State-Space Models for Improved Predictions in Fisheries Management

The aquaculture industry in Canada accounts for over $1 billion in GDP and around 14,000 job opportunities. The decision-making of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) strongly relies on science-based advice for the sustainable management of fisheries. But providing scientifically sound advice is challenging in many ways, as data are scarce and essentially noisy, with theoretical models for fish population dynamics often not identifiable. Recent statistical developments in State-Space Models however allow for better uncertainty quantification, yielding more accurate predictions.