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MEPS:Advance View   -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12602

Challenges of management strategy evaluation for small pelagic fish: the Bay of Biscay anchovy case study

Sonia Sánchez1,*, Leire Ibaibarriaga2, Andrés Uriarte1, Raul Prellezo2, Marga Andrés2, Pablo Abaunza3, Ernesto Jardim4, Sigrid Lehuta5, Lionel Pawlowski6, Beatriz Roel7

1AZTI, 20110 Pasaia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
2AZTI, 48395 Sukarrieta, Bizkaia, Spain
3Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), 28002 Madrid, Spain
4European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), 21027 Ispra (VA), Italy
5Institut Français de Recherche et d’Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER), 44311 Nantes, France
6Institut Français de Recherche et d’Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER), 56100 Lorient, France
7A & B Word, Layshla, Chester Road, Kelsall, Cheshire CW6 0SE, UK
*Corresponding author:

ABSTRACT: Modeling major uncertainties in population and fishery dynamics is fundamental for reliable management strategy evaluation. Here we describe the bio-economic impact assessment of alternative harvest control rules (HCRs) in developing a management plan for Bay of Biscay anchovy, using R software and the FLBEIA software package. Further, we show how the modeling work was adapted as new biological information and data sources became available. The underlying general HCR consists of exploiting a proportion of the estimated spawning stock biomass (SSB), and is operative for 2 alternative management calendars: July-June or January-December. The final shape of the rule is determined by the harvest rate, the biomass trigger points, and the total allowable catch (TAC) thresholds. The performance of the HCRs was evaluated according to the biological and economic risks, probability of fishery closure, expected average catches, and their standard deviation. Robustness of these rules, given alternative recruitment models and quota shares among fleets, was also tested. The inclusion of a recruitment index allowed moving the management calendar from July-June to January-December, and led to higher (~15%) and more stable average catches, while reducing biological risks and the probability of fishery closure (by ~25%). The presence of minimum and maximum TAC levels allowed improved fishery performance. Recruitment was the uncertainty of major relevance in determining the relative performance of the rules, while there was little effect on biological risk of different quota shares among countries. The simulation results were the cornerstone for the selection of the adopted HCRs by stakeholders and managers.


KEY WORDS: Bay of Biscay · Anchovy · Engraulis encrasicolus · Management strategy evaluation · Management plan · FLBEIA


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Cite this article as: Sánchez S, Ibaibarriaga L, Uriarte A, Prellezo R and others (2018) Challenges of management strategy evaluation for small pelagic fish: the Bay of Biscay anchovy case study. Mar Ecol Prog Ser https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12602

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