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Department of Fisheries Oceanography "Modeling Index Selectivity for Fishery Stock Assessments" By: Cole Carrano Advisor Steven X. Cadrin (University of Massachusetts Dartmouth) Committee Members Pingguo He (University of Massachusetts Dartmouth), Gavin Fay (University of Massachusetts Dartmouth), Lisa Kerr (University of Maine) Monday January 6th, 2025 10:00 AM SMAST East 101-103 836 S. Rodney French Blvd, New Bedford and via Zoom Abstract: Abundance indices are crucial components of fishery stock assessments because they provide a time series of relative abundance for estimating absolute stock size, derived from the response of relative indices to the absolute magnitude of fishery removals. Selectivity is the relative vulnerability to a fishery or fishery-independent survey for each species or demographic group within a species (e.g., size or age class). In an age-based assessment model, selectivity parameters are needed to relate observed stock indices to model estimates of abundance at age. Thus, selectivity estimates must be carefully modeled to ensure an accurate depiction of the stock's age structure. The objectives of this research are to improve the accuracy and utilization of indices in fisheries stock assessment models by understanding the effect of alternative approaches to estimating index selectivity. Chapter One provides a general introduction to the topic and a review of the relevant literature. Chapter Two involves splitting a fishery-independent survey into two series to account for vessel and methodological changes by estimating distinct catchability and selectivity parameters for each series. Results indicated improvement in model performance for stocks with sufficient contrast in the new index, and no improvement for stocks with limited years of data or contrast in the recent indices. Chapter Three develops fleet-structured assessment models to improve selectivity estimates for fishery and the fishery-dependent indices. Splitting catch into fleets improves selectivity estimates for respective CPUE indices, but robust catch-at-age data is desirable for fleets that make up a large portion of the total catch. Chapter Four involves simulation cross-testing as a method to evaluate performance of assessments that assume a single index series that is calibrated for changes in survey technology vs. assuming separate indices in stock assessment models. Results from this chapter suggest that the consequences of assuming a split when there truly wasn't one were not severe, but that assuming there wasn't a split when there truly was one can produce significant biases in model results This work examines how decisions about modeling fleet structure or changes in survey systems affect the performance of an assessment model and how sensitive models are to these decisions. This research will emphasize the importance of selectivity estimates to stock assessment and advance our understanding of how to effectively utilize abundance indices in an assessment model. ************ Join Zoom Meeting https://umassd.zoom.us/j/94890073016 Note: Meeting passcode required, email contact below to receive ************** To request the Zoom passcode or for any other questions, please email Callie Rumbut at c.rumbut@umassd.edu

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Department of Fisheries Oceanography "Application of optical and acoustic technologies to improve the understanding of fish behavior, ecology, and stock assessment." By: Christopher Rillahan Advisor: Dr. Pingguo He Committee Members Dr. Kevin D. E. Stokesbury, Dr. Steven X. Cadrin, Dr. Theodore Castro-Santos, and Dr. Kresimir Williams Tuesday January 7th, 2025 11:00 AM SMAST West 204 706 S. Rodney French Blvd, New Bedford and via Zoom Abstract: Marine species inhabit an extensive underwater environment that is largely inaccessible to humans. Consequently, we have relied on various technologies to study and manage the commercial and recreational species we depend on. Over the past century, there have been rapid advancements in optical and acoustic technology, which have coincided with an increased need for effective fisheries management. The ability to observe fish during the capture process has shed light on the role of fish behavior and the potential bias it introduces into fisheries data. Due to insufficient knowledge of most systems, scientific surveys and stock assessment models have traditionally relied on simplified assumptions about fish behavior. While it has been understood that fish have well-developed sensory systems, mobility, and complex life histories, the lack of information has limited their use in gear catchability, survey design, and assumptions about spatial and temporal population dynamics. This dissertation examines the use of optical and acoustic technology to address these limitations, improving the interpretative power of survey data and reducing potential bias. Baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVS) were employed in Chapter II to examine the role of a species' life history in the performance of traditional survey gears (e.g., fish pots and demersal otter trawls). The spatial distribution of black sea bass (Centropristis striata), a structure-oriented species, in Buzzards Bay was observed to vary depending on the survey gear. Conversely, scup (Stenotomus chrysops), a habitat-agnostic species, exhibited similar patterns across survey methods. Video observations of black sea bass documented an increasing affinity for structured habitats during the summer and fall. This shift in the spatial distribution of black sea bass dramatically affected the trawl survey data. Catch data from the spring trawl survey generally corresponded to the video and pot data with respect to the spatial distribution and population structure of both black sea bass and scup. Conversely, the fall trawl survey data starkly contrasted with the two other surveys, with few adult black sea bass catches. The lack of catch is presumably due to the shifting residence of black sea bass to rocky habitats, which are not sampled by the trawl and, therefore, unavailable to the survey. The shifting availability between the spring and fall trawl surveys presents an inaccurate picture of black sea bass abundance in Buzzards Bay....... ************ Join Zoom Meeting https://umassd.zoom.us/j/91787205979 Note: Meeting passcode required, email contact below to receive ************** To request the full abstract, Zoom passcode, or for any other questions, please email Callie Rumbut at c.rumbut@umassd.edu

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Financial Aid Services wants to remind all students to file their FAFSA! Join Financial Aid Services for FAFSA Help Labs in Foster 105 Jan 8, 2025, 3-4pm Contact Mark Yanni myanni@umassd.edu

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Department of Fisheries Oceanography "Portfolio Theory: an Important Tool For Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management" By: Fiona Edwards Advisor: Steven X. Cadrin (University of Massachusetts Dartmouth) Committee Members Gavin Fay (University of Massachusetts Dartmouth), Lauran Brewster (University of Massachusetts Dartmouth), Jason Link (National Marine Fisheries Service) Thursday January 9th, 2025 1pm SMAST East 101-103 836 S. Rodney French Blvd, New Bedford and via Zoom Abstract: Traditional single-species fisheries management does not account for multi-species interactions and has not always performed well for avoiding overfishing or rebuilding many fisheries. Considering these interactions has become increasingly important for effectively managing fisheries because of climate change and divergent stock trends. Ecosystem-based fishery management (EBFM) is a more holistic approach to fisheries management which has gained traction over the last several decades. EBFM considers the biological, physical, and social-economic components which may influence fisheries. Implementing EBFM requires new tactics that can be informed by interdisciplinary research. One way risk associated with achieving a target reward has been analyzed in the finance field analysis is through portfolio optimization whereby the financial risk of a portfolio is minimized for given levels of return based on portfolio covariance. A set of fishery stocks landing values can be analyzed similarly to a set of financial assets in an investment portfolio. In this study, a candidate fisheries portfolio is analyzed for New England demersal species caught in the same fisheries. The sensitivity of this portfolio to data decisions such as species composition and time series length is investigated by developing efficient frontiers for different sets of fishery stocks and different time periods. Efficient frontiers were developed using portfolio optimization techniques from the finance field and adding harvest constraints to account for limits on harvesting in fisheries. Sensitivity analyses showed that risk estimates were sensitive to both species exclusion and time series selection. Examination of the changes in the frontiers to different periods of the time series characterized by regional shifts in management strategy allowed for evaluation of the degree of flexibility afforded to fishers during these times. Efficient frontier analyses based upon historic landings data indicated that the same target revenue could have been achieved with less or similar risk had a portfolio approach to management been taken for these species. Portfolio effects as applied to fisheries management can provide additional catch stability through increased diversification of multispecies fisheries and can reduce the risk of foregone revenue, all of which make it an important tool to consider for implementing EBFM. Join Zoom Meeting https://umassd.zoom.us/j/94065204146 Note: Meeting passcode required. To request the Zoom passcode or for any other questions, please email Callie Rumbut at c.rumbut@umassd.edu

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Financial Aid Services wants to remind all students to file their FAFSA! Join Financial Aid Services for FAFSA Help Labs in Foster 105 Jan 10, 2025, 3-4pm Contact Mark Yanni myanni@umassd.edu

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