Assumptions behind size-based ecosystem models are realistic. (29th January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Andersen, Ken H.; Blanchard, Julia L.; Fulton, Elizabeth A.; Gislason, Henrik; Jacobsen, Nis Sand; van Kooten, Tobias
• Is Part Of: ICES journal of marine science. Volume 73:Number 6(2016)
• Page Start: 1651
• Page End: 1655
• Publication Date: 2016-01-29
• Subjects: balanced harvesting -- cohort biomass -- size-spectrum model; Ocean -- Periodicals; Fisheries -- Periodicals; Fishes -- Periodicals; Marine biology -- Bibliography -- Periodicals; 551.4605
• DOI: 10.1093/icesjms/fsv211
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1054-3139

Abstract

Abstract: A recent publication about balanced harvesting (Froese et al ., ICES Journal of Marine Science ; 73: 1640–1650) contains several erroneous statements about size-spectrum models. We refute the statements by showing that the assumptions pertaining to size-spectrum models discussed by Froese et al. are realistic and consistent. We further show that the assumption about density-dependence being described by a stock recruitment relationship is responsible for determining whether a peak in the cohort biomass of a population occurs late or early in life. Finally, we argue that there is indeed a constructive role for a wide suite of ecosystem models to evaluate fishing strategies in an ecosystem context.