Assessing the management-related benefits of fixed-station fishery-independent surveys in Australia's Southern Shark Fishery

Abstract

Monte Carlo simulation is used to assess the benefits of different levels of survey intensity for a programme of fixed-station surveys using gill-nets, in terms of the ability to satisfy the management objectives for gummy shark, Mustelus antarcticus, in Bass Strait, Australia. The simulations consider the entire management process: Data collection, data analysis, stock assessment, and setting of total allowable catches (TACs). The use in assessments of survey results rather than future commercial catch rates leads to a marked improvement in the ability to satisfy the legislative management objective for Australian fisheries of Ecological Sustainable Development, especially if future catch r..