Noel Cadigan appointed as industrial research chair for fish stock assessment

ST. JOHN’S — A school of donors will contribute a combined $2.5 million over the next five years to improve fish stock assessments in the Northwest Atlantic, according to a news release from the provincial government. The plan includes the appointment of Noel Cadigan as the Ocean Choice International (OCI) research chair in stock assessment and sustainable harvest advice for Northwest Atlantic fisheries at the Fisheries and Marine Institute. Two junior chairs will also be hired. Cadigan’s goal will be to enhance current practices in fish stock assessment with a focus on sustainability objectives. A main focus area will be the Grand Banks, and species under the microscope will be American plaice, yellowtail flounder, Greenland halibut and redfish. Cadigan will also train several master’s and doctoral students, which will increase the province’s expertise, the news release stated.

“I’m looking forward to working with OCI, the fishing industry and all of our supporters to advance our understanding of our fish stocks and provide the most precise harvest advice possible,” Cadigan stated.

“Our team and research will develop and implement an integrated state-space stock assessment model, with a more holistic modelling of productivity processes such as reproduction, growth and mortality, and how they can vary over time in response to ecosystem changes and the impacts on this on management reference points.” According to the release, Ocean Choice International and Innovatenl will both contribute $500,000 over five years. Funding from the Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI) and the Marine Institute will be leveraged against the chair, and the Robert and Edith Skinner Wildlife Management Fund at the Fisheries and Marine Institute will support the chair’s work with $500,000.