Research focus
The focus of the Group's work is the assessment and management of renewable marine resources. 'Assessment' relates to the evaluation of the present size (in particular in relation to pre-exploitation levels) and the productivity of a resource, while 'management' pertains to the translation of this information into scientific recommendations on appropriate limitations for harvest levels. Most of the methods used at present to lead to such recommendations for South Africa's major commercial fisheries have been developed by the Group. In particular, the adoption of automated feedback-control Management Procedures has been successfully promoted for some of these fisheries (this is an area where South Africa is regarded as a world leader).
International involvement
Group members also participate in the Scientific Committees of a number of international fishery commissions and related organisations (ten over the last decade), and have also worked recently with government agencies in twelve countries and fishing industry organisations in eleven. Associated with this, the Group has wide links with fisheries research groups in other countries.
Group structure
In addition to the Director, the Group currently includes three permanent Senior Research Officers (Drs Brandão, de Moor and Johnston), a part-time Administrative Assistant (Di Loureiro), three Research Associates (Drs Plaganyi-Lloyd, Rademeyer and Ross-Gillespie), and post-graduate students.