OKEANOS

In an article published in Correio dos Açores on 17 September, Régis Santos, Assistant Professor at the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries of the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of the Azores, explores one of the challenges in assessing fishery resources: the relationship between observed catches and the true abundance of fish stocks at sea.

A successful fishing trip does not necessarily mean that there are more fish in the ocean. Species distribution, fishing techniques, and improvements in the ability to locate and catch fish can all influence catches and make it more difficult to assess the status of populations.

The article explains the concept of hyperstability and highlights the importance of combining different sources of information to understand changes in fish stocks and assess the sustainability of fisheries.

Read the full article in Correio dos Açores.

By: Régis Santos

Assistant Professor, Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Azores

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