Collaborative biological sampling of highly migratory species

For highly migratory species such as tuna and billfish, basic biological processes like growth and reproduction are notoriously difficult to accurately estimate. The Billfish Working Group (BILLWG) indicated that improved estimates of these basic biological processes were key components in efforts to reduce model uncertainty in the assessment of such animals. Here, the United States, as a member of the BILLWG, propose a collaborative biological sampling effort in order to improve estimates of growth, maturity, and stock structure by allowing analyses of more representative sample sets collected in a uniform manner from multiple nations across the North Pacific. Our current proposal is only an outline of a general sampling strategy, designed to help establish agreement on a collaborative approach, while also identifying key players who can serve as lead scientists. These leads will ensure adherence to a sampling design, as well as undertake specific areas of life history research utilizing the samples collected during the collaborative effort. 2016 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) PIFSC (Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center) Submitted https://doi.org/10.25923/wx4n-q655 Public Domain 1862