In:
Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Canadian Science Publishing, Vol. 72, No. 6 ( 2015-06), p. 938-953
Abstract:
Estimates of age compositions of fish populations or catches that are fundamental inputs to analytical stock assessment models are generally obtained from sample surveys, and multistage cluster sampling of fish is the norm. We use simulations and extensive empirical survey data for Northeast Arctic cod (Gadus morhua) to compare the efficiency of estimators that use age–length keys (ALKs) with design-based estimators for estimating age compositions of fish. The design-based weighted ratio estimator produces the most accurate estimates for cluster-correlated data, and an alternative estimator based on a weighted ALK is equivalent under certain constraints. Using simulations to evaluate subsampling strategies, we show that otolith collections from a length-stratified subsample of one fish per 5 cm length bin (∼10 fish total) per haul or trip is sufficient and nearly as efficient as a random subsample of 20 fish. Our study also indicates that the common practice of applying fixed ALKs to length composition data can severely underestimate the variance in estimates of age compositions and that “borrowing” of ALKs developed for other gears, areas, or time periods can cause serious bias.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0706-652X
,
1205-7533
DOI:
10.1139/cjfas-2014-0408
Language:
English
Publisher:
Canadian Science Publishing
Publication Date:
2015
detail.hit.zdb_id:
7966-2
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1473089-3
SSG:
21,3
SSG:
12
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