[FLR-list] Training Course on USING FLR FOR QUANTITATIVE FISHERIES ADVICE, Ispra (Italy), 18-22 MARCH 2013

[Iago Mosqueira]

Dear colleague,

The Maritime Affairs Unit - FISHREG of the European Commission Joint 
Research Centre (JRC Ispra), Institute for the Protection and Security 
of the Citizen (IPSC) is pleased to announce a training course on USING 
FLR FOR QUANTITATIVE FISHERIES ADVICE, which will cover the use and 
application of the tools developed by the FLR project 
(http://flr-project.org) to the quantitative analysis of fisheries data 
and the provision of advice on stock status and forecast.

The FLR library is a collection of tools in the R statistical language 
that facilitates the construction of bio-economic simulation models of 
fisheries and ecological systems. It is a generic toolbox, but is 
specifically suited for the construction of simulation models for 
evaluations of fisheries management strategies. The FLR library is under 
development by researchers across a number of laboratories and universities.

The course will introduce the basic structure of FLR, familiarize users 
with the available procedures and methods, cover the most important 
steps of interest to participants in stock assessment working groups, 
and present the ways in which FLR code can be adapted and extended to 
your needs.

Please find below further details about this course. I would like to ask 
you to circulate this to any prospective participant.

Best regards,


Iago

-- 
Dr Iago Mosqueira

European Commission – Joint Research Center
Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC)
Maritime Affairs Unit FISHREG – Scientific Support to Fisheries
TP 051, Via Enrico Fermi 2749
I-21027 Ispra (VA), Italy

Office : +39 0332 785413
Fax: +39 0332 789658

iago.mosqueira at jrc.ec.europa.eu

http://fishreg.jrc.ec.europa.eu/home




# DATES & VENUE

This course will take place over 8 half-day sessions, on 18-22 March 
2013 in at the Casa Don Guanella conference centre 
[http://www.vareseconvegni.it/], in Barza, Ispra, Italy. The course will 
start at 13.00 on Monday, 18 March, and end at 12.00 on Friday 22 March 
2013.

Accomodation on a half-board basis is available at the course venue, but 
participants are free to stay elsewhere.

Shuttle transport will be organized from Milano Malpensa airport (MXP) 
to the meeting venue at given times, but participants unable to make use 
of the service will need to make their own arrangements

# REQUIREMENTS

The course is designed for a maximum of 35 participants. The working 
language is English. Participants are expected to be familiar with 
fisheries models, and fluent in the R statistical language.

Participants are required to bring their own laptops to connect to a 
local area network. They should be able to install software and 
additional packages.

# ADMISSION AND REGISTRATION

Please register online at 
https://jrc-meeting-registration.jrc.ec.europa.eu/Ispra/March2013/FLRTRAINING/tabid/2952/Default.aspx. 
Deadline for submission of applications is **15 February 2013**.

Their is no course fee, but participants must cover their travel and 
living expenses.

# INSTRUCTORS

* Ernesto Jardim, EC JRC - Maritime Affairs Unit FISHREG (IPSC)
* Colin P. Milar, EC JRC - Maritime Affairs Unit FISHREG (IPSC)
* Iago Mosqueira, EC JRC - Maritime Affairs Unit FISHREG (IPSC)
* Giacomo Chato Osio, EC JRC - Maritime Affairs Unit FISHREG (IPSC)
* Finlay Scott, EC JRC - Maritime Affairs Unit FISHREG (IPSC)

# PROGRAMME

1. Introduction to R and FLR
     * Setting up FLR
     * Design, classes & methods
     * Basic and complex classes for fisheries data
2. Using FLR
     * Creating and combining FLR objects
     * Loading & manipulating your own data
     * Plotting
3. Fitting models
     * Non-linear fitting of stock-recruitment model
     * Tools for exploring likelihood space
     * Forecasting recruitment
     * Introducing uncertainty in recruitment
4. Stock assessment using biomass dynamics models
5. Stock assessment with age-structured models
     * Statistical catch-at-age
     * Virtual Population Analysis
6. Forecasting stock status
     * Short and medium term forecasts
     * Introducing uncertainty
7. example case studies
     * CS 1: Stock assessment, management advice and forecasting uncertainty
     * CS 2: Simulation tools for fisheries advice
8. Extended tools
     * Handling big data and long processes
     * Documenting your work
     * R & FLR programming

# MORE INFORMATION

For more information please contact Iago Mosqueira, 
<iago.mosqueira-sanchez at jrc.ec.europa.eu>, or Ernesto Jardim, 
<ernesto.jardim at jrc.ec.europa.eu>.