Protected Species Assessment Workshop (PSAW) II

The Proceedings of the First National Protected Species Assessment Workshop can be found here.

The meeting agenda is in development and will be posted once abstracts have been submitted and reviewed. Any questions can be sent to the lead workshop coordinator, Emily Markowitz (emily.markowitz@noaa.gov ).

Assessments represent the core science products used to inform protected species management decisions. Significant advances in assessments are being made by each NOAA Fisheries Science Center, and sharing information in small sessions will improve our collective ability to adapt and adopt new approaches. For this workshop, we are specifically seeking abstracts that address the following three themes:

1. Survey Sampling Design, Day 1 Co-chair: Jay Ver Hoef (AFSC).

   Prior to statistical analysis, data are collected according to some design.  Classically, random sampling was implemented at some level. However, collecting data from satellite, ships, and aircraft often limit how much sampling can be randomized, yet it is still necessary to consider survey design because the way data are collected impacts inferences when modeling those data.  For protected resources, we generally need to think about a monitoring plan, which involves sampling in space through time. The goals of this workshop topic are to investigate the role of randomization in survey design, the impact of preferential sampling, and how to obtain good survey designs in space and time for data that we typically collect.

2. Estimating Abundance from Disparate Data Sources,

   Day 2 Co-chair: Kimberly Murray (NEFSC).

   Accurate and precise estimates of abundance are essential for detecting trends of protected species, which allow development of effective management decisions on MMPA and ESA-listed species. Data for abundance estimates may be available from a variety of sources, collected with different levels of effort and spatial coverage across years or within year. In addition, the data may have been collected using different methodologies (e.g. visual, passive acoustic) from different platforms (e.g. manned and unmanned aerial, boat, shore-based, moored). Sometimes these disparate data sources are the only information that are available. The aim of this 1 day workshop is to share techniques and ideas to improve the accuracy and precision of abundance estimates using multiple disparate data sources. Through presentations and discussions, we hope to: 1) identify types of data available for different taxa to improve abundance estimates; 2) explore the challenges associated with merging these datasets and methodological techniques used to overcome them; and 3) review techniques used to estimate trends in abundance which account for variation in datasets, due to different survey designs or data collection platforms.

3. Spatial Prediction of Distribution Shifts,

   Day 3 Co-chair: Eric Ward (NWFSC).

   Over the last decade, a number of new approaches for estimating species densities and range shifts have emerged; these include Gaussian predictive process models, flexible generalized additive mixed models, and machine learning techniques (e.g. maxEnt, random forests). While the majority of applications have focused on applying these methods to fisheries – independent data sources (such as surveys), there may be utility in combining inference from surveys and other data types. Examples of additional data may include data from fisheries (targeted or non-targeted catches that represent non-random samples), passive acoustic monitoring, and opportunistic sightings from non-survey sources. Other non-survey data sources, such as satellite tagging data, may also be combined with surveys used to estimate changes in distribution. In this symposium, talks will highlight the ranges of methods that are used for estimating changes in spatial distributions, including discussions of the benefits and potential pitfalls of each. We also welcome presentations that include examples of using multiple data types, or illustrate applications to data limited species.

The workshop will include keynote talks, plenary presentations, group discussions, oral presentations, and plenty of opportunities to meet up with your colleagues. 

RSVP: RSVP submission is now closed.

Abstract submission: Abstract submission is now closed. 

Registration is free:  Registration submission is now closed for the five training sessions held on February 11. Morning sessions include Introduction to R (Eric Archer), Time Series Analysis (Mark Scheuerell), and Spatial Mapping in R (Kevin Stierhoff). Afternoon sessions include Movement Modeling (Devin Johnson, Joshua London, and Brett McClintock) and Developing Forecasting Models for Fisheries Time Series with R (Eli Holmes). Please contact Emily.Markowitz@noaa.gov if you have any questions. 

Training Sessions: Training sessions submission is now closed.  Please contact Emily.Markowitz@noaa.gov if you have any questions.

Accommodations: Though the original room block deadline passed during the December 2018 - January 2019 federal government shutdown, the Hotel La Jolla (7955 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, California, 92037, USA) has agreed to reestablish the room block until February 5, 2019.  The block price is at the per diem rate of $174/night provided room availability. To reserve your room, please call +1-858-551-3600, fax +1-858-551-3668, or book your room online. Please use the booking code “NOAFEB” online in the “Group Code” field or "NOAA Protected Species Room Block" on the phone to get our workshop rate. There will be a complimentary shuttle to the workshop and reduced overnight valet parking at $25/night. Other nearby hotels include Estancia La Jolla Hotel, 9700 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, and Residence Inn La Jolla, 8901 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92037 USA.

Group travel: Group Travel was approved February 1, 2019.  Please make your travel bookings now.

Foreign Nationals:  If you are a foreign national and we have not already reached out to you, please contact Emily.Markowitz@noaa.gov as soon as possible. We will need additional information from you so we can provide you the appropriate clearance to enter the Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) where the workshop will be held.

Logistics: The workshop program provides workshop logistics including agenda, abstracts, speakers, and local attractions.  

Steering Committee: If you have questions, please contact the lead workshop coordinator, Emily Markowitz (emily.markowitz@noaa.gov), or your local Steering Committee member:

• Emily Markowitz, Lead Workshop Coordinator, F/ST

• Jay Ver Hoef, AFSC (Co-Chair, Day 1, Theme 1)

• Kimberly Murray, NEFSC (Co-Chair, Day 2, Theme 2)

• Eric Ward, NWFSC (Co-Chair, Day 3, Theme 3)

• Stephen K. Brown, F/ST

• Mridula Srinivasan, F/ST

• Melissa Soldevilla, SEFCS

• Jessica Redfern, SWFSC

• Tomo Eguchi, SWFSC

• Karin Forney, SWFSC

• Eric Patterson, OPR

• Alexis Gutierrez, OPR