Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) is a free ecological/ecosystem modeling software suite. EwE has three main components: Ecopath – a static, mass-balanced snapshot of the system; Ecosim – a time dynamic simulation module for policy exploration; and Ecospace – a spatial and temporal dynamic module primarily designed for exploring impact and placement of protected areas. The Ecopath software package can be used to
Address ecological questions;
Evaluate ecosystem effects of fishing;
Explore management policy options;
Analyze impact and placement of marine protected areas;
Predict movement and accumulation of contaminants and tracers (Ecotracer);
Model effect of environmental changes;
Facilitate end-to-end model construction.