Merrill Rudd¹ and Dr. James Thorson^1
1SAFS
January 17, 2017 2:30 (PST): FSH 203

Development and application of a length-based, integrated mixed effects (LIME) assessment method for data-limited fisheries

Length measurements are often the easiest type of data to reliably collect. Existing stock assessment methods that primarily rely on length composition or mean length of the catch make the assumption that the population is in equilibrium (i.e. fishing mortality and recruitment are not changing over time) to make inferences on fishing pressure and stock status. There are many situations in which this equilibrium condition could be violated. We developed a length-based integrated mixed effects (LIME) method to account for variability in recruitment and fishing mortality using at least one year of length composition data and assumptions about biological parameters to make inferences on stock status. I will review the simulation testing of this method against several scenarios of life history, fishing mortality, and recruitment, as well as violations of model assumptions to identify strengths and weaknesses. I will also present progress and obstacles in the application of the LIME method for Kenyan coral reef fisheries.