1. MEDITERRANEAN SWORDFISH. STOCK ASSESSMENT
MEDITERRANEAN SWORDFISH STOCK ASSESSMENT (Madrid, Spain, 3-7 September 2007)
SCI-037

2. Background Previous assessment in 2003 (data up to 2001)
MSY benchmarks were not identified

3. Fisheries data Gears: Longlines & Gillnets Task 1 data: 1950-2005
Size data: (Main fisheries)

4. Catch composition Large catches of juveniles (50-70%)
SWO Figure 4 Proportion of catch numbers/weight at age by year.

5. CPUE data Spanish longlines (1988-2005) Greek longlines (1987-2005)
Italian longlines ( )
Italian gillnets ( )
Moroccan gillnets ( )
Japanese longlines (by-catch)

6. Stock assessment Two assessment types
Production modelling (two approaches)
Age based VPAs (two approaches)

7. Production modeling ASPIC
(long data series, assumptions about B/K were needed to achieve convergence)
Current stock level about 13% lower than optimum
Current F about 25% higher than optimum

8. ASPIC results Current F 25% higher than optimum
Current stock level 13% lower than optimum

9. Production modeling (2nd Approach - SCRS/2007/109)
(short data series, initial biomass fraction fixed, based on F derived from VPA)
Current stock level 12% lower than optimum

10. VPA
VPA-2BOX
Data
40% reduction in spawning stock level but modest changes in the last decade
XSA
Stable recruitment over the past 20 years