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Total lipid energy as a proxy for total egg production by fish stocks

Author

Listed:
  • C. Tara Marshall

    (Institute of Marine Research, PO Box 1870 Nordnes)

  • Nathalia A. Yaragina

    (Polar Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography)

  • Yvan Lambert

    (Ministère des Pêches et des Océans, Institut Maurice-Lamontagne, C.P. 1000)

  • Olav S. Kjesbu

    (Institute of Marine Research, PO Box 1870 Nordnes)

Abstract

The indeterminate relationship between the total biomass of mature fish (spawner biomass) and the number of offspring produced (recruitment) has puzzled population dynamicists1 and impeded fisheries management2. The relationship assumes that spawner biomass (in tonnes) is proportional to the total number of eggs produced (TEP) by the stock3, an assumption under increasing challenge4,5,6,7,8. Most stocks require proxies for TEP because contemporary and/or historical fecundity data are lacking. Here we show a positive association between recruitment and the liver weights of spawners in the Barents Sea cod stock which suggests that recruitment is constrained by the amount of lipid energy stored in the liver. This stimulated our interest in estimating total lipid energy (TLE; in kilojoules) for mature females in the stock. We examined the suitability of TLE as a proxy through correlation and simulation analyses. The results indicate that TLE is proportional to TEP and exhibits a similar response to varying food abundance. Replacing spawner biomass with more accurate measures of reproductive potential is essential to developing a rational basis for stock conservation9. Correctly specifying the first-order maternal effect on TEP is a prerequisite to detecting environmental and ecological effects on recruitment10.

Suggested Citation

  • C. Tara Marshall & Nathalia A. Yaragina & Yvan Lambert & Olav S. Kjesbu, 1999. "Total lipid energy as a proxy for total egg production by fish stocks," Nature, Nature, vol. 402(6759), pages 288-290, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:402:y:1999:i:6759:d:10.1038_46272
    DOI: 10.1038/46272
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    Cited by:

    1. Andries Richter & Anne Maria Eikeset & Daan Soest & Florian Klaus Diekert & Nils Chr. Stenseth, 2018. "Optimal Management Under Institutional Constraints: Determining a Total Allowable Catch for Different Fleet Segments in the Northeast Arctic Cod Fishery," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 69(4), pages 811-835, April.
    2. Aanestad, Sigurd & Sandal, Leif K. & Eide, Arne, 2007. "Optimal Fishing Policy for Two Species in a Three-Species Predator-Prey Model The case of Capelin, Cod and Juvenile Herring in the Barents Sea," Discussion Papers 2007/29, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Business and Management Science.

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