Is anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus, L.) overfished in the Adriatic Sea?

Based on Santojanni et al. [Santojanni, A., Arneri, E., Barry, C., Belardinelli, A., Cingolani, N., Giannetti, G., Kirkwood, G., 2003. Trends of anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus, L.) biomass in the northern and central Adriatic Sea. Sci. Mar. 67(3), 327–340] stock size estimates for the period from 1975 to 1996, we constructed a model to investigate population dynamics of anchovies. Using numeric simulations we calculate the maximum sustainable catch (MSC) as well as the optimum level of spawning stock to maintain the MSC. By comparing computed levels with Santojanni et al. estimates, we find that the anchovy population is below the optimum level, i.e. overfished since 1982. We find evidence of overfishing in 1982, 1985, 1986 and 1988. We claim the large catch in 1985 was more responsible for the collapse of anchovy fisheries in 1987 than low recruitment levels. We investigate possible ways of fishing using the two stage model by considering three fishing scenarios: the whole stock is fished with equal effort, only mature individuals are fished, mature and immature individuals are fished with unequal effort. We show that the best strategy is to fish only the spawning stock.