Habitat Bio
Climatic Zone: Tropical. Depth Zone: Shelf (50 m - 200 m); Slope (200 m - 1000 m). Vertical Dist: Demersal.
Aq Res Struct
Biological Stock: Yes
Only Angola provided some data. The Working Group only considered one stock.
Exploit
CATCH: Catches are fairly stable between 1995 and 2000. They then increased between 2001 and 2004 from around 1 000 to 6 000 tonnes and another stability are observed from 2005 to 2010 around 4 458 tonnes. Thereafter, catches increased up to 11 000 tonnes over the last years (Table 5.11.3a and Figure 5.11.3a).
CPUE: The CPUE shows a stable trend between 2004 and 2010, before increasing in recent years and as other resource exploited in Angola waters, following the same pattern of the catches (Table 5.11.3b and Figure 5.11.3b).
Fishery Indicators
Type | Measure | Value | Unit | Time period |
---|
Production | Catch | 370 | tonnes | 1995 |
Catch | 456 | tonnes | 1996 |
Catch | 360 | tonnes | 1997 |
Catch | 1032 | tonnes | 1998 |
Catch | 516 | tonnes | 1999 |
Catch | 360 | tonnes | 2000 |
Catch | 1034 | tonnes | 2001 |
Catch | 1207 | tonnes | 2002 |
Catch | 2518 | tonnes | 2003 |
Catch | 6107 | tonnes | 2004 |
Catch | 4308 | tonnes | 2005 |
Catch | 4433 | tonnes | 2006 |
Catch | 4183 | tonnes | 2007 |
Catch | 4756 | tonnes | 2008 |
Catch | 4393 | tonnes | 2009 |
Catch | 4675 | tonnes | 2010 |
Catch | 3030 | tonnes | 2011 |
Catch | 9525 | tonnes | 2012 |
Catch | 14252 | tonnes | 2013 |
Catch | 10145 | tonnes | 2014 |
Catch | 12642 | tonnes | 2015 |
Catch | 12180 | tonnes | 2016 |
Bio Assess
Assessment year: 2017
The CECAF Working Groups have adopted the following Biological Reference Points (BRPs):
- Limit Reference points: BMSY and FMSY
- Target Reference Points: B0.1 and F0.1
Stock status is assigned based on current estimates of fishing mortality (Fcur) and biomass (Bcur) relative to these target and limit reference points (Bcur/BMSY, Fcur/FMSY, Bcur/B0.1, Fcur/F0.1). The results from the stock assessment of this stock are found under the “Biological state and trend section”.
Data
The Working Group used the total catches of
Merluccius polli and the CPUE of the industrial trawlers of Angola.
Assess Models
Type: Biomass-aggregated
Schaefer dynamic production model
The Schaefer dynamic production model, implemented on an Excel spreadsheet or worksheet was used to assess the state of the stocks and fisheries of Merluccius polli by the Working Group. This model is described in detail in FAO, 2012.
Results
The model doesn’t fit because the data was showing too many inconsistencies (FAO, 2020).
DISCUSSION: The Nansen survey abundance index shows two different periods: from 1994 to 2007, when the biomass was higher, and the period 2009–2016, when the biomass showed a decreasing trend. No data available to the Working Group.
Sci Advice
Considering the results of last assessment in 2011, the stock was fully exploited. The Working Group recommends that fishing mortality should not be increased and the stock should be well monitored (FAO, 2020).
Sources
FAO. 2019. Report of the FAO/CECAF Working Group on the Assessment of Demersal Resources – Subgroup South. Libreville, Gabon, 6–15 September 2017/Rapport du Groupe de travail sur l’évaluation des ressources démersales – Sous-groupe Sud. Libreville, Gabon, 6–15 septembre 2017. CECAF/ECAF series/ FAO/COPACE COPACE/PACE séries no.18/79. Rome.
http://www.fao.org/3/ca2739b/ca2739b.pdfFAO. 2019. Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic, Report of the eighth session of the Scientific Sub-Committee, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 23–26 October 2018 / Comité des pêches pour l’Atlantique Centre-Est Rapport de la huitième session du Sous-Comité scientifique, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 23–26 octobre 2018. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report / FAO Rapport sur les pêches et l’aquaculture No. 1265. Rome.
http://www.fao.org/3/ca5623b/ca5623b.pdfFAO. 2020. Report of the Twenty-Second Session of the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic, Libreville, Gabon, 17–19 September 2019. Rapport de la vingt-deuxième session du comité des pêches pour l’Atlantique centre-est, Libreville, Gabon, 17–19 septembre 2019. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report / FAO, Rapport sur les pêches et l’aquaculture No. 1303. Rome.
http://www.fao.org/3/ca8000b/CA8000B.pdf Bibliography
All references to figures, tables and bibliography in the text are found within the source of information.