Dr. Steven Saul’s research applies an interdisciplinary systems-based approach to understanding tropical marine resource dynamics, the ways that humans use these resources, and the feedback between humans and the natural system. This approach identifies solutions that improve the management of marine resource sustainability while preserving food security, economic sustainability, and maintaining cultural ways of life for coastal communities. Quantitative and qualitative tools, including statistical, equation-based, and agent-based modeling, remote sensing and geographical information systems, behavioral economics, anthropological interviews, and field data collection help achieve this goal. Dr. Saul has developed scientific products for policy guidance in collaboration with international and domestic government agencies, intergovernmental bodies, not-for-profit organizations, for profit companies, and coastal communities of various sizes ranging from small remote villages to large commercial operations in countries throughout the tropics, as well as the United States. Dr. Saul is an Associate Professor at Arizona State University.
Abstract:
Providing tactical management advice for tropical information limited fisheries can be difficult due to the constraints and assumptions of available approaches and uncertainty in data input streams. This study presents a workflow which combines information limited fisheries approaches together with data input sensitivity analyses in a novel way to develop a range of plausible management scenarios and their respective bioeconomic trade-offs, with uncertainty, to inform decision theory. The study applies the approach to the commercial demersal finfish fishery across the Indonesian archipelago. Estimates of fishing mortality, biomass, forecasted catch, rebuilding times, profit, and nutritional outcomes were calculated at five different management reference points and for the status quo. For some species, estimated biomass was below the biomass associated with the limit reference point, and fishing mortality rates were higher than the fishing mortality rate associated with the target reference point. Under the status quo, the fishery is operating at a financial loss, predominately due to the biomass and current fishing mortality rate of the most targeted species, Lutjanus malabaricus, and its large contribution to the catch. The novel study approach provided a menu of policy considerations and their respective trade-offs that managers can use to make informed decisions that balance biological sustainability with economic and nutritional outcomes.
Role: Panellist, Participant
Sessions
- Day 2 — Open Table: Emerging Technologies updates
- Day 2 — Panel "Emerging Technologies updates"
