Preliminary specifications for the sex- and area-specific Operating Models for testing OMPs for the South Coast rock lobster resource

Abstract

Johnston and Butterworth (2008b) presented some initial results for sex- and areaspecific age structured production models intended to serve as operating models for testing OMPs for the south coast rock lobster resource. Here the authors update those results as well as produce results for a model which takes effort saturation into account. Results are presented in detail for the following models: • Model 1: no time-varying selectivity or effort saturation effects, but does have the two selectivity functional forms for Area 3. • Model 2: time varying selectivity – MARAM method – Area 3 has 2 selectivity functional forms • Model 3: time varying selectivity – OLRAC method – Area 3 has 2 selectivity functional forms. Scenario Model 3e is presented here (see Johnston and Butterworth 2008b for details of Model 3e parameters). • Model 4: Model 1 but with effort saturation effects.