Hayes: A biological reference point based on the Leslie matrix 



85 



of different choices among fishery management op- 

 tions. For example, it is appropriate to allow fishing 

 mortality to exceed the biological reference point if the 

 goal is to reduce an overly abmidant fish stock. Like- 

 wise, they can be useful in projecting the likely growth 

 of a population under more restrictive fishery man- 

 agement measures. In the end, however, they may be 

 most useful as a reminder and a warning that there 

 are limits to the productive capacity offish population 

 and that if we consistently exceed their limits, popu- 

 lation declines are almost certain to occur (Francis, 

 1997; Myers, 1997). 



Acknowledgments 



I wish to thank Jim Bence, Mike Jones, Mike Rutter, 

 and Terrance Quinn II for their insightful reviews of 

 this manuscript. The support of the National Marine 

 Fisheries Service, the Michigan State University Agri- 

 cultural Experiment Station, the Fisheries Division of 

 the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and 

 the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan 

 State University is also gratefully acknowledged. 



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