Enhance the Snapper stock assessment model
Project in progress
The Snapper stock assessment model (SnapEst) uses numerous biological and fishery datasets to provide:
- annual estimates of biomass
- exploitation rate
- recruitment for each stock of Snapper in South Australia.
The model was initially developed in the early 2000s and has evolved to incorporate new datasets through time such as spawning biomass estimates from the DEPM.
The proposed project to enhance the stock assessment model involves 3 components:
- An external review of the existing model by an independent expert.
- Investigation into the possibility of integrating new datasets developed through the Snapper Science Program.
- Development of a projection model to predict potential future trends in the population.
An external review is currently being finalised, and the recommendations will guide the structure of the project. The projection model will use the estimates of recruitment from juvenile Snapper surveys to forecast trends in recruitment and adult biomass.