Accounting for environmental and observer effects in estimating abundance of southern bluefin tuna from aerial survey data.

ABSTRACT: Southern bluefin tuna (SBT) is a valuable species that has been subject to high exploitation rates since the 1950s. In 2011, the spawning stock biomass was estimated to be at a historically low level, at only 5% of pre-fished biomass. A key component for managing and rebuilding the stock is having reliable, fishery-independent estimates of juvenile abundance. This paper describes how such estimates have been constructed from aerial surveys of juvenile (age 2-4) SBT conducted annually in the Great Australian Bight from 1993-2000 and 2005-2009. During these surveys, observers flew along pre-set transect lines searching for surface schools of SBT. Data were collected on the location and biomass of SBT sightings, and on the environmental conditions present during the survey. Sea surface temper

SUBMITTER: Eveson JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6257917 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature