Fisheries and Oceans Canada Ecosystem Methods for Stock Assessment

A national Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) working group compiled this collection of scientific methods for integrating ecosystem and climate variables into fisheries stock assessments. The toolbox serves as a starting point for researchers, compiled by the DFO Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management Working Group and its Toolbox sub-group established in 2018. It is intended to be an 'evergreen' resource with periodic updates, though the exact update schedule is not defined.

Use Cases

• Integrating climate and oceanographic variables into single-species stock assessment models using documented methods.
• Identifying analytical tools for ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) involving multispecies assessment.
• Reviewing compiled methods for incorporating ecosystem variables into assessment-related research activities.

Strengths

• Compiled by a national Fisheries and Oceans Canada working group established in 2018, providing institutional authority.
• Designed as an 'evergreen' resource with a stated intent for periodic updates to reflect best practices.
• Covers methods for integrating multiple data domains: climate, oceanographic, and ecological variables.

Limitations

• The exact number of methods, tools, or entries in the toolbox is unspecified.
• The compilation is not exhaustive and may omit pre-existing or new analytical tools.
• The timing and process for the promised periodic updates have not been determined.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) Working Group.

Collection Method

Compilation of existing Science methods used by DFO for incorporating ecosystem variables into stock assessments.

Time Range

Methods compilation initiated by a working group established in 2018.

Freshness

Last updated metadata indicates 2026-02-26, but the core compilation began in 2018.

Geography

National scope for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, implying Canadian waters and fisheries.