The effects of stock size and environmental variability on Cape hake recruitment in Namibia: an unsolved puzzle (a comment on Kainge et al. 2013) |
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| Authors: | J-P Roux MR Wilhelm |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Lüderitz Marine Research, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Lüderitz, Namibia;2. Animal Demography Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa;3. Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, Texas, USA |
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| Abstract: | Measuring and forecasting recruitment are central to the understanding and management of fish stocks. Kainge et al. (2013) studied the effect of spawning stock size and environmental fluctuations on the recruitment levels of the Cape hake Merluccius capensis in Namibia. However, their study contains some flaws that undermine the conclusion that Cape hake recruitment is under the influence of upwelling in summer. Until those flaws are properly addressed, this conclusion, in our view, should be treated with caution. |
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| Keywords: | environment fish growth fisheries surveys spawning stock dynamics |
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