An initial investigation into the increase in the fishing mortality species ratio (Fparadoxus/Fcapensis) in recent hake assessments

Recent hake assessments (Rademeyer and Butterworth 2016) have estimated the ratio of the fishing mortality on M. paradoxus to that on M. capensis (Fpara/Fcap) for all fleets combined to be substantially higher than that estimated in previous assessments (Rademeyer and Butterworth 2014) (Figure 1). The performance of the current OMP has been tested based on projections that assumed that Fpara/Fcap would stay constant. It is therefore important to try to understand the reasons for this increase.