Assessment of Sparus aurata (Gilthead Seabream) stock in Bardawil lagoon, southeast Mediterranean Sea

During present study period from October 2020 to April 2021, gilthead seabream Sparus aurata stock was estimated by using many assessment models to evaluate actual status on Bardawil lagoon. Length at first capture (Lc) was 17.10 and 16.70 cm for females and males respectively, but it was 16.9 cm for all individuals that corresponding age at first capture (tc= 2.49 year). Length at first recruit Lr was 10.70 and 9.70 cm for females and males, respectively, corresponding age tr= 0.77 year. The length at first maturity was Lm= 18.18 cm that corresponding age tm= 2.85 years. Virtual population analysis shows some of intensive capture on S. aurata at its early life’s. Yield per recruit and biomass per recruit tend to collapse as a result of high fishing mortalities. The current study concludes an exact overfishing pressure of S. aurata stock in Bardawil lagoon.

Aspects of Stock Assessment of Klunzinger's Mullet, Planiliza klunzengeri (Day, 1888) from Northwest Arabian Gulf, Iraq

The stock assessment of Klunzinger's mullet, Planiliza klunzengeri was conducted, to estimate its some aspects viz. growth, mortality, recruitment, yield-per-recruit and virtual population analysis in Iraqi marine waters, northwest Arabian Gulf, Iraq, from February 2020 and January 2021. The population parameters were analyzed by the FiSAT software using monthly length-frequency data collected by the Shaheen dhow and from the artisanal fishermen at the fish landing site in Al-Fao city to derive information required for their management. A total of 3319 individuals of P. klunzingeri ranged from 11.0 to 27.0 cm have been collected. Length-weight relationship was calculated as W= 0.026L2.716. The asymptotic length (L∞), growth rate (K) and the growth performance index (Ø') were 29.8 cm, 0.34 and 2.48, respectively. The rates of annual instantaneous of total mortality (Z), fishing mortality (F), natural mortality (M) and present exploitation (Epresent) were 1.19, 0.84, 0.36 and 0.30, respectively. The recruitment pattern of P. klunzingeri was continuous throughout the year, with one peak during May. The results of virtual population analysis revealed that the majority of P. klunzingeri were harvested between 14 cm and 19 cm. The length at first capture (L50) in the current study was higher than the length at first maturity (Lm) of the species in the region. The Epresent was below the biological target reference points (E0.1= 0.770 and Emax= 0.903), referred to the stock of P. klunzingeri is underexploited. Therefore, the harvest level should increase to its maximum sustainable yield level by increasing fishing effort level with monitoring surveys and evaluate the risk associated with fishing effort increases as fishing precautionary approaches.

Aspects of Population Dynamics of Tiger Tooth Croaker, Otolithes ruber (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) from Northwest Arabian Gulf, Iraq

The present study consists of the growth, mortality, relative yield recruit and virtual population analysis of tigertooth croaker, Otolithes ruber from Iraqi marine waters, northwest Arabian Gulf between February 2020 and January 2021. Analysis of population dynamics employed methods fitted in FiSAT II software using pooled length-frequencies. A total of 3835 individuals of O. ruber ranged from 17.0 to 60.0 cm have been collected. The exponent (b) of the length-weight relationship was found to be 2.755. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters (L∞ and K) were estimated as 68.5 cm and 0.36, respectively, while the growth performance index (Ø') was 3.228. The total mortality (Z) was calculated as 1.10, while the natural and fishing mortality rates were 0.69 and 0.41, respectively, and the current exploitation rate (Ecurrent) was 0.38. Fish were recruited to the fishery at a mean size of L50= 20.55 cm. The recruitment pattern of O. ruber was continuous throughout the year with two major peaks. The analysis of yield-per-recruit (Y/R’) indicates that the current exploitation rate was below the biological target reference points (E0.1 = 0.40 and Emax= 0.53), refer to the stock of O. ruber is underexploited. The 27 cm length group was more vulnerable to fishing and more harvested according to virtual population analysis. sLength at first capture was higher than the length at first maturity of the species in the region. For management purposes, more yields could be obtained by increasing the mesh sizes of the nets employed in the fishing of the species.

SOUTHERN BLUEFIN TUNA (Thunnus maccoyii) CAUGHT BY INDONESIA’S TUNA LONGLINERS IN THE SPAWNING AREA

Southern Bluefin Tuna in spawning area of the Eastern Indian Ocean where the Indonesian’s longliners operated has a specific character in term of size, age, sex-specific growth rate and the population. The aims of this study are to determined changes in size/age, sex-specific growth rate and virtual population analysis of Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) in the spawning area. This study is important to find out the successful management of SBT in spawning area by looking at the catch at age/size movement, sex-specific growth analysis and the estimation of the population by virtual population analysis. In this study, we were used 452 pairs of otolith with fish sized from 134-196 cmFL and fish aged from 8-20 years. The growth equation was Lt = 191 (1-e-0,167(t+1,081)). Catch at age structure was distributed from 5-22 years with mean and mode of age were 9.63 and 9 years. The distribution of mode changed from year to year shifting to a younger fish. In 2012, the mode was 10 years but entering 2013-2014 the mode was shifted to 6 years. In 2015-2017, the mode was increased from 7 years (2015) to 8 years (2016) and 9 years (2017). The fishing pressure happened in the age group under 20 years. In 2012 to 2014, the highest fishing pressure respectively obtained in the age group of 13 to 11 years with an average length of 167 to 174 cmFL. Entering 2015 and 2016, the highest fishing pressure obtained in the age group of 6 years with an average length of 138 cmFL. The exploitation rate ranged from 0.14/year to 0.25/year meaning that the exploitation was in optimal condition.

Accounting for uncertainty due to data processing in virtual population analysis using Bayesian multiple imputation

Virtual population analysis (VPA) is used in many stock assessment settings and requires a total catch-at-age data set where an age is assigned to each fish that has been caught. These data sets are typically constructed using ad hoc methods that rely on numerous assumptions. Although approaches are available to account for observation error in these data, no statistically rigorous methods have been developed to account for uncertainty from data processing. To address this, we investigated a Bayesian multiple imputation approach to filling missing size data. Using Atlantic yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) as case studies, we evaluated the hypothesis that data processing is as important in determining management reference points in stock assessments as conventional sources of uncertainty. Size imputation models accounting for location, season, and year provided good predictive capacity. Uncertainty from data processing could be large; however, the circumstances for this were unpredictable and varied depending on the stock. These results indicate that VPA assessments should attempt to account for uncertainty in data processing to avoid potentially large compression of uncertainty in assessment results.