How can we increase collaboration in fisheries stock assessment?

Fisheries stock assessment in some form underpins management of many fish stocks, particularly the most valuable. Quantitative stock assessments are highly technical, with a range of approaches available. Which method of stock assessment is used may influence the outcome of a stock assessment, and potentially the sustainability of the resource and harvesting sector. As with other applied research, the benefits of sharing ideas and methods to improve stock assessments is high. Collaboration in stock assessments has a range of benefits, including knowledge transfer and the associated benefits of obtaining different perspectives, such as finding solutions to modelling challenges more easily. This, in turn, can lead to time saving and avoid duplication of effort. In Australia, stock assessments are undertaken by teams of scientists geographically dispersed across the country, generally focused on stocks within their own jurisdiction. We surveyed Australian stock assessment scientists and found that most valued collaboration and engaged in collaboration in a high proportion of stock assessments, but this was mostly limited to within their organisation. We examined barriers to greater collaboration and found that these largely related to limited availability of face-to-face meetings and conferences, the lack of a readily accessible network of stock assessment scientists, and the limited time to engage in these activities. Development of a national community of practice was seen as the most preferable way to redress these issues. These issues are likely being experienced elsewhere, so the solutions found in the study may be more broadly applicable. • Benefits of collaboration are well recognised in stock assessment. • Collaboration between scientists was often limited to within organisations. • Barriers to greater collaboration included lack of time and established networks. • A Community of Practice was seen as the preferred means to overcome these barriers.