Sensitivity of the BEAM4 fisheries bioeconomic model to the main biological input parameters

• Published in: Ecological modelling 2001-07, Vol.141 (1), p.53-66
• Main Authors: de Castro, Luiz Arnaud Britto, Petrere, Miguel, Comune, Antonio Evaldo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; BEAM4; Bio-economic model; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil; Exploitation and management of natural biological resources (hunting, fishing and exploited populations survey, etc.); Fisheries model; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects. Techniques; Methods and techniques (sampling, tagging, trapping, modelling...); Micropogonias furnieri; Sensitivity
• ISSN: 0304-3800; 1872-7026
• DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3800(01)00241-1

Several runs of the BEAM4 model were carried out, combining several sets of input parameters from von Bertalanffy's growth curve ( Lt= L ∞[1− e - k( t- to) ]) and the natural mortality ( M), with sets of parameters from the length–weight relationship ( W= aL b ). Further simulations were made with variations of ±20% in the input parameters: recruitment ( R), catchability coefficient ( q), and the lengths at which 50 and 75% of the fishes are retained by the net ( L 50% and L 75%,). The data used were those of the pair trawl fisheries for “corvina” Micropogonias furnieri, off southeastern Brazil. Results showed variations in the output (landed weight) ranging from −62 to 147% associated with the diverse sets of VBGF and LWR parameters, and lower variations associated with the other input parameters tested.