EwE - Ecopath with Ecosim

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.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Tool category
  • Environmental impact assessment
  • Scenario creation and analysis
MSP stages
  • 3 Identify issues, constraints, and future conditions
  • 5 Evaluate alternative management actions
  • 6 Monitor and evaluate management actions
MSP users Scientists
Type of software Desktop
Compatible OS Windows
Input data
  • Quantitative
  • Spatially explicit
Output data
  • Layer
  • Tables
Organization Ecopath International Initiative
Code accessibility The source code is freely available upon request.
Software license Commercial_without_fee
Documentation Full user documentation
Tool community facilities Forum/Blog
Additional informations It's possible to purchase a support contract
Relevance for case studies
    Metadata completeness Complete