Quantitative fishery assessment in tropical waters: Stock dynamics and strategy options

Abstract

This paper explores the possible options for quantitative fishery stock assessment in tropicalwaters and is composed of four layers viz., concepts, methodologies, data and indicators.The concept promotes the fundamental theory that has been popular in research on stockdynamics, including the possibility of combining it with various doses of intrinsicallybiological information, from individual fish to regional stocks. After reviewing the concepts,tools and their evolution, an attempt has also been made to propose a few guidelines as thebest ways to approach stock assessment and formulate input control or output regulationstrategies in the most pragmatic yet scientific manner, thereby ensuring minimal impact onthe fishery, fishers and stocks in the medium term.   Keywords:Bayesian approach, Capture fisheries, Fish stockassessment, Models