Strength and consistency of density dependence in marine fish productivity

Type Article
Date 2022-07
Language English
Author(s) Rindorf AnnaORCID1, Deurs MikaelORCID1, Howell Daniel2, Andonegi Eider3, Berger Aaron4, Bogstad BjarteORCID2, Cadigan NoelORCID5, Elvarsson Bjarki Þór6, Hintzen Niels7, Savina-Rolland MarieORCID8, Taylor Marc9, Trijoulet VanessaORCID1, Kooten Tobias7, Zhang FanORCID10, Collie Jeremy11
Affiliation(s) 1 : National Institute of Aquatic Resources Danish Technical University Lyngby, Denmark
2 : Institute of Marine Research Bergen, Norway
3 : AZTI Marine Research Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA) Sukarrieta ‐ Bizkaia, Spain
4 : Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring Division Northwest Fisheries Science Center NMFS‐NOAA Newport Oregon, USA
5 : Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research St. John's Newfoundland ,Canada
6 : Marine and Freshwater Research Institute Hafnarfjörður ,Iceland
7 : Wageningen Marine Research IJmuiden, Netherlands
8 : Ifremer STH Lorient, France
9 : Thünen Institute of Sea Fisheries Bremerhaven ,Germany
10 : College of Marine Science Shanghai Ocean University Shanghai ,China
11 : Graduate School of Oceanography University of Rhode Island Narragansett Rhode Island, USA
Source Fish And Fisheries (1467-2960) (Wiley), 2022-07 , Vol. 23 , N. 4 , P. 812-828
DOI 10.1111/faf.12650
WOS© Times Cited 16
Keyword(s) Benthic fish, demersal fish, fisheries, North Atlantic, pelagic fish, stability
Abstract

The correct prediction of the shape and strength of density dependence in productivity is key to predicting future stock development and providing the best possible long-term fisheries management advice. Here, we identify unbiased estimators of the relationship between somatic growth, recruitment and density, and apply these to 80 stocks in the Northeast Atlantic. The analyses revealed density-dependent recruitment in 68% of the stocks. Excluding pelagic stocks exhibiting significant trends in spawning stock biomass, the probability of significant density dependence was even higher at 78%. The relationships demonstrated that at the commonly used biomass limit of 0.2 times maximum spawning stock size, only 32% of the stocks attained three quarters of their maximum recruitment. This leaves 68% of the stocks with less than three quarters of their maximum recruitment at this biomass limit. Significantly lower recruitment at high stock size than at intermediate stock size was seen in 38% of the stocks. Density dependence in late growth occurred in 54% of the stocks, whereas early growth was generally density-independent. Pelagic stocks were less likely to exhibit density dependence in recruitment than demersal and benthic stocks. We recommend that both the degree to which productivity is related to density and the degree to which the relationship changes over time should be investigated. Both of these aspects should be considered in evaluations of whether sustainability and yield can be improved by including density dependence in forecasts of the effects of different management actions.

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Rindorf Anna, Deurs Mikael, Howell Daniel, Andonegi Eider, Berger Aaron, Bogstad Bjarte, Cadigan Noel, Elvarsson Bjarki Þór, Hintzen Niels, Savina-Rolland Marie, Taylor Marc, Trijoulet Vanessa, Kooten Tobias, Zhang Fan, Collie Jeremy (2022). Strength and consistency of density dependence in marine fish productivity. Fish And Fisheries, 23(4), 812-828. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12650 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00753/86468/