A recruitment forecasting model for the Pacific stock of the Japanese sardine (Sardinops melanostictus) that does not assume density-dependent effects

This study developed a recruitment forecasting model based on a new concept of the stock recruitment relationship. No density-dependent effect in the relationship was assumed in the model, which showed that fluctuations in recruitment and spawning stock biomass of Japanese sardine in the northwestern Pacific can be explained mainly by environmental factors and the effects of fishing. The February Arctic Oscillation (AO) and sea surface temperature over the southern area of the Kuroshio Extension (30 - 35°N and 145 - 180°E; KEST) were used as the environmental factors. The recruitment forecasting model is proposed: The values for recruitment (), spawning stock biomass, (), in year t, forecast by this model accurately reproduced those estimated by tuning virtual population analysis (VPA), and the pattern of variability in the stock recruitment relationship was also reproduced well. In conclusion, a density-dependent effect does not necessarily have to be included to explain the large variations in recruitment and the spawning stock biomass of the Japanese sardine.