Evidence for rebuilding in the panga stock on the Agulhas Bank, South Africa

• Published in: Fisheries research 1998-03, Vol.34 (2), p.103-121
• Main Authors: Booth, Anthony J., Punt, André E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AFRIQUE DU SUD; AGE STRUCTURE; Age-structured production model; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass index; By-catch management; ESTRUCTURA POR EDADES; Exploitation and management of natural biological resources (hunting, fishing and exploited populations survey, etc.); FISHERY RESOURCES; FISHES; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; MODELE; MODELOS; PECES; POISSON (ANIMAL); Pterogymnus laniarius; RECURSOS PESQUEROS; REPARTITION DES AGES; RESSOURCE HALIEUTIQUE; RIESGO; RISK; RISQUE; SOUTH AFRICA; Sparidae; SUDAFRICA
• ISSN: 0165-7836; 1872-6763
• DOI: 10.1016/S0165-7836(97)00092-1

The panga Pterogymnus laniarius (Pisces: Sparidae) resource on the Agulhas Bank, South Africa is assessed using an age-structured production model. The values for the free parameters of the model are estimated using biomass indices derived from fishery-independent trawl surveys. Although the data are fairly uninformative about the productivity of the resource within the range compatible with the biological parameters, the results indicate robustly that the population has recovered from low levels in the mid-1970's and that it can sustain somewhat higher levels of fishing intensity. Risk analysis calculations are used to assess the relative merits of alternative sequences of future catches with the level of sustainable catch being very sensitive to the selectivity pattern of the gear utilised.