Application of life history theories to data poor assessments

Management of U.S. marine fish stocks requires the following: the estimation of reference points that identify overfished and overfishing limits; an evaluation of current stock status; and the determination of sustainable annual catch limits.  We derive a method for calculating SPR-based reference points for data-poor stocks using life-history information.  Using a minimum amount of biological data, we illustrate how species-specific SPRs can be defined, and when an index of abundance is available, how stock status can be determined.  Our SPR method indicates that no single SPR level is appropriate for all stocks, and reveals the inherent connection between SPR and steepness in stock-recruit relationships. That is, SPR determines steepness, and vice-versa.  For several elasmobranch species, we compare estimated reference points and stock status derived using our method with results from recent assessments.