The relationship between spawning stock size and the size of the subsequent recruitment is fundamental to fisheries science. Without a working knowledge of the relationship it is not possible to know how heavily a spawning stock can be fished before recruitment levels begin to decline. Although important to fisheries research and management, there are very few robust, published examples of stock - recruitment relationships (SRRs), particularly in crustacean fisheries. The aim of this workshop was to consider recent advances and trends in the research and application of SRRs in Australian crustacean fisheries. The workshop's organising committee put forward four general areas to be considered. These were 1) case studies of SRRs, 2) biological considerations for defining the spawning stock and recruitment indices, 3) mathematical and statistical limitations and biases in SRRs and 4) recruitment overfishing and management.

The workshop was held at the Joondoburri Conference Centre, Bribie Island, Queensland from June 1 - 3, 1994. It was funded by grants from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) and the Department of Industry, Science and Technology (DIST) and attended by 53 fishery researchers, biologists, managers, biometricians and academics. This publication contains a copy of the 24 papers and abstracts that were presented, in addition to questions and answers, discussion, and ideas for future research relevant to SRRs. The majority of participants were from Australia. Researchers from Mexico and the United States of America also attended. Dr. Serge Garcia (Director, Fisheries Resources and Environment Division, FAQ, Rome) who planned to attend but had to withdraw late in the workshop's preparation, also contributed by way of forwarding a paper which was presented by Dr. David Die.

Discussion sessions were held at the completion of each day and based upon the day's presentations. Key issues discussed included 1) assessing target and reference points for fisheries management, 2) the relationship between life history type and susceptibility to recruitment overfishing, 3) evidence of recruitment decline in crustacean fisheries, 4) determining appropriate environmental data to be incorporated with SRRs and 5) the value of catch per unit of effort (CPUE) data as estimates of spawning stock size.