Assessing the risk of alternative management strategies in a Mediterranean fishery: protecting the younger vs reducing fishing effort

A stochastic age-structured population model was developed to explore biologically favourable levels of effort and closing periods within the sardine pelagic fishery in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Results suggested that the developed age-structured model captured the observed biomass fluctuations and catches reasonably well and represents the first comprehensive investigation of alternative management strategies for eastern Mediterranean sardine fishery that include stochasticity. The present study provided direct evidence for the importance of the correct timing of the temporal fishing ban. Significant benefits were found both in terms of biomass and catch from a corrective shift in the fishing closed period. The current findings suggested that protecting the younger age groups from fishing in the period October–December, by shifting the ban period earlier than December may profit, biologically, the stock and economically the fishing sector. Progressive reductions in fishing mortality/effort also yield significant positive biological and fishery benefits in the short term.     

Rapid data collection and assessment of the biology of Acanthurus nigrofuscus at Woleai Atoll, Micronesia

Traditional community fishing methods commonly employed in the tropical Pacific were used to generate information on the fishery biology of Acanthurus nigrofuscus at Woleai Atoll, Micronesia, over a short time period. A simple depletion model was used to estimate the biomass of A. nigrofuscus at four back reef lagoon sites at Woleai, using two different fishing methods; spear fishing and drive-in-net fishing. The mean biomass and density of A. nigrofuscus on the lagoon reefs was 8000 g ha ⁻¹ and 183 fish ha ⁻¹ respectively, with a total estimated standing stock for the lagoon of 91 500 fish or a biomass of 4·0 t. The size frequencies of fish caught by spear fishing were biased towards larger sized individuals, while those from drive-in-net fishing were thought to be more representative of the true population size frequencies. Variation in the density and biomass of A. nigrofuscus at the four reef sites was thought to be due to the length of time between episodes of community fishing at each reef site. The sex ratio (male: female) of A. nigrofuscus was significantly different from unity (1: 0·47) and males grew larger than females. Sexually mature fish were present in all size classes above the minimum capture length and spawning activity was greatest during the period of the full moon.     

Optimum fishing strategies for Isostichopusfuscus (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) in the Gulf Of California, Mexico

The Isostichopus fuscus fishery in Mexico was heavily exploited until 1994, when it was closed due to overfishing. However, no information existed on the status of the populations. The fishery was evaluated through an age structured simulation model, and according to our analysis of the stock, the fishery can be feasible and sustainable as long as fishing mortality and age of first catch are optimized. In order to evaluate exploitation strategies, several scenarios were simulated considering different combinations of fishing intensities and ages of first catch. Input data for the model included population parameters, commercial catch and costs and benefits of the fishing operations. Yield production was strongly influenced by the fishing pressure and by the age of first capture. When the first one increased, significant decreases in yield and profits occurred. The best exploitation strategy was these parameters: fishing mortality level F = 0.15, age at first capture t(c) = 4 years, and yielding of approximately 430 tons. However, since the species reproduces for the first time at 5 years, extracting younger specimens would collapse the population. The critical value of fishing mortality was detected at Fc = 0.25. If exceeded, the population tends to exhaustion and the fishery is no longer profitable. In conclusion, I. fuscus fishery is highly vulnerable to overfishing and age of catch. It must be taken into account that the management policies should be considered as pilot and used on a regional basis. Continuous monitoring of the stock, control of the number of fishing licenses and extracting only specimens 5 yeasr-old and older (around 20 cm and >400 g), will allow the populations to recover from fishing activities. Rev. Biol. Trop.     

Marine Reserves: from Beverton and Holt to the Present

The idea of using marine reserves, where all fishing is banned is not new to fisheries management. It was first formally considered by Beverton and Holt but rejected in favour of approaches such as fleet and gear control. Since that analysis, many fisheries have collapsed worldwide, illustrating the vulnerability of fishery resources and the ineffectiveness of these approaches. Empirical data and modelling suggest that marine reserves would generally increase yields, especially at the high fishing mortality that occurs in most fisheries. However, the most interesting feature of reserves is their ability to provide resilience to overexploitation, thereby reducing the risk of stock collapse. Benefits from reserves come from the increase in biomass and individual size within them, resulting in adult migration and/or larval dispersal that would replenish fishing grounds. The use of marine reserves in managing fisheries necessitates a thorough understanding of critical habitat requirements, fish movement, fish behaviour, the relations between subpopulations and the critical density effect for larval dispersal. When properly designed, and coupled with other management practices, reserves may provide a better insurance against uncertainties in stock assessment, fishing control and management by protecting a part of the population from exploitation. This strategy can be used for both sedentary and migratory species.     

Fishing diseased abalone to promote yield and conservation

Past theoretical models suggest fishing disease-impacted stocks can reduce parasite transmission, but this is a good management strategy only when the exploitation required to reduce transmission does not overfish the stock. We applied this concept to a red abalone fishery so impacted by an infectious disease (withering syndrome) that stock densities plummeted and managers closed the fishery. In addition to the non-selective fishing strategy considered by past disease-fishing models, we modelled targeting (culling) infected individuals, which is plausible in red abalone because modern diagnostic tools can determine infection without harming landed abalone and the diagnostic cost is minor relative to the catch value. The non-selective abalone fishing required to eradicate parasites exceeded thresholds for abalone sustainability, but targeting infected abalone allowed the fishery to generate yield and reduce parasite prevalence while maintaining stock densities at or above the densities attainable if the population was closed to fishing. The effect was strong enough that stock and yield increased even when the catch was one-third uninfected abalone. These results could apply to other fisheries as the diagnostic costs decline relative to catch value.     

Growth and production of the dominant pelagic fish, Acanthobrama terraesanctae, in subtropical Lake Kinneret, Israel

Acanthobrama terraesanctae (local name lavnun), an endemic planktivorous cyprinid, dominates total fish numbers (>80%) in Lake Kinneret, and may have a significant top-down impact on the lake ecosystem. The length of young-of-the-year fish calculated from the von Bertalanffy equation agreed with field observations of juvenile growth. An unusual bi-modal length-frequency distribution observed in May 1993 provided additional help in age identification. Males grew more slowly than females and reached a lower maximum length. Total mortality coefficients (exponents) of males and females >12 cm (minimal legal size of fish in the catch) were similar ( c. 1·52). An average cohort reaches maximum biomass during its second year. Maximum production is created at the end of the second year. The production: biomass ratio of the population was 1·16, and 36% of total lavnun standing stock was taken by fishing. From the late 1980s to early 1990s, when standing stock and population structure were stable, the average harvest of 1000 t was consistent with a total lavnun biomass of 2800 t, which constitutes 50–70% of the total fish stock measured acoustically in the lake. Such a biomass could be sustained by the known production of zooplankton. Absence of verified growth data for lavnun contributed to the collapse of the fishery in 1993, because it hampered timely revision of fishery policy in response to the drastic changes in the lavnun stock in 1992.     

洪泽湖大银鱼和太湖新银鱼的生长、死亡参数及资源利用状况

2015年7月至2016年6月采用银鱼拖网对洪泽湖大银鱼和太湖新银鱼进行周年逐月采样, 确定单位水体面积(1 km2)捕捞渔获量, 估算种群生长和死亡相关参数; 利用平衡产量模型评估获得最高单位补充量渔产量时的最适开捕时间, 并设定为优化的管理方案; 构建单位补充量产卵群体生物量(Spawner biomass per-recruitment; SBR)模型, 评估洪泽湖银鱼资源在当前和优化管理方案下的捕捞利用状况, 为其资源管理提供指导。研究结果表明, 大银鱼体长和体重分别为29.0—182.6 mm和0.10—34.79 g, 世代周期中存在2个快速生长阶段, 即4—6月和8—11月; 最适生长方程为von Bertalanffy方程, L_t=173.35×[1–e–1.972(t–0.092)]; 捕捞死亡系数和自然死亡系数分别为8.583/year和3.292/year。太湖新银鱼体长和体重分别为20.4—82.7 mm和0.04—3.40 g, 整个世代周期持续生长, 最适生长方程为Logistic方程, L_t=66.82/[1+e–5.386(t–0.124)]; 捕捞死亡系数和自然死亡系数分别为7.006/year和1.146/year。平衡产量模型结果显示, 当大银鱼开捕年龄为0.593 year, 太湖新银鱼开捕年龄为0.420 year时, 即将银鱼开捕时间由现行的8月9日, 推迟20d, 并取消现行的5月一周捕捞, 可以获得最大总渔产量。SBR模型评估结果显示, 在当前管理模式下, 大银鱼SBR残存量相当于未开发状态的20.23%, 优化管理方式后可达到36.72%, 能有效缓解大银鱼的捕捞压力; 在优化管理方式后, 大湖新银鱼的SBR残存量从现行管理方式下相当于未开发状态的7.50%, 提升至12.86%, 但仍低于20%。     

西北太平洋柔鱼渔业生物经济模型及其管理策略

西北太平洋柔鱼是中国大陆、日本及中国台湾鱿钓船队共同开发的主要经济头足类之一,如何兼顾鱿钓船队的渔业利益,并综合考虑生态效益、经济效益和社会效益,科学制定渔业管理目标是确保柔鱼资源可持续利用的重要研究内容。根据中国大陆、日本及中国台湾鱿钓船队的渔获统计数据及相关经济参数,构建基于多船队的生物经济模型,模拟了50年内(1997—2047年)各捕捞船队开发柔鱼资源过程中的动态变化,并探讨了在10种不同的管理方案下各船队捕捞努力量、柔鱼资源量、渔获产量及其渔业利润随时间的动态变化。结果表明,在所有设计方案下,随着捕捞努力量的动态变化,资源量在前10a均呈急剧下降趋势,随后经长期波动后逐渐趋于稳定并维持在较低水平。从长期效益来看,方案9(提高中国台湾船队捕捞系数)的累计产量及累计利润中等,但能兼顾各国或地区船队间的经济利益和社会效益,可建议以方案9作为柔鱼渔业的参考管理目标;从柔鱼资源保护角度来看,方案4(提高中国大陆船队作业成本)的资源量保持最好,可以对方案4进行适当的优化作为参考管理目标,即提高中国大陆船队作业成本,同时适当降低日本船队的可捕系数,可确保柔鱼资源量保持在更高的水平上。     

On the Optimal Size of Marine Reserves

The excessive and unsustainable exploitation of our marine resources has led to the promotion of marine reserves as a fisheries management tool. Marine reserves, areas in which fishing is restricted or prohibited, can offer opportunities for the recovery of exploited stock and fishery enhancement. This study examines the impact of the creation of marine protected areas, from both economic and biological perspectives. The consequences of reserve establishment on the long-run equilibrium fish biomass and fishery catch levels are evaluated. We include reserve size as control variable to maximize catch at equilibrium. A continuous time model is used to simulate the effects of reserve size on fishing catch. Fish movements between the sites is assumed to take place at a faster time scale than the variation of the stock and the change of the fleet size. We take advantage of these two time scales to derive a reduced model governing the dynamics of the total fish stock and the fishing effort. Simulation results suggest that the establishment of a protected marine reserve will always lead to an increase in total fish biomass, an optimal size of a marine reserve can achieve to maximize the catch at equilibrium.     

A 27-year study of brown trout population dynamics and exploitation in Lake Songsjøen, central Norway

From 1968–1984 (period I), a brown trout Salmo trutta , population in a 70-ha oligotrophic lake in central Norway was exploited using larger mesh gill-nets selectively removing the larger fish. From 1985–1994 (period II), intermediate sized fish were removed using smaller-mesh sizes gill-nets. Fishing mortality and CPUE were correlated positively with effort and numbers of fish >3 years old for period II. The gill-net catchability was correlated negatively with spawner biomass and number of trout >3 years old. The significant positive correlation between natural mortality and stock biomass and spawning stock biomass indicated density-dependent mortality. The significant correlation between spawning stock and recruitment described by the Ricker model, indicated density-dependent recruitment of 1-year-old trout. The fishing regimes in the two periods affected the population dynamics and density differently. Selective removal of smaller fish permitted the larger fish to survive, and was beneficial in reducing fish density and maintaining stocks at low levels, consequently, achieving the expected increase in fish growth rates.     

Life cycle assessment of European anchovy (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Engraulis encrasicolus</Emphasis>) landed by purse seine vessels in northern Spain

Purpose

The main purpose of this article is to assess the environmental impacts associated with the fishing operations related to European anchovy fishing in Cantabria (northern Spain) under a life cycle approach.

Methods

The life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was applied for this case study including construction, maintenance, use, and end of life of the vessels. The functional unit used was 1 kg of landed round anchovy at port. Inventory data were collected for the main inputs and outputs of 32 vessels, representing a majority of vessels in the fleet.

Results and discussion

Results indicated, in a similar line to what is reported in the literature, that the production, transportation, and use of diesel were the main environmental hot spots in conventional impact categories. Moreover, in this case, the production and transportation of seine nets was also relevant. Impacts linked to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions suggest that emissions were in the upper range for fishing species captured with seine nets and the value of global warming potential (GWP) was 1.44 kg CO₂ eq per functional unit. The ecotoxicity impacts were mainly due to the emissions of antifouling substances to the ocean. Regarding fishery-specific categories, many were discarded given the lack of detailed stock assessments for this fishery. Hence, only the biotic resource use category was computed, demonstrating that the ecosystems’ effort to sustain the fishery is relatively low.

Conclusions

The use of the LCA methodology allowed identifying the main environmental hot spots of the purse seining fleet targeting European anchovy in Cantabria. Individualized results per port or per vessel suggested that there are significant differences in GHG emissions between groups. In addition, fuel use is high when compared to similar fisheries. Therefore, research needs to be undertaken to identify why fuel use is so high, particularly if it is related to biomass and fisheries management or if skipper decisions could play a role.

     

Stock status and current tendencies in the population dynamics of commercial fishes of Pskov-Chudskoe water body

Dynamics of eight commercial populations of fish from Pskov-Chudskoe Lake forming the main bulk (up to 80%) of annual catch was analyzed using an ADAPT-VPA model making it possible to reconstruct the dynamics of the total stock biomass and fishing mortality. The populations of five species (European smelt Coregonus albula, whitefish C. lavaretus maraenoides, perch Perca fluviatilis, roach Rutilus rutilus, ruffe Gymnocephalus cernuus) in the present period demonstrate a tendency for a decrease in biomass while the stocks of two species (bream Abramis brama and zander Sander lucioperca) beginning from the 1980s considerably increased. A particularly drastic (multifold) increase in biomass is recorded in zander population. The causes of the observed population changes are related mainly to ecosystemic transformations taking place in the water body; only with respect to two species-perch and roach-can one state that the decrease in stocks is determined in part by the fishery impact. The increase in zander population is, in all probability, the result of the combined effects of eutrophication forming favorable conditions for the feeding and survival of its juveniles and fishery that led to the decrease in the biomass of one of its main food competitors-perch. The drastic increase in zander numbers in turn promoted the decrease in the biomass of species being objects of its feeding.     

应用年龄结构产量模型评估印度洋黄鳍金枪鱼资源

利用年龄结构产量模型(Age structured production model,ASPM)评估了印度洋黄鳍金枪鱼资源状况,同时结合亲体量-补充量曲线陡度系数和年龄组自然死亡系数的敏感性分析,描述了黄鳍金枪鱼资源的发展趋势、判断了开发状况。研究认为,陡度系数设在0.6-0.8才可能使亲体量产生出最大可持续产量(Maximum sustainable yield,MSY)的水平。采用美洲热带金枪鱼委员会推荐的自然死亡系数值时,评估结果最接近渔业现状。研究发现,随着捕捞努力量的增加,总资源量和亲体量呈逐年下降趋势,但总资源量自1990年后趋向稳定,维持在195.9-263.2万t,平均为221万t;亲体量在1994年后下降到100万t以下,1997年以后处在维持MSY所需亲体量的水平之下,目前仍呈下降趋势。补充量在渔业初期呈现大幅度波动,1978年后趋于稳定,并维持在3258.36-6583.35×106尾,平均为4687.66×106尾。未成熟鱼的数量总体较为稳定,但成熟鱼的数量出现剧减,从渔业初期的246.51×106尾减少到2005年的19.02×106尾。模型估计的总捕捞死亡系数从渔业初期开始逐渐上升,1991年后出现大幅度上升,处于0.334-0.456间,2003年时超过FMSY,捕捞产量也于2003年超过MSY。分析认为,2003年以来印度洋黄鳍金枪鱼的持续高产量被认为是不可持续,根据ASPM估算,2003-2006年均产量46.4万t,超过了MSY(36.4万t);S/SMSY为0.76;Fall/FMSY为1.39,由此判断现阶段印度洋黄鳍金枪鱼正处于过度捕捞状态。     

Catchability: a key parameter for fish stock assessment

Summary Catchability is a concept in fishery biology which reflects the efficiency of a particular fishery. Its quantitative magnitude is expressed by the catchability coefficient, which relates the biomass abundance to the capture or fishing mortality. This paper is a comprehensive review of catchability including the development of our knowledge, interpretation and estimation.Catchability patterns indicate that the catchability coefficient has been used in two main lines: (a) increased efficiency of fishing effort and (b) its relation to population fishery processes for assessment and management purposes. It involves various aspects of the fishery, such as individual and population biology, characteristics of the fishing gear, amount of fishing, fishing strategies, and environmental fluctuation, among others.The concept is proposed of an integrated model of the catchability coefficient, which incorporates various of the aspects mentioned above. It is illustrated with two examples of its application: the red grouper (Epinephelus morio) fishery from the Campeche Bank, Gulf of Mexico, and the sardine (Sardinops caeruleus) fishery from the Gulf of California.     

Trophic interactions and community structure in the upwelling system off Central Chile (33-39°S)

Trophic interactions and community structure in the upwelling system off Central Chile (USCCh) (33-39°S) are analyzed using biological and ecological data concerning the main trophic groups and the Ecopath with Ecosim software version 5.0 (EwE). The model encompasses the fisheries, cetaceans, sea lion, marine birds, cephalopods, large-sized pelagic fish (sword fish), medium-sized pelagic fish (horse mackerel, hoki), small-sized pelagic fish (anchovy, common sardine), demersal fish (e.g. Chilean hake, black conger-eel), benthic invertebrates (red squat lobster, yellow squat lobster) and other groups such as zooplankton, phytoplankton and detritus. Input data was gathered from published and unpublished reports and our own estimates. Trophic interactions, system indicators and food web attributes are calculated using network analysis routines included in EwE. Results indicate that trophic groups are aligned around four trophic levels (TL) with phytoplankton and detritus at the TL=1, while large-sized pelagic fish and cetaceans are top predators (TL>4.0). The fishery is located at an intermediate to low trophic level (TL=2.97), removing about 15% of the calculated system primary production. The pelagic realm dominates the system, with medium-sized pelagic fish as the main fish component in biomass, while small-sized pelagic fish dominate total landings. Chilean hake is by far the main demersal fish component in both, biomass and yield. Predators consume the greater part of the production of the most important fishery resources, particularly juvenile stages of Chilean hake. Consequently, mortality by predation is an important component of total mortality. However, fishery also removes a large fraction of common sardine, anchovy, horse mackerel, and Chilean hake. The analysis of direct and indirect trophic impacts reveals that Chilean hake is a highly cannibalistic species. Chilean hake is also an important predator on anchovy, common sardine, benthic invertebrates, and demersal fish. The fisheries heavily impact on Chilean hake, common sardine, anchovy, and horse mackerel. Total system biomass (B=476 t km⁻² year⁻¹) and throughput (T=89454 t km⁻² year⁻¹) estimated in the USCCh model are in accordance with models of comparable systems. Considering system attributes derived from network analysis, the USCCh can be characterized as an immature system, with short trophic chains and low trophic transfer efficiency. Finally, we suggest that trophic interactions should be considered in stock assessment and management programs in USCCh. In addition, future research programs should be carried out in order to understand the ecosystem effects of fishing and trophic control in this highly productive food web.     

Effects of market price on the dynamics of a spatial fishery model: Over-exploited fishery/traditional fishery

We present a dynamical model of a spatial fishery describing the time evolution of the fish stock, the fishing effort and the market price of the resource. The market price is fixed by the gap between the supply and the demand. Assuming two time scales, we use “aggregation of variables methods” in order to derive a reduced model governing fish density and fishing effort at a slow time scale. The bifurcation analysis of the reduced model is performed. According to parameters values, three main cases can occur: (i) a stable fishery free equilibrium, (ii) a stable persistent fishery equilibrium and (iii) coexistence of three strictly positive equilibria, two of them being stable separated by a saddle. In this last case, a stable equilibrium corresponds to a traditional fishery with large fish stock, small fishing effort and small market price. The second stable one corresponds to over-exploitation of the resource with small fish stock, large fishing effort and large market price.     

Effects of marine reserves versus nursery habitat availability on structure of reef fish communities

No-take marine fishery reserves sustain commercial stocks by acting as buffers against overexploitation and enhancing fishery catches in adjacent areas through spillover. Likewise, nursery habitats such as mangroves enhance populations of some species in adjacent habitats. However, there is lack of understanding of the magnitude of stock enhancement and the effects on community structure when both protection from fishing and access to nurseries concurrently act as drivers of fish population dynamics. In this study we test the separate as well as interactive effects of marine reserves and nursery habitat proximity on structure and abundance of coral reef fish communities. Reserves had no effect on fish community composition, while proximity to nursery habitat only had a significant effect on community structure of species that use mangroves or seagrass beds as nurseries. In terms of reef fish biomass, proximity to nursery habitat by far outweighed (biomass 249% higher than that in areas with no nursery access) the effects of protection from fishing in reserves (biomass 21% lower than non-reserve areas) for small nursery fish (≤ 25 cm total length). For large-bodied individuals of nursery species (>25 cm total length), an additive effect was present for these two factors, although fish benefited more from fishing protection (203% higher biomass) than from proximity to nurseries (139% higher). The magnitude of elevated biomass for small fish on coral reefs due to proximity to nurseries was such that nursery habitats seem able to overrule the usually positive effects on fish biomass by reef reserves. As a result, conservation of nursery habitats gains importance and more consideration should be given to the ecological processes that occur along nursery-reef boundaries that connect neighboring ecosystems.     

Bio‐economic analysis of the Mar Menor (Murcia,SE Spain) small‐scale lagoon fishery

An integrated fisheries management tool based on a bio‐economic model was applied to the demersal fishery in the Mar Menor coastal lagoon in SE Spain, with the objective of exploring solutions to ensure the sustainability of this activity. The hypothesis is that excess harvesting in recent years by fishers trying to offset growing production costs has led to the inefficient use of lagoon fishery resources. The authors established the basic bio‐economic conditions of the fishery in 2012 by means of field sampling and personal interviews with producers, and analyzed the response of several biological and economic indicators (target species biomass and yield, fleet profits) to a management scenario based on limiting the fishing season of one of the main types of fishing gear (fish traps, locally known as ‘paranzas’). Results show that a reduction in fishing mortality of two overexploited species (Sparus aurata and Lithognathus mormyrus) will help recover the biomass of these stocks by more than 40% as well as increase the economic value of the fishery, with profits increasing by 17% over a 4‐year period.     

Climate effects on size‐at‐age: growth in warming waters compensates for earlier maturity in an exploited marine fish

Over the past 3 decades, North Sea Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) have exhibited variable length‐at‐age along with declines in spawning stock biomass and timing of maturity. Multiple factors affecting growth and development in fish acted on this economically important stock over the same period including warming waters and an intensive fishery. Here, we employ North Sea cod as a model population, exploring how a physiologically relevant temperature metric (the growing degree‐day, GDD; °C day) can be used to compare year‐classes on a physiologically relevant time‐scale, disentangling influences of climate (thermal history) on observed length‐at‐age trends. We conclude that the trends in North Sea cod length‐at‐age observed during the last three decades can be explained by a combination of temperature‐dependent growth increases and a trend toward earlier maturation, the latter likely induced by the intensive fishing pressure, and possibly evidence of fisheries‐induced evolution.     

Utilizing spatial demographic and life history variation to optimize sustainable yield of a temperate sex-changing fish

Fish populations vary geographically in demography and life history due to environmental and ecological processes and in response to exploitation. However, population dynamic models and stock assessments, used to manage fisheries, rarely explicitly incorporate spatial variation to inform management decisions. Here, we describe extensive geographic variation in several demographic and life history characteristics (e.g., size structure, growth, survivorship, maturation, and sex change) of California sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher), a temperate rocky reef fish targeted by recreational and commercial fisheries. Fish were sampled from nine locations throughout southern California in 2007-2008. We developed a dynamic size and age-structured model, parameterized separately for each location, to assess the potential cost or benefit in terms of fisheries yield and conservation objectives of changing minimum size limits and/or fishing mortality rates (compared to the status quo). Results indicate that managing populations individually, with location-specific regulations, could increase yield by over 26% while maintaining conservative levels of spawning biomass. While this local management approach would be challenging to implement in practice, we found statistically similar increases in yield could be achieved by dividing southern California into two separate management regions, reflecting geographic similarities in demography. To maximize yield, size limits should be increased by 90 mm in the northern region and held at current levels in the south. We also found that managing the fishery as one single stock (the status quo), but with a size limit 50 mm greater than the current regulations, could increase overall fishery yield by 15%. Increases in size limits are predicted to enhance fishery yield and may also have important ecological consequences for the predatory role of sheephead in kelp forests. This framework for incorporating demographic variation into fisheries models can be exported generally to other species and may aid in identifying the appropriate spatial scales for fisheries management.