Philippines' National

Stock Assessment
Program
 Stock Assessments Basic Concepts

Introduction

The importance of a country's fisheries cannot be

measured solely by their contribution to GDP; rather, fisheries
services and products are essential components of human
feeding and employment. The capacity of fisheries resources
to be replenished is another aspect that contributes to their
value. In contrast to mineral resources, the length of fishery
resources or any other biological resources is virtually
limitless if well handled. A significant conclusion is that the
biological characteristics, which are the primary obiective of
fisheries stock assessment, are the fundamental basis for
conservation and management of fisheries resources.
Learning Objectives

o Define what is fish stock assessment and other

terminologies used in the field of fish stock assessment;
o Determine why fish stock assessment is important;
o identify and differentiate the information needed in the fish
stock assessments based on models of fish population;
o Determine the factors affecting data collection and
assessment of wild fish stocks;
o Determine the different biological reference points used
when conducting estimation of wild fish stocks.
What is Stock Assessment?
 Stock assessment is the process of collecting, analyzing, and reporting
demographic information to determine changes in the abundance of fishery
stocks in response to fishing and, to the extent possible, predict future trends of
stock abundance.

Managers use stock assessments as a basis to evaluate and specify the

present and probable future condition of a fishery.

 fish population is a group of individual fish of a single interbreeding species

located in a given area, which could be as large as the Atlantic Ocean or as
small as a single river.
 A biological fish stock is a group of fish of the same species that live in the same
geographic area and mix enough to breed with each other when mature.
 A management stock may refer to a biological stock, or a multi-species complex
that is managed as a single unit.

Within a fish stock or population, a cohort is a group of fish all born in the
same year. For example, Within the Gulf of Maine cod stock, all of the cod born in
2004 belong to one cohort and those born in 2005 comprise a second cohort.

Fisheries' scientific stock assessments are key to fisheries management. They

examine the effects of fishing and other factors to describe the past and current
status of a fish stock, answer questions about the size of a fish stock, and make
predictions about how a fish stock will respond to current and future management
measures.
 Population assessments allow us to evaluate and report the status of managed
fisheries, marine mammals, and endangered/threatened species.
The mathematical and statistical techniques used to perform a stock
assessment are referred to as the assessment model. Scientists compare different
assumptions within a given assessment model and may also examine a variety of
different assessment models.

Importance of stock assessment:

o provide important science information necessary for the conservation and
management of fish stocks

Stock assessments are based on models of fish populations that require three
primary categories of information: catch, abundance, and biology.
 Catch Data
refers to the amount of fish removed from a stock by
fishing.

A national network of fishery monitoring programs

continuously collects catch data and makes this
information available to stock assessment scientists and
managers.

Sources of catch data include:

o Dockside monitoring
o Logbooks
o Observers
o Recreational sampling
o Dockside monitoring
Often conducted in partnership with the different
agencies.
Dockside monitoring records commercial catch receiots to
give an accurate measure of commercial landings and
provides biological samples of the length, sex, and age of
fish

o Logbooks
Records from commercial fishermen of their location,
gear, and catch.

o Observers
Biologists observe fishing operations on a certain
proportion of fishing vessels and collect data on the
amount of catch and discards.

o
Abundance Data
is a measure, or relative index, of the number or
weight of fish in the stock.

Data ideally come from a statistically-designed,

fishery-independent survey (systematic sampling carried
out by research or contracted commercial fishing vessels
separately from commercial fishing operations) that
samples fish at hundreds of locations throughout the
stock's range. Most surveys are conducted annually and
collect data on all ecosystem components.
 Biology Data
provides information on fish growth rates and natural
mortality. Biological data includes information on fish size,
age, reproductive rates, and movement.

Annual growth rings in fish ear bones (otoliths, pictured

on right) are read by biologists in our laboratories. The
samples may be collected during fishery-independent surveys
or be obtained from observers and other fishery sampling
programs. Academic programs and cooperative research with
the fishing industry are other important sources of biological
data.
Ecosystem Factors and Stock Assessments
Factors other than fishing can have an influential role in
determining the health and abundance of fish stocks.

 Food web.
All species within an ecosystem are connected to each
other by the things that they eat, and the things that eat
them. Because of these connections. the population
dynamics of one species can affect the dynamics of many
other species.
A food web describes the connections between
different species in an ecosystem through predator and prey
relationships. Understanding these interactions can provide
context for interpreting stock assessment results.
Output from food web and predator prey models can provide
input to a single species assessment models, for example,
the time series of natural mortality, providing improved stock
 Competition and Other Species Interactions
Species Interactions other than predator prey
relationships can abo influence population dynamics.
Because resources within marine ecosystems are limited,
animals must compete for food and space. Because of
competition, the total production of a system may be more
limited than one might expect if each species is considered
alone

 Habitat
Healthy habitats sustain marine and coastal species,
communities, and economies. Alterations, including through
development, dredging, pollutants, or natural disasters;
impact food sources, cover, refugia, and breeding grounds
which are vital for reproduction, growth, metabolism, and
other vital rates of marine species. Because habitat plays
such a large role in structuring populations, understanding
 Physical Environment

In addition to physical habitat (e.g., bottom type),

variability in ocean and climate patterns should also be
taken into account when examining fish stocks. Many fish
species have a relatively narrow range of temperature,
chemical and other physical tolerances. Disruptions in the
physical environment, due to climate or other perturbations,
can impact natural stock behaviors such as spawning and
migration.
The following are necessary to assess a fish stock:
o The appropriate data bases
o Analyses of the available data
o Short and long-term projections of the yield and
biomass vihotion
o To determine long-term biological reference points
o To estimate the short and long-term effects on yield
and biomass of different strategies of the fishery
exploitation

The different steps to assess a stock can be summarized

as follows:
1. To define the objectives of the assessment according
to the development phase of the fisheries and the
available information;
2. To promote the collection of information;
a) fishing effort (number of trips, days, tows, time
Continuation…

c.) Biological sampling in the landing ports.

d.)Biological sampling (and information about the
fishing operation) on board commercial vessels.
e.)Biological sampling on board research vessels.
3. To analyze the stocks
The knowledge gained about the resource and the
available basic data, determine the type of models that
should be used and consequently the type of analyses that
can be done.
Biological Reference Points
It is a concrete number, a value for stock size or fishing
mortality. It serve as a way to judge those estimates based
on knowledge and assumptions about the species' growth,
reproduction and mortality.

Fishing mortality rate

It is the rate at which fish are removed from the stock
by harvesting. Biological reference points based on fishing
mortality help managers keep the withdrawal rate at a level
that will ensure the long-term production or stability of the
stock.

Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY)

serves as the foundation for most biological reference
points. The maximum sustainable yield is typically thought of
as the largest average catch that can be continuously taken
o Stock assessment scientists and decision makers use the
letter B to denote biomass. Biomass, the total weight of
the fish in a given stock.

o Occasionally, rather than total biomass, scientists will

refer to the spawning stock biomass. Spawning stock
biomass (SSB), the total weight of the reproductively
mature individuals in the stock.

o The term BMSY is used to indicate the stock size that can
produce the maximum sustainable yield.

o The term SSBMSY indicates the size of the reproductive

mature portion of the stock that will produce the
maximum sustainable yield. Similarly. the letter F
denotes the fishing mortality rate
 Deviations from the targets may or may not result in
changes in policy. Control rules, designed by scientists but
chosen by managers, guide the ways in which the fishing
mortality rates are adjusted over time based on the status
of the stock.

Thresholds are also referred to as limits, especially in

the realm of international fisheries policy. A threshold is
often defined as a specific fishing mortality rate or stock
size that is some fraction of BMSY.

Two of the key questions that a stock assessment

aims to address are whether overfishing is occurring and
whether the stock is in an overfished state.
 Philippines' National Stock
Assessment Program
Introduction

"The National Stock Assessment Program (NSAP)

was conceptualized due to the lack of standardized and
continuous information on fishery resources which is
fundamental to fishery management and the apparent
institutional incapacity of the Regional Field Units to
conduct resource assessment studies in their
respective areas of jurisdiction"

-Noel C. Barut.
 The National Stock Assessment Program (NAP) was
first conceptualized in 1995 by Mr. Noel C. Barut, who was
then the Chief of the Pelagic Section of the Fisheries
Resources Research Division of the Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources (BAR). He is now regarded as the "Father
of NSAP”

Accomplishments of the NSAP:

o Fisheries Report under The 4th National Report to the
Convention on Biological Diversity of the Republic of the
Philippines entitled "Assessing Progress Towards the 2010
Biodiversity Target" in 2009
o Technical Paper Series published by the
BAR National Fisheries Research and Development
Institute in 2009. Six 16) technical papers on the fish
stock assessment of Honda Bay. Lagonoy Gulf, Northem
Zambales, Sorsogon Bay. and Visayan Sea were featured.
o Two (2) conferences that the NAP organized to showcase
the many results of the stock assessment studies
conducted by the various NAP teams at the national and
regional levels in 2011 and 2014.
o Development of the NSA Database system was initiated in
1997 by Mr.
Valeriano Manlulu with the help of Dr.
Peter Williams of the South Pacific Commission following
the Landed Catch and Effort Monitoring framework of the
Program. It was only in 2014 that server database was
established.
o NSAP has provided information in support of numerous
management strategies at various levels, whether local,
regional, national and/or international. This includes:
• Sardine seasonal closure in Zamboanga (DA BFAR
FAO 255 s. 2014)
• Small pelagic conservation in the Davao Gulf (JAO 2 s.
Sampling methods and strategies:
Data collection by sampling method can be done
through random sampling whereby samples are acquired in a
random manner. In such sampling operation, all observations
in the fish population are given the same probability of being
sampled. In the case of a very big landing area that the
assigned enumerators cannot possibly record all the fishing
boats that are landing, a stratified random sampling maybe
applied.

Data collected:
1. Catch & effort. This is the overall landings and fishing
activities within the sampling area. This can be done
through direct interview with the fisherman or fishing
operator. The three main points of conversation are: total
landed catch (by boat, by gear): type of fishing gear used
leg. Ring net, purse seine, surface gillnet, Handline, etc.);
2. Total sub-sample weight and weight of each species
group. This can be done by borrowing sub-samples
from the catch by gear. Know the total sub-sample
weight then sort to species group identify to species
level and use Scientific Name e.g.
Nemipterus japonicus, Decapterus macrosoma) and
get the weight of each species group.
3. Length measurements by species by gear. All the
species in the sub-sample can be measured
immediately or only selected commercially or
dominant species.
Source of catch & effort data:
 Survey at landing center
The data are collected by the enumerators at the
landing site through direct interview with the fishermen to
obtain information on when, where, how much of the fish
were caught by what fishing gear and how much effort was
used, etc. This method is usually effective only for coastal
fisheries, which operates near shore and take a trip for a day
or few days only since it depends mostly on the fishermen's
memory.

 Survey by logbooks - This method is effective for large-

scale fisheries (ie.
commercial boats), particularty for boats that stay in the
fishing ground for a considerable length period (e g. Purse
Seiners). Data on catch & effort are recorded thru logbook
system.
Classification of major and minor fish landing sites depends
on the bulk of boat landings.

Major fish landing sites have more number of boat

landings than minor fish landing sites and a combination of
commercial and municipal boats maybe landing in the area.
In the case of commercial and municipal landing sites, only
commercial boats (with more than 3 GT) are being monitored
in the commercial landing site and municipal boats
(weighing 3 GT or less) in municipal landing site.
NSAP Data Forms

All essential data elements are collected and

recorded in standard forms. The data will be encoded and
processed using the developed NAP database. The length
frequency data can be analyzed using FISAT Program or by
using other assessment programs. The basic design of the
NSA forms was adopted from the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) and was also used by the other
assessment projects of BFAR i.e. Tuna Project, and Small
Pelagics Management Program.
NSAP Data Forms
o NSAP Form 1:
Monthly Report (Landing by Gear & Length Frequency)
o NSAP Form 2:
Fish Landing Survey Form (Catch & Effort)
o NSAP Form 2a:
Landed Catch & Effort Monitoring (Weight
Measurement)
o NSAP Form 2b:
Landed Catch & Effort Monitoring (Length
Measurement)
o NSAP Form 3:
Length Frequency Tally Sheet
o NSAP Form 4:
Boat Particulars
o NSAP Form 5:
o SAMPLE SERIAL NUMBER
Refers to the serial number of the fishing boats
monitored.
o BOAT NAME
The name of the boat that operates in fishing. If the
boat has no name, as in the case of some non-motorized
boats, the name of the fishing operator or fisherman may
be used provided it is constantly used for that particular
boat. The boat will be classified according to gear type.
o FISHING GEAR
The type of fishing gear used in catching fish.
o FISHING EFFORT
The fishing power exerted to capture/harvest the
fish in a given fishing area.
Coverage Catch and terms used:

o DATE. Refers to the date of sampling

o LANDING CENTER. The assigned landing site during
sampling schedule. It can either be commercial, municipal,
major, or minor landing center.
o FISHING GROUND. The water where the fishing boat
operated or where the fishes are caught.
o ENUMERATORS. The name of the data collectors assigned in
the designated landing area
o NO. OF SAMPLES. The total number of boats sampled for
length & weight measurements.
o SAMPLE SERIAL NUMBER. Refers to the serial number of
the fishing boats monitored.
Common Used Fishing Gears and Measures of Effort

Fishing Gears Fishing Effort

trawl Number of hours, dragging hours
Purse seine, ringnet, bagnet, beacg Number of hauls, fishing
seine hours
Danish seine Number of Hauls
Bottom gill net, drift gill net, Length of net in meters (number of
surface gill net banata), number of hours setting
Lift net Number of hauls, soaking time
Common Used Fishing Gears and Measures of Effort
Fishing Gears Fishing Effort
Multiple hook and line, hook and line, Number of hooks, number of sets,
longline soaking time
handline Number of hours fishing, numbers of
line, number of days fishing

troll line Number of lines, number of hours

fishing
jigger Number of spear used, diving hours

Fish pot, fish corral, and other fixed Number of hours during which the gear
gears was in the waters, numbers of hauls per
day, number of unit
Gear particulars:

o Unit of catch (Weight): Record total catch in kilograms or

metric tons while the sub-sample weights in grams
o Total boat catch: The quantity (actual estimation) of fish
catch by a particular fishing boat per fishing gear. The
weights of the species in the catch composition (Market
Categories) are summed up to get the total catch: No. of
Boxes and weight in Kg

a) No. of boxes. Refers to the number of fish

containers used. The containers can be in the form
of boxes, bañeras, foams, etc.
b) Weight in Kg: Actual estimated weight of catch per
boat, per gear. If fish catches are in containers, the
standard weight of each container can be
determined by asking the fishing operators,
Continuation…

...the actual weight of each container with fish, varies

depending on the amount of fish and the proportion of water
and ice present. In this case, the estimated weight of the
catch in each container can be determined by carefully
pushing down the fish with the palm. Then, estimate the
weight of the fish in the container minus the water and ice.

o Total Sample: The quantity of fish sub-sampled for species

composition in weight, and for length measurements by
fishing boat & by fishing gear.

a) No. of Boxes: Refers to the number of containers where

fish sub-samples were taken for length & weight
measurements.
b) Weight in Kg: The total weight of the sub-samples taken.
o Catch compostion Market Categories (Boxes/ Kg.)
Refers to the species composition in the catch of the
boat by gear with corresponding (Boxes/Kg.) weight by
species. If possible, scientific name is used. The estimated
catch (under the catch composition) should tally with the
number of boxes and weight found in the column of the
total boat catch.