Research Document - 2014/078
Empirical estimation of the instantaneous rate of natural mortality (M) of Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus L.) of NAFO Subareas 3 and 4
By François Grégoire and Ian McQuinn
Abstract
In this study, several empirical relationships were used to obtain estimates of instantaneous rates of natural mortality (M) for the Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus L.) in NAFO Subareas 3 and 4. These relationships, taken from the literature, are mainly based on reproductive effort, growth, longevity, and maturity. Mortality rates that were estimated are characterized by similar variations and annual trends. Following the analysis of the results, the empirical relationship developed by Gislason et al. (2010) and a variant of this one estimated by Charnov et al. (2013) appear to be the most appropriate to obtain indirect estimates of the natural mortality for this population. One of the advantages using these relationships is the possibility of calculating age-specific mortality rates that could eventually be used in sequential population analyses (SPA).
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