Workshop to evaluate the utility of industry-derived data for enhancing scientific knowledge and providing data for stock assessments (WKEVUT; outputs from 2022 meeting)

The Workshop to evaluate the utility of industry-derived data (WKEVUT) aimed to assess the quality and potential of industry-derived data to enhance scientific knowledge and to provide data for stock assessments. WKEVUT provided an overview of fishing industry data provision initiatives and carried out comparisons of such initiatives with data from National Sampling Programs to assess the added value in terms of quality, ecological understanding and utility for stock assessments.

Industry self-sampling and co-sampling approaches have been increasing in recent years. Especially the Covid years have led to more catch sampling and survey programs utilizing a form of self-sampling or co-sampling. Self-sampling is here defined as a sampling strategy whereby the fishers are collecting and measuring the data on board, whereas co-sampling refers to the strategy whereby the fishers are collecting samples that will be processed on-shore, by research institutes.

Several industry-science joint initiatives have been presented during WKEVUT: 1) opportunistic acoustic data collection and estimation of stock abundance, 2) genetic sampling and stock identity, 3) gonad sampling on board of commercial vessels to contribute to egg surveys and the improved understanding of spawning cycles, 4) Remote Electronic Monitoring techniques for verification of self-reported catch compositions and 5) integrated fisheries management tools aimed at skippers and science. 

Benefits and drawbacks for industry participation in data collection have been highlighted for the different types of data (Section 4). The documentation of self-sampling catch sampling can be improved by following the draft documentation template developed by the Working Group on the Governance of Quality Management of Data and Advice (WGQUALITY). An outline for a potential scientific publication following WKEVUT outcomes has been prepared (Section 6). 

Participants highlighted the need for ICES to be able to understand the value of new data streams and what it implies for the processes to incorporate and apply them in future work. For this purpose, the group recommends to organize a second WKEVUT in 2023.