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Applying biomass dynamic models to the southern horse mackerel stock (Atlantic waters of Iberian Peninsula): a comparison with VPA-based methods
Abaunza, P.; Celso Fariña, A.; Murta, A. (2003). Applying biomass dynamic models to the southern horse mackerel stock (Atlantic waters of Iberian Peninsula): a comparison with VPA-based methods. Sci. Mar. (Barc.) 67(S1): 291-300. https://dx.doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2003.67s1291
In: Scientia Marina (Barcelona). Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Institut de Ciènces del Mar: Barcelona. ISSN 0214-8358; e-ISSN 1886-8134, more
Also appears in:
Ulltang, Ø.; Blom, G. (2003). Fish stock assessments and predictions: integrating relevant knowledge. SAP Symposium held in Bergen, Norway 4-6 December 2000. Scientia Marina (Barcelona), 67(S1). Institut de Ciències de Mar: Barcelona. 374 pp. https://dx.doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2003.67s1, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Models
    Parameter estimation
    Parameters
    Physics > Mechanics > Dynamics
    Population characteristics > Biomass
    Trachurus trachurus (Linnaeus, 1758) [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal

Authors  Top 
  • Abaunza, P.
  • Celso Fariña, A.
  • Murta, A.

Abstract
    The horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) fishery of the Northeast Atlantic, is currently subject to assessment and management in the ICES area. Assessment of the Southern horse mackerel (ICES Divisions VIIIc and IXa) is made with Virtual Population Analysis (VPA), using time series of catch-at-age data and catch-per-unit-of-effort (CPUE) from 1985 to present. The application of biomass-dynamic models to the assessment and catch prediction of this stock has never been attempted before. In this paper, a production model is applied to the Southern horse mackerel stock. To quantify uncertainty in parameter estimates, bootstrap confidence intervals were computed, which showed that estimates could be considered as reliable. The bootstrap standard deviations of Ft , r, MSY and FMSY were relatively small, despite the lack of trends in the available effort series. On the contrary, the catchability, q, showed a coefficient of variation of 74%. The current level of fishing mortality for 1998 was considered as unsustainable for the resource, being well above FMSY according to the biomass-dynamic models, and above Fpa according to the age-structured model. Both models were in close agreement on the time series of fishing mortality and in the perception of the state of the stock. Differences existed in the changes in stock biomass especially over the last years. Over this time period the age-structured model showed an increasing trend in biomass. The estimates of MSY and FMSY were in accordance with the precautionary approach philosophy. The biomass-dynamic model used here was usefully applied to the Southern horse mackerel stock, giving complementary information to the age-structured model, both in the perception of the state of the stock and in the definition of management targets.

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