Growth parameter estimates and the effects of fishing on size-composition and growth of snappers and emperors: implication for management

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to address constraints to management and development arising from the use of uncertain estimates of growth parameters in analytical fishery models such as yield per recruit. Through case studies of Indian Ocean fisheries for snappers and emperors, the project addressed the questions: how important is accurate estimation of growth rate and the changes associated with fishing?; how inaccurate are length based methods, and is there a need to allocate scarce resources to more costly methods?; and, what degree of uncertainty in management advice can we expect?