Postdoc Position on deepwater species CPUEs at Ifremer, Lorient, France

Catches per unit of effort (CPUE) are used in numerous stock assessments including those used in the framework of european fisheries management (ICES, STECF). The use of CPUE poses numerous problems as those indices simultaneously reflect stock abundance, fishing practices and their constraints (e.g. regulation). The
evolution of times series of raw CPUE reflects the change of these factors and quantifying their influence alone is not a simple task.Application Deadline: August, 31st, 2009

The proposed project will

i) analyze high resolution times series of effort (haul by haul) to describe more precisely the activity of the fisheries, to identify potential fishing strategies,

ii) through the development of methods that may be transposed to other stocks and fisheries, methods which are expected to reduce the uncertainty on stock assessments.

This includes:
- trying to rebuild the missing information from this database using our national information system on fisheries.
- trying to explain the spatial (3D) and temporal variations in CPUEs at different scales (this may imply taking account environmental factors)
- describing and analysing fishing strategies (e.g. finding patterns, how a haul may affect the next one…)
- thinking about how all of this could be included in stock assessment or management plans.

This project relies on a database containing landings and fishing effort on a haul by haul basis and provided by two fishing organizations (in partnership with Ifremer) targeting deepwater stocks (roundnose grenadier, black scabbard fish, blue ling, deepwater sharks) where assessment models have always shown strong uncertainties
as a likely consequence from the insufficient resolution of datasets.

This position includes interactions with my colleagues from other Ifremer labs and with representatives of the French fisheries. There will be some possibilities to attend workshop, working groups on deepwater stocks to discuss and work with other scientists.

Keywords : Deepwater fisheries, fleet, fishing effort, statistical analysis, spatialized time series.

The position includes full healthcare and retirement benefits. Work time is 38h per week, 5+2 weeks of vacation. Minimum gross salary (commensurate with experience) is 31 680 euros, net monthly salary would be I guess around 2000 euros (renting a 45m² apartment in Lorient is between 350-500 euros a month). The position is not
expected to start before Nov, 1st but starting date (earlier/later) can probably be negotiated.

** Academic training and specific skills **

• PhD in fishery sciences, population dynamics, appliedmathematics/statistics or any relevant field.
• Prior experience in fishery sciences desirable but not mandatory.
• Programming skills required in S+, R, or equivalent languages (e.g. Matlab)

** How to apply **

To apply, you will need to provide the following (by email, please, to lionel.pawlowski-at-ifremer.fr ,before August, 31st, 2009):

- a letter including your specific skills and competence for the position,
- a CV
- a summary of your work previously done, mentioning the date of submission of the PhD thesis,
- a list of publications and communications / symposia,
- and two letters of recommendation.

Applicants must be under 35 y.o. on Dec 31st, 2009.

Applicants will be informed about the status of their application by the end of september.