FLR

REQUIREMENTS

• Good working knowledge of the R language
  • Running an R session
  • Using classes and objects in R
  • Using and analyzing R functions
  • Debuging and understanding R code
• Basic statistics
  • Descriptive statistics
  • Modelling and optimization
• Basic knowledge of fisheries science
  • Essential ideas of population biology
  • Familiarity with stock assessment

ORGANIZATION

Dates

• Starting at 14.00 on Monday 25 August 2014.
• Finishing at 12.30 on Friday 29 August 2014.

Location

• EC JRC, Ispra, Italy.

Registration

• The deadline for registration is 11th July 2014
• Each participant must register in https://jrc-meeting-registration.jrc.ec.europa.eu/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx . The registration can be incomplete regarding accomodation and travel details and updated later.
• The JRC will issue an official invitation letter.

Getting there

• Nearest airports are Milano Malpensa (MXP) and Milano Linate (LIN).
• Transport between airport and Ispra will be organized and provided free of charge by JRC.

Accommodation

• There's a block reservation in Hotel Europa.
• The participants that want to stay in Hotel Europa should mark it on the registration.
• JRC will book the rooms but the participants will have to pay, ~65 euros per night.

Costs

No fee required. Each participant will have to fund their own expenses.

AGENDA

Daily timetable

• AM: 09.00 - 12.30, TUE-FRI
• PM: 14.00 - 17.30, MON-THU

Day 1

SESSION 1: Introduction to FLR

• Welcome, setting up R & FLR
• Introduction to FLR: classes and methods
• Loading and manipulating data
• Documentation, manuals and help

Day 2

SESSION 2: EDA, plotting and modelling

• Plotting and EDA facilities in FLR
• Stock-recruitment relationships and non-linear modelling
• Simple stock assessment using biodyn

SESSION 3: Introduction to a4a

• The a4a initiative
• a4a growth methods
• Converting length to ages
• a4a M methods

Day 3

SESSION 4: Stock assessment using a4a

• Stock assessment with a4a
• A quick and dirty stock assessment
• Data structures

SESSION 5: Statistical catch-at-age prediction and simulation

• The sca method: statistical catch-at-age
• Advanced features of a4aSCA
• Predict and simulate
• More models for fishing mortality

Day 4

SESSION 6: Short and medium term forecasting for advice

• Short and medium term forecasting in fisheries management
• Forecasting with FLash

SESSION 7: Reference points and simulation

• Simulation tools in FLR
• Biological and economic reference points with FLBRP
• Management advice: combining Flash and FLBRP

Day 5

SESSION 8: Management Strategy Evaluation

• Building Operating Models with a4a
• Evaluating Management Procedures
• Final wrap up