A general theory for the analysis of catch and effort data

Abstract

This paper presents a general theory for analysis of catch and effort data from a fishery. Almost all previous methods are shown to be special cases, including those of Schaefer, Pella and Tomlinson, Schnute, and Deriso, as well as the stock reduction analysis technique of Kimura and Tagart and Kimura, Balsiger, and Ito. Like that of Deriso, the theory here is based on natural equations for an age structured population. However, instead of a fixed single model, this paper gives a general model that can be tailored to any particular fishery. The problem of determining the appropriate special case is conceptually identical to the model identification problem described by Box and Jenkins in the context of time series analysis, Identification necessarily begins with a suitable class of models. This paper defines such a class, unique to fisheries, complete with mathematical proofs and biological explanations of all important equations.