Assessing the Uncertainty of Total Seabird Bycatch Estimates Synthesized from Multiple Sources with a Scenario Analysis from the Western and Central Pacific

Each year, billions of seabirds undertake migrations, connecting remote regions of the world, potentially synchronizing population fluctuations among distant areas. This connectedness has implications for the uncertainty calculations of the total seabird bycatch estimate at a regional/global scale....

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Main Authors: Can Zhou, Baochao Liao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-08-01
Series:Birds
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/3/3/17
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author Can Zhou
Baochao Liao
author_facet Can Zhou
Baochao Liao
author_sort Can Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Each year, billions of seabirds undertake migrations, connecting remote regions of the world, potentially synchronizing population fluctuations among distant areas. This connectedness has implications for the uncertainty calculations of the total seabird bycatch estimate at a regional/global scale. Globally, fisheries bycatch poses a major problem in fishery management, and estimating the uncertainty associated with a regional/global seabird bycatch estimate is important because it characterizes the accuracy and reliability of the fisheries’ impact on the seabird populations. In this study, we evaluate different assumptions underlying the estimation of the variability of the total seabird bycatch at a regional/global scale based on local assessment reports. In addition to theoretical analysis, we also simulate multiple spatially distant separately managed areas with relatively low levels of observer coverage, based on bycatch data from the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission convention area. The results show that assuming a completely synchronized variation produced the most conservative uncertainty estimate and it also missed an opportunity to improve the precision. Simplified correlation structures also failed to capture the complex dynamics of bycatch rates among spatially distant areas. It is recommended to empirically estimate the correlation of bycatch rates between each pair of sources based on bycatch rate time series.
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spelling doaj.art-41afce5534004027b8df9b4aa1b158072023-11-23T15:19:19ZengMDPI AGBirds2673-60042022-08-013326027610.3390/birds3030017Assessing the Uncertainty of Total Seabird Bycatch Estimates Synthesized from Multiple Sources with a Scenario Analysis from the Western and Central PacificCan Zhou0Baochao Liao1Department of Mathematics, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, ChinaDepartment of Mathematics, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, ChinaEach year, billions of seabirds undertake migrations, connecting remote regions of the world, potentially synchronizing population fluctuations among distant areas. This connectedness has implications for the uncertainty calculations of the total seabird bycatch estimate at a regional/global scale. Globally, fisheries bycatch poses a major problem in fishery management, and estimating the uncertainty associated with a regional/global seabird bycatch estimate is important because it characterizes the accuracy and reliability of the fisheries’ impact on the seabird populations. In this study, we evaluate different assumptions underlying the estimation of the variability of the total seabird bycatch at a regional/global scale based on local assessment reports. In addition to theoretical analysis, we also simulate multiple spatially distant separately managed areas with relatively low levels of observer coverage, based on bycatch data from the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission convention area. The results show that assuming a completely synchronized variation produced the most conservative uncertainty estimate and it also missed an opportunity to improve the precision. Simplified correlation structures also failed to capture the complex dynamics of bycatch rates among spatially distant areas. It is recommended to empirically estimate the correlation of bycatch rates between each pair of sources based on bycatch rate time series.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/3/3/17longline fisheriesseabird conservationenvironmental impactbycatch mitigationcorrelation structures
spellingShingle Can Zhou
Baochao Liao
Assessing the Uncertainty of Total Seabird Bycatch Estimates Synthesized from Multiple Sources with a Scenario Analysis from the Western and Central Pacific
Birds
longline fisheries
seabird conservation
environmental impact
bycatch mitigation
correlation structures
title Assessing the Uncertainty of Total Seabird Bycatch Estimates Synthesized from Multiple Sources with a Scenario Analysis from the Western and Central Pacific
title_full Assessing the Uncertainty of Total Seabird Bycatch Estimates Synthesized from Multiple Sources with a Scenario Analysis from the Western and Central Pacific
title_fullStr Assessing the Uncertainty of Total Seabird Bycatch Estimates Synthesized from Multiple Sources with a Scenario Analysis from the Western and Central Pacific
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the Uncertainty of Total Seabird Bycatch Estimates Synthesized from Multiple Sources with a Scenario Analysis from the Western and Central Pacific
title_short Assessing the Uncertainty of Total Seabird Bycatch Estimates Synthesized from Multiple Sources with a Scenario Analysis from the Western and Central Pacific
title_sort assessing the uncertainty of total seabird bycatch estimates synthesized from multiple sources with a scenario analysis from the western and central pacific
topic longline fisheries
seabird conservation
environmental impact
bycatch mitigation
correlation structures
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/3/3/17
work_keys_str_mv AT canzhou assessingtheuncertaintyoftotalseabirdbycatchestimatessynthesizedfrommultiplesourceswithascenarioanalysisfromthewesternandcentralpacific
AT baochaoliao assessingtheuncertaintyoftotalseabirdbycatchestimatessynthesizedfrommultiplesourceswithascenarioanalysisfromthewesternandcentralpacific