Using Ecosystem Modeling for Fisheries Management

Date: Monday, May 10, 2004 through Friday, May 14, 2004
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Student Union Building (SUB), 6138 Student Union Boulevard, Room 207/209, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC. (D6 on the UBC campus map).

This workshop will be based on the use of the ecological software suite Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) that is finding widespread use throughout the world for ecosystem-based management of fisheries. The lecturers include the main developers of the approach. EwE has the following main components: Ecopath - a static, mass-balanced snapshot of the system; Ecosim - a time dynamic simulation module for policy exploration; Ecospace - a spatial and temporal dynamic module primarily designed for exploring impact and placement of protected areas; and Ecotrace - for tracking accumulation of persistent pollutants through the food web. EwE is being used to address ecological questions; evaluate ecosystem effects of fishing; explore management policy options; evaluate impact and placement of marine protected areas; bio-accumulation through the food web; and to evaluate the relative effect of fisheries and environmental changes to mention some key areas.

Purpose	* To give participants an overview and basic knowledge of the Ecopath with Ecosim approach and software * To introduce the newest developments in the software; * To present methods, capabilities and limitations of the approach and software; * To improve models participants may already have constructed; * To explore the management options as part of an ecosystem approach to fisheries.
Participation	Limited to 30 participants.
Expectations of participants	* We suggest that participants come well prepared as the course will be very intensive. * Bring existing model(s) along for refinement during the course if available. * A basic knowledge of the Ecopath approach, and an interest in using the approach for fisheries management
Materials	Suggested readings (before the course!): Pauly, Christensen and Walters. Ecopath, Ecosim and Ecospace as tools for evaluating ecosystem impacts of fisheries; Christensen and Walters. Ecopath with Ecosim: methods, capabilities and limitations Christensen, Walters and Pauly: Ecopath with Ecosim: A User's Guide. These publications can be downloaded from the Ecopath publications page . * Software: Ecopath with Ecosim (PC’s only); available free-of-charge from the Ecopath homepage. CDs can be mailed to participants on request - please email Dr. Villy Christensen; * Bring notebook PC (Win 98/ME/NT/2000/XP -- 2000 or XP preferably) if available, preferably with network cards.
Lecturers	Carl J. Walters and Villy Christensen.
Course fee	The training course is self-financing, i.e. the FC will need to recover expenses for preparation, rent of facilities, tuition, support, refreshments, materials, etc. The course fee is Cdn$2300, while the student rate is Cdn$1150 (plus 7% GST for Canadian residents).
Registration	Signup using our on-line registration form. Feb 4, 2004: The workshop is now fully subscribed. We do, however, accept further registrations for waitlisting
Cancellation	FC/UBC reserves the right to cancel in case of insufficient registration or force majeure. If so registered participants will be notified by April 8, 2004.

Program Tentative

A limited amount of accommodation has been block-booked for the nights of May 9-14, 2004, for workshop registrants at UBC Conference Centre West Coast Suites, at a nightly rate of Cdn$119 plus 15% taxes. Delegates can book this accommodation until April 8, 2004, by completing the accommodation booking form and mailing or faxing it to the Conference Centre and referring to the Fisheries Centre block booking.

Further information is available by e-mail request to office@fisheries.ubc.ca.