Book Your Seat. Annual International Stock Assessment Review Workshop

The annual International Stock Assessment Review Workshop takes place soon. It’s important to book your seat. 

The event will be held at University of Cape Town (Mathematics Building, Room M212) in the week 1 to 5 December.

Three international scientists have confirmed acceptance to attend as members of the Review Panel: Jim Ianelli, Andre Punt and Michael Sissenwine.

Topics

Four main topics for discussion are:  

1) Sardine and anchovy – Review of progress on developing a new management procedure for setting catch limits in the pelagic fishery for sardine and anchovy

2) Consideration of appropriate harvest levels for lower trophic level species (such as sardine and anchovy) that take account of the need of dependent predators (such as seabirds) and the wider ecosystem

3) The value of/need for vessel-based surveys for pelagic and demersal resources in circumstances where their future is threatened by Government funding limitations

4) Squid – Review of progress on the development of a revised population model to assess this resource, based in particular, on the information provided by monthly commercial catch size structure data.

There will also be another interesting discussion session on Wednesday, 3 December (14:00 to 16:30) on Improving scientific communication and media-reporting on marine resource management issues. 

The format will include short presentations, followed by general discussion, and then a panel putting forwarding proposals for improvement. 

The presenters and panel members will be drawn from diverse professions including scientists, lawyers, ENGOs, politicians, and environmental reporters.

Read An Open Letter on How to Improve Media-Marine Scientist Interactions and The Other Side of the Story

Schedule

Start time is 09:30 on 1 December, thereafter 09:00 for the rest of the week. A programme will be circulated in due course.

As is usually the case most discussions will be at a technical level, except for the summary of recommendations to be provided by the International Review Panel on the final day (Friday, 5 November at 15:30 in room M304 of the UCT Mathematics Building. There will be opportunity for questions and answers.

Documents and attendance 

As early as 20 November you will be able to access documents for background and for discussion at the workshop on the following website: http://www.maram.uct.ac.za/maram/workshops/2025.

If you are attending the workshop please print and take your own copies of the documents. Any document delayed for technical reasons will be emailed to registered attendees. 

Seating is limited so it is important to register your attendance. If you are a member of the relevant DFFE scientific working groups you are especially encouraged to attend. The event will be catered.

Please email Anthea Stain anthea.stain@uct.ac.za, copied to doug.butterworth@uct.ac.za, indicating the topics for which you wish to attend (this is not necessary for those who wish to attend the final Friday lay summary session only).