Increasing the uptake of multispecies models in fisheries management

Published in ICES Journal of Marine Science 

Multispecies models have existed in a fisheries context since at least  the 1970s, but despite much exploration, advancement, and consideration  of multispecies models, there remain limited examples of their  operational use in fishery management. Given that species and fleet  interactions are inherently multispecies problems and the push towards  ecosystem-based fisheries management, the lack of more regular  operational use is both surprising and compelling. We identify  impediments hampering the regular operational use of multispecies models  and provide recommendations to address those impediments. These  recommendations are: (1) engage stakeholders and managers early and  often; (2) improve messaging and communication about the various uses of  multispecies models; (3) move forward with multispecies management  under current authorities while exploring more inclusive governance  structures and flexible decision-making frameworks for handling  tradeoffs; (4) evaluate when a multispecies modelling approach may be  more appropriate; (5) tailor the multispecies model to a clearly defined  purpose; (6) develop interdisciplinary solutions to promoting  multispecies model applications; (7) make guidelines available for  multispecies model review and application; and (8) ensure code and  models are well documented and reproducible. These recommendations draw  from a global assemblage of subject matter experts who participated in a  workshop entitled “Multispecies Modeling Applications in Fisheries  Management”.