Exploitation of Multiple Stocks by a Common Fishery

Abstract

A complete analytical solution is presented for the problem of finding the common rate of exploitation that maximizes total sustained yield from a mixture of stocks when each stock follows a Ricker reproduction curve. A computer program is described which solves this problem for up to 20 stocks varying in both reproductive potentials and absolute sizes. Some aspects of the management of Pacific salmon and fishing strategies are discussed in relation to the question of obtaining maximum yields when harvesting mixtures of stocks under various constraints.