MHI Deep 7

Assessment Research Track

Island Fisheries Stock Assessment Program

Fisheries Research and Monitoring Division

NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

Outline

1. The Process
2. What is a research track?
3. Research Topics

The Process

The process is for you – A collaborative approach

The Deep 7 Research Track is built on your knowlege & experience:

• A Shared Goal: Sustainable fisheries that support livelihoods and future generations.
• Your Role Matters: This is not a top-down decision-making process - your feedback shapes how we improve stock assessments.
• Respecting Local Knowledge: You know the ocean and the fish - you help make the science stronger.
• Collaborative Process: Fishers, Federal and State agencies all have a voice.

Why your Partcipation is essential

We need your expertise

• Understanding Changes in Fishing: You see changes firsthand - this helps refine our analysis.
• Corroborate the Data: Science is stronger when it aligns with your observations.
• Informing Better Management: Your input ensures assessments reflect real-world fishing conditions.
• This is a Conversation: We want to hear what you think at every step.

What is a Research Track?

Why do we need this?

Fisheries are always changing

Fishing is Not Like It Used to Be:

The ocean, the fish, and the way we fish have all changed over time.

Better Tools, Better Data

New technology helps us track fish populations more accurately than ever before.

The Ocean is Always Changing

Weather, climate, and habitat shifts impact fish stocks and where they are found.

We Need to Keep Up

Stock assessments must evolve so we can continue to fish sustainably and ensure a future for everyone.

What is a Research Track?

It’s a deep dive into our scientific approach to improve how we assess and manage fisheries.

Why Does It Matter?

Better science means better fisheries. It helps keep stocks healthy for the future.

How Is It Different?

Instead of just updating old numbers, this looks at new data and better ways to count fish.

How is this Different?

Management Track, What we have in place.

• Mandated to Provide Stock Assessments Every 3 Years

• Focus: Routine updates to inform fishery management decisions (e.g., Catch limits)

• Goal: Provide the best available science within strict timelines for management decision-making

How is this Different

Research Track, What We are Introducing.

• A More Comprehensive & Flexible Approach

• Not Limited by Management Deadlines – Allows for deeper investigation and innovation

• Purpose:

  • Explore new methods & improve assessment models
  • Evaluate transitions (e.g., complex-level to single-species assessments)

• Not Immediately Used for Management – Instead, research track findings feed into future management track assessments

Research Topics

Refining Non-Commercial Catch Estimates

• Develop and evaluate alternative scenarios for non-commercial (NC) Deep 7 catch.

• Use fisher numbers, commercial reports, and surveys to refine estimates.

Expanding biosampling

• Partner with fishers to collect life history and fish length data.

• Ensure comprehensive spatial coverage of bottomfish fisheries.

Enhancing the Bottomfish survey

• Reevaluate fishing methods and sampling grid allocation.

Reassessing the Deep 7 Stock Complex

• Investigate whether Deep 7 species should be assessed as a single complex.

• Determine the optimal assessment structure (single-species vs. subgroup models).

Potential future topics

• Under-reporting of commercial catch
• Shark depredation
• New ways of analyzing catch-per-unit-effort
• Other ideas?

Internal Work

We do the number-crunching

Fishers Meeting

Every quarter, we bring our findings to you so you can tell us if they match the fisheries.

Sharing & Improving Together

If something doesn’t look right, we want to hear about it.

Lets Talk

• What are your thoughts on the Research Track process so far?
• Does this approach address your concerns about stock assessments?
• Are there any challenges or uncertainties we should clarify?