Sensitivity of the prior distribution for hydro-acoustic survey bias of the South African round herring population to errors associated with target strength dependence on depth

Prior distributions for the bias of the hydro-acoustic survey estimates of the biomass of the South African round herring were previously developed by de Moor et al. (2022). While work is ongoing to reconsider the impact that bias associated with target strength dependence on depth might have on this previous analysis, a sensitivity test is carried out excluding this source of bias. The median of the alternative prior distribution for November survey bias is outside the range of that previously assumed when assessing round herring and providing management advice and should thus be considered in current management decisions.