Harvesting Strategies and Fishing Mortality Reference Point Comparisons for the Northwest Atlantic Stock of Atlantic Mackerel (Scomber scombrus)

Abstract

Previous research indicated that density dependence in population-level responses such as growth and predation mortality rate may play a major role in regulating the dynamics of the Northwest Atlantic stock of Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus). Simulation studies, utilizing this compensatory model of the mackerel stock, suggest that expected yields and spawning stock sizes under conditions of constant harvest rate or constant catch would be quite disparate. Yields and spawning stock size would be less variable and slightly larger under a constant catch strategy for catches of mackerel up to approximately 200 000 t. However, a constant harvest rate strategy would provide higher long-term yields and a more stable spawning stock at catches greater than 200 000 t. A comparison of a constant catch policy with F0.1, F20, and Fmax fishing strategies (constant F) suggests that the Fmax and F20 strategies would cause a long-term decline in the spawning stock below the current minimum spawning stock target and provide highly variable yields. A constant catch strategy could produce nearly the same level of yield with considerably less variability and maintain a larger mean spawning stock biomass than the F0.1 strategy.