STANDARDIZED CATCH RATES FOR BIGEYE TUNA (THUNNUS OBESUS) FROM THE AZORES BAITBOAT FLEET 1970-2008

SUMMARY An index of abundance of bigeye tuna from the Azorean baitboat fishery in the Atlantic is presented for the period 1970-2008 in biomass units. The standardization analysis procedure included the following variables; year, quarter of the year, and vessel category. The standardized indices were estimated using Generalized Linear Mixed Models under a delta lognormal model approach. The index fluctuated without trend from 1970-1995, then steeply declined. CPUE since 1995 has been nearly constant at a low level. RESUME