Further testing of “top-up” rules for the directed sardine TAC in OMP-14

Abstract

The next Operational Management Procedure (OMP) under development for the South African sardine and anchovy fishery, OMP-14, allows for a conservative lower initial directed sardine TAC for the range of November hydroacoustic survey estimates of sardine biomass from 300 000t (below which Exceptional Circumstances would be declared) to 600 000t. The initial directed sardine TAC increases linearly from 50% of the TAC calculated from the Harvest Control Rule (TAC# ) at a survey observation of 300 000t to 100% of TAC # at a survey estimate of 600 000t (Figure 1). For a November survey biomass estimate of 600 000t and above, TAC# as recommended by the directed sardine Harvest Control Rule (HCR) of OMP-14 at the start of the year is final and for the full calendar year with no mid-season increase.