FISH 435: Fish Stock Assessment

Definition and objectives of fish stock assessment. Status of world fisheries. Trends of national fish production and consumption.  Key fish species targeted for stock assessment in Ghanaian coastal waters; constraints in tropical waters. Russell’s axiom on primary factors affecting fish population dynamics. Types of data needed for stock assessment:  Simple methods for the estimation of growth parameters and total mortality parameters using size composition data. Measurement of status of fishery: Estimation of Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) and optimal fishing effort using Schaefer’s and Fox Surplus Production Model. Overfishing. Introduction to the FAO Fish Stock Assessment Tool (FiSAT) Software.