EXPLORATORY ASSESSMENT METHODS FOR EXPLORATORY FISHERIES: AN EXAMPLE CASE USING CATCH, IUU CATCH AND TAGGING DATA FOR DIVISION 58.4.3A

This paper details a potential methodology for performing initial stock assessments for exploratory fisheries and by-catch species, where catch data and mark-recapture data are present but more detailed data, specifically age or length structured data on catches or surveys, is either missing or poorly sampled. As an example case we use the catch data, legal and IUU, and the mark-recapture data in sub-area 58.4.3a to demonstrate the potential uses of the model and also suggest potential catch limits for this stock, based on these results.