-97- 



2) The robustness of current stock assessment techniques must be 

 evaluated with regard to assumed parameters, and variability and bias in 

 basic data. 



These should indicate whether more conclusive management advice 

 and recommendations are possible, using existing model/data combinations. 



IV. B. Current Research Effort 



1) Conventional stock assessments of foreign fisheries are being 

 analyzed, using production model, spawner/ recruit, and cohort analyses. 



2) Work is being done on the estimation of confidence intervals 

 about spawner/ recruit relationships. 



IV. C. Future Research Needs 



IV.C.l. Suggested Approach and Methods 



1) The effects of changing effort standardization 

 methods on production model results can be examined using available data 

 and a variety of standard and new analytical methods. 



2) The robustness of current assessment techniques with 

 available data can be investigated using Monte Carlo and sensitivity 

 analyses. Results of this research are applicable to all species. 



IV. D. Status of SWFC Data Base 



The data base for north Atlantic albacore at SWFC is adequate and 

 up-to-date. New data are supplied by ICCAT as available. 



