An Alternative Modeling Approach to Stock Assessment of Central Philippine Waters

Abstract

This study initiates a significant application of a spatially and temporally integrated management tool for fishery stock assessment. The Mass Conservation Model (MCM), a simple model formulated with the capability to generate new indices of biomass analysis solely from catch data, was used to analyze abundance, composition, and movement of stock in central Philippine waters. MCM demonstrates that, given only sufficient spatial and temporal catch data, indications of biomass movements, abundance, and stock composition can be obtained. However, because the model uses only the catch data, the analysis is dependent on reliable sampling and the accuracy of the input data. Therefore, it is recommended that agency personnel tasked to collect, process, and analyze catch data including their enumerators must train properly in scientific methods and the marine sciences.