Improving biological knowledge of albacore tuna, Thunnus alalunga, in the Indian Ocean: a scoping study

This report presents the preliminary results of a scoping study for improving biological knowledge of albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Area of Competence. The key objectives of the scoping study are to:
1. Undertake sensitivity analyses to indicate the sensitivity of the stock assessment to:
1.1 the range of plausible values that might be estimated for each parameter; and
1.2 potential structural changes to the assessment that might be informed by biological sampling.
2. Undertake power analyses on key biological parameters to determine sampling needs.
3. Using the outcomes of 1 and 2 above, and an understanding of the fisheries, outline the sampling considerations and develop a sampling design required to provide estimates of length- and age-based population parameters to improve stock assessments of albacore tuna in the Indian Ocean (IO).