IntroductionKnowledgeofthereproductivebiologyoffishandcrabstocksiscriticaltostockassessmentestimatesofthereproductivepotential(typicallymeasuredasspawningstockbiomass)ofthestock.Reproductivepotentialisafactoroftenusedtocalculatebiologicalreferencepointsusedforfisheriesmanagement. Whilequantitativeassessmentofreproductiveparametersisessentialforstockassessmentcalculations,qualitativeinformationonspawningdynamicsisalsoimportantasfisheriesmanagementhasbeguntakinganecosystemapproachtomanagement.Inaddition,understandingthespatialandtemporaldynamicsoffishspawningisimportantformanagingfisheryimpactsonprotectedapexpredators.
MARVLS at the AFSCHow it all started…ReproductivestudiesattheNMFSAlaskaFisheriesScienceCenter(AFSC)havehistoricallybeenconductedasindependentstudies,meanttoinformparticularstockassessments.ItbecameapparentthattheAFSCwouldbenefitfromamoreintegratedapproachtocollectreproductivelifehistoryinformation.Thisapproachdemandedtheprioritizationoffutureresearchbyidentifyingknowledgegapsandmanagementchallenges.ThisledtotheformationoftheMaturityAssessment,andReproductiveVariabilityofLifeStages(MARVLS)workinggroupandresultedinareadinggroup,andanAFSCworkshopandwhitepaperdetailingthestatusofreproductivebiologyandmaturityresearchattheAFSC.
MARVLS GOALS• SharemethodsandknowledgeoffishreproductivestudiesacrossallscienceCenters
• EvaluateandstandardizefieldandLabmethodologieswheneverpossiblewithinandacrossNMFSsciencecenters
• FieldCollectionprocedures• Histologicaltechniques• Fecundityanalysis• Databases• Nomenclature• DataAnalysisofageandlengthat50%maturity(A50andL50)
• Trainingmethodsforfieldcollection,histologicalreading,anddataanalysis
• Worktowardsintegratingreproductivevariabilityintostockassessmentandmanagementoffishandcrabspecies
• MostofallconnectwithyourinnerfishsqueezerandlistentoCaptainA50,oursuperhero!
MARVLS goes National
TimeLine2013• AFSCreadinggroupon
reproductivematurity• AFSCworkshopand
whitepaperonthestatusofreproductivebiologyresearchattheAFSC.
2014• NationalMARVLS
workshophostedbyAFSCinSeattle.AttendedbyScientistsfromallNMFSsciencecenters
2015• MARVLSgroup
organizesasymposiumattheAmericanFisheriesSocietySymposiuminPortland
Introducing the Working Group on
MaturityAssessment and Reproductive Variability of Life Stages
FUTUREPLANNEDEVENTS2016• MARVLSgroup
participatesinPICESthemsessioninSanDiego,CA
• 2nd MARVLSnationalworkshopinLaJolla,CA
2017• MARVLSgroupplans
tosubmitICESthemesessionformeetinginFlorida
DISTANTFUTUREMarvls becomesaworldwidephenomenon
Areadinggroupwasestablishedin2013withinterestedscientistsdiscussingpapersandtacklingcurrentissuesandchallengesconnectedwithhistology,fecundityandotherreproductiveecologyquestions.ItwassoonapparentthatscientistsfromallNMFSsciencecentersworkingonreproductiveecologyandlifehistorywereinterestinginaplatformallowingtoshareknowledgeandexchangeinformation.
Contact InformationIfyouwouldliketoreceivefurtherinformationorwouldliketojoinMARVLsdon’thesitatetocontact:SusanneMcDermott [email protected] NOAA,AFSC,SeattleSandiNeidetcher [email protected] NOAA,AFSC,SeattleChristinaConrath [email protected] NOAA,AFSC,Kodiak
Susanne McDermott, Sandi Neidetcher, Christina Conrath, Paul SpencerAlaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA
The recommendations andgeneral contentspresentedinthisposterdonotnecessarily represent theviews orofficialpositionoftheDepartment ofCommerce, theNationalOceanic andAtmosphericAdministrationortheNationalMarineFisheries Service.
Strong DATA make strong MODELS!
