Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Miranda, Leandro E.

Committee Member

Colvin, Michael E.

Committee Member

Neal, J. Wesley

Date of Degree

5-4-2018

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Forest Resources

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Abstract

Multisystem length limits are a popular output control implemented to regulate harvest of many gamefishes. Evaluating the direct effects of length limits is crucial in selecting a regulation, but to my knowledge, no formal methodology exists to model length limits for multiple systems. Without a formalized process, complexities associated with multisystem scales of management can preclude effective communication and interpretation of information. I created a quantitative decision model as an approach for comparing length limits applied to multiple systems. This approach combined an extension of the Beverton-Holt yield-per-recruit function and an additive utility function to compare multisystem length limits. I also conducted a sensitivity analyses to clarify the effect of input parameters and uncertainty on the expected utility, and on performance metrics. This approach provides a consistent methodology for evaluating multisystem length limits, and as a decision support tool, can improve transparency of the length-limit-selection process.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/17625

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