Eastern Pacific Ocean POSEIDON

The EPO-POSEIDON project, co-led by Dr. Katyana Vert-Pre, was a cutting-edge agent-based bioeconomic modeling initiative that supported tropical tuna fisheries management in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The model simulated realistic fishing fleet behavior, including vessel movement, Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) use, and species targeting, under different management strategies, environmental conditions, and economic pressures.
By integrating biological, spatial, economic, and behavioral components, POSEIDON enabled stakeholders to test policy impacts on both fish stock health and fleet profitability. The project examined scenarios including FAD limits, area closures, and harvest control rules to evaluate conservation and economic trade-offs.
The collaborative team brought together diverse experts including Dr. Alexandra Norelli and Dr. Brian Powers, along with IATTC staff, Ocean Conservancy, and academic partners from the University of Oxford and Arizona State University. Contributing specialists included fisheries scientists, economists, and behavioral modelers from institutions worldwide. POSEIDON's findings have directly informed policy discussions at IATTC meetings, providing decision-makers with evidence-based insights for managing the tropical tuna purse-seine fishery.