What does this research mean for the field?

Single-sex stock assessment models can misrepresent population status in species with significant sexual size dimorphism, making two-sex models necessary for accurate fishery management, though combined single-sex models offer a reasonable approximation when sex-specific data is lacking. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

Investigate how single-sex stock assessment models (combined-sex and female-only) compare to a reference two-sex model that accounts for sexual size dimorphism in European hake.

September 10, 2026Fisheries Management and EcologyOpen Access

Investigating the Dynamics of Sex‐Structured Stock Assessment Models Under Sexual Size Dimorphism

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Authors

FIFrancisco IzquierdoInstituto Español de Oceanografía MCMarta Cousido‐RochaInstituto Español de Oceanografía MCMassimiliano CardinaleSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences

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Implication

Comparative modeling study reveals divergent population status estimates from single-sex versus two-sex models in European hake, highlighting the need for sex-structured stock assessments.

Key Points

Investigate how single-sex stock assessment models (combined-sex and female-only) compare to a reference two-sex model that accounts for sexual size dimorphism in European hake.
Simulated and compared two single-sex assessment model formulations (sexes combined and female-only) against a reference two-sex model incorporating sex-specific growth and natural mortality (M).
Evaluated model sensitivity and population status estimates using European hake (Merluccius merluccius) as an archetype for pronounced sexual size dimorphism.
Single-sex approaches, especially female-only models, led to divergent population status estimates compared to the two-sex reference model.
Combined single-sex models provided a reasonable approximation of population dynamics when sex-structured survey data were not available.
Two-sex models generated sex-specific indicators, including sex ratio-at-length and operational sex ratio (OSR), enabling fleet-tailored management strategies.

Cite This Study

Izquierdo et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa27ab158559d80afc7379b https://doi.org/10.1111/fme.70110

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Implication

Comparative modeling study reveals divergent population status estimates from single-sex versus two-sex models in European hake, highlighting the need for sex-structured stock assessments.

Investigating the Dynamics of Sex‐Structured Stock Assessment Models Under Sexual Size Dimorphism

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Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Investigating the Dynamics of Sex‐Structured Stock Assessment Models Under Sexual Size Dimorphism

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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