Stock assessment of Striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax) in the Indian Ocean using the Stock Synthesis

In this study, Stock Synthesis (SS) was applied to conduct the stock assessment for striped marlin in the Indian Ocean. The analyses were performed by updating the historical catch, standardized CPUE series and length-frequency data, while life-history parameters and model assumptions remained the same with the scenario for the previous stock assessment adopted in 2018. The results indicated that the current spawning biomass was lower than the MSY level and the fishing mortality was higher than the MSY level. In addition, the current stock status might be likely more pessimistic than that obtained in the previous stock assessment in 2018.