Stock assessment of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in the Indian Ocean using A Stock-Production Model Incorporating Covariates (ASPIC)

A Stock-Production Model Incorporating Covariates (ASPIC) was used to conduct the stock assessment for swordfish in the Indian Ocean. The stock status became to be pessimistic because of the substantial increase in catches in recent years but the stock assessment results were obviously influenced by the adoption of CPUE series. The results from most of the scenarios indicate the current status of swordfish in the Indian Ocean may be not overfished and not subject to overfishing but there was high a risk of being overfishing or overfished.