Comparison of abundance index of Toothfish (Micromesistius australis) from two sources of information by applying Mixed Linear Models

This study was conducted to standardize the catch per unit effort (CPUE) of the southern blue whiting (Micromesistius australis), captured by the surimi fleet in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean, during 1993-2018 period. A Linear Mixed Models (LMM) was applied to standardize catch and effort data from two different information sources, the fishery statistics (LMM_EST) and the observers on board the commercial fleet (LMM_OBS). These models were compared between them and with that used nowadays to estimate abundance indices. LMM fit better and no significant change was observed in the index tendency which would allow more accurate prediction of the mean standardized CPUE values over the years. LMM_OBS showed a better adjust and greater data variability than the LMM_EST. With the aim to obtain accurate estimations and, in this way, calibrate adequately the evaluation models of the species, it is recommended to use both information sources, taking into account the greater or lesser degree of representativeness of the data.