FLR: an open-source framework for the evaluation and development of management strategies

The FLR framework (Fisheries Library for R) is a de velopment effort directed towards the evaluation of fisheries management strategies. The overall goal is to develop a common framework to facilitate collaboration within and ac ross disciplines (e.g. biological, ecological, statistical, mathematical, economic, and social), a nd in particular to ensure that new modelling methods and software are more easily vali dated and evaluated, as well as becoming widely available once developed. In particular, the framework details how to implement and link a variety of fishery, biological, and economic software packages so that alternative management strategies and procedures can be evaluated for their robustness to uncertainty before implementation. The design of the framework, including the adoption of object- orientated programming, its feasibility to be exten ded to new processes, and its application to new management approaches (e.g. ecosystem affects of fishing) is discussed. The importance of open source for promoting transparency and allow ing technology transfer between disciplines and researchers is stressed. © Crown Copyright 2007. Published for the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea by Oxford Journ- als. All rights reserved.