Assessing natural mortality of Bay of Biscay anchovy from survey population and biomass estimates

Abstract

The closure of the anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) fishery in the Bay of Biscay between 2005 and 2010 because of low biomass levels provided an opportunity to estimate natural mortality using data from egg (daily egg production method, DEPM) and acoustic surveys implemented for the assessment of this population since 1987. Assuming that natural mortality (M) is constant over time and that catchability in both surveys is equal for all ages, M could be estimated using log-linear models on the series of surveys of population numbers at age and seasonal integrated stock assessments. The analysis suggests M values of around 0.9 for a common natural mortality at all ages. However, we found firm evidence that natural mortality at ages 2 and older (M2+) is markedly higher than at age 1 (M1), which indicates senescent mortality, a possibility suggested a long time ago for this type of short-lived species.