Science lab

Quantitative Fisheries Research

Our lab conducts research and participates in science advisory work to improve the management of ecologically and economically valuable marine resources.

Our science contributes to the sustainability and resilience of marine resources, ecosystems, fishing communities, and the seafood industry.

We aim to:

  • Understand the influence of climate, harvest, and management on our fishery resources.
  • Develop approaches to improve fisheries stock assessment and management.
  • Advance the study of fish population structure and its implications to sustainable management and resilience of fishery resources.
  • Understand aspects of fish population biology and dynamics in relation to key factors (e.g., climate and ecosystem factors and fishing).

Lab Team

Our Methods

Our diverse skill set addresses critical ecological questions that directly apply to fisheries management.

We conduct field sampling or partner with the fishing industry to collect data on focal species (e.g. Atlantic cod, bluefin tuna). We utilize mathematical and statistical modeling to understand how fish stocks respond to climate change, fishing, and management measures (e.g. management strategy evaluation). We also conduct stock identification analysis in the lab, utilizing structural and chemical analysis of fish hard parts (e.g. otoliths) to understand the origin of the fish we catch and integrate this information into models.

  • Field Sampling
  • Data Collection
  • Mathematical Modeling
  • Stock Identification

Lab Projects

Explore our quantitative fisheries research projects.

See All Projects
Dr. Lisa Kerr explains what otoliths are and how they contribute to her research.

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