Peruvian Eel MSE Training

Effective fisheries management requires robust methods to evaluate the potential outcomes of different management strategies. Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) allows scientists to simulate and assess the performance of alternative management options under a range of possible future scenarios, before real world application.¹ MSEs are increasingly used to support decision-making in fisheries management, conservation planning, and resource allocation. Opportunities to apply MSE can be accelerated through applied capacity building. Capacity building can aid in strengthening and developing skill sets, while applied capacity building achieves the same goals while also solving a scientific problem that is topical to local practitioners.²

Ships on the water

The Project

Nature Analytics developed a custom curriculum for MSE training and application to challenges facing Peruvian fisheries. Through a series of workshops, Nature Analytics, The Nature Conservancy Peru, and the Instituto del Mar del Perú (IMARPE) collaborated in learning and conducting MSE for the Pacific common eel (Ophichthus remiger), also known as the Peruvian eel. Learning MSE while applying this tool, also served as a foundation for application to other Peruvian fisheries, including both data-limited and data-rich cases. This series of workshops combined theoretical knowledge and practical computer-based experience using an open-source MSE simulation tool, OpenMSE.

Our Role

Nature Analytics played a central role in designing both theoretical and applied training components, along with producing expert-driven analysis and reporting. This curated set of training materials ensured that analysis of the Pacific Common Eel fishery could be continued by workshop participants, who were also empowered to expand MSE to address management challenges in other Peruvian fisheries.

Hands typing on a computer with a background of graphs

Collaborators

V. Henriquez, M. Pons, B. Harford

References

  1. Punt, A. E., Butterworth, D. S., De Moor, C. L., De Oliveira, J. a. A., & Haddon, M. (2014). Management strategy evaluation: best practices. Fish and Fisheries, 17(2), 303–334. https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12104

  2. United Nations. (2024). Capacity-Building | United Nations. https://www.un.org/en/academic-impact/capacity-building