Crustacean fisheries currently comprise of some of the most valuable global fish stocks. Despite this, current crustacean stock assessment methods are not as advanced as for bony fishes. Crustacean life histories are less well understood, they generally lack structures that allow for accurate ageing, they have different growth patterns to bony fish, and stock-recruitment relationships are often not known due to the length of time between the egg, and recruitment of an individual into the fishery. Until recently, crustacean stock assessment science has relied on either modifying existing methods for fin fish, or individual jurisdictions developing methods specific to an individual species.
In this presentation, I'll provide a brief overview of the current global state of crustacean stock assessment science. I'll then share two of my experiences working in this area: firstly, in a collaborative effort to develop a new integrated length-based model for the Southern Rock Lobster (Jasus edwardsii), a species fished by several jurisdictions in Australia; and secondly, providing assessment advice for a European Lobster (Hommarus gammarus) fishery in the UK. I'll discuss the challenges I have faced along the way, and highlight where I think the future opportunities for crustacean stock assessment are.