AUTHOR=Xia Meng , Carruthers Tom , Kindong Richard , Dai Libin , Geng Zhe , Dai Xiaojie , Wu Feng 

TITLE=How Can Information Contribute to Management? Value of Information (VOI) Analysis on Indian Ocean Striped Marlin (Kajikia audax)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.646174

DOI=10.3389/fmars.2021.646174

ISSN=2296-7745

ABSTRACT=Fisheries researchers have focused on value of information (VOI) in fisheries management and trade-offs since scientists and managers realized information from different resources has different contribution in the management process. We picked 7 indicators, which are log-normal annual catch observation error (Cobs), annual catch observation bias (Cbias), log-normal annual index observation error (Iobs), maximum length observation bias (Linfbias), observed natural mortality rate bias (Mbias), observed von Bertalanffy growth parameter K bias (Kbias) and catch-at-age sample size (CAA_nsamp), and built operating models to simulate fisheries dynamics then applied management strategy evaluation. 
Relative yield is chosen as the result to evaluate the contribution of the 7 indicators. Within the parameter range, there was not much information value reflected from fisheries-dependent parameters including Cobs, Cbias and Iobs. Whereas for fisheries-independent parameters such as Kbias, Mbias and Linfbias, similar tendency of information value was showed in the results, in which relative yield goes down from the upper bound to the lower bound of the interval. CAA_nsamp had no impact on yield after over 134 individuals. Value of information analysis contribute to trade-offs in decision making process. Information with more value is more worthy to collect in case of waste of time and money so that we could make the best use of scientific effort. But we still need to improve the simulation process such as enhance the diversity and predictability in operating model. More parameters are on the way to be tested in order to collect optimum information for management and decision making.