Information on the existing knowledge on the life history traits of shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus

For the improvement of future stock assessment of shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) in the Atlantic Ocean, the importance of review for biological parameter was addressed. In the last stock assessment meeting, the uncertainty about catch statistics, catchability and biological parameter was discussed regarding the poor fitting of estimated biomass trend to the observed trend on CPUE. Even granting that there may be unignorable amount of unreported catch, it cannot explain the increase of CPUE consistently observed in many fleets by itself. It is valuable to reassess the existing assumption that intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) of this species is quite low, rounding up existing knowledge on the biological parameter. In this document, we provide the information on the current status of biological studies for the populations in the North Pacific, focusing on the growth analysis, because we have latest study in this area and, needless to say, growth parameter plays an integral role in the population dynamics among various biological parameters. We also discuss the important points to be taken into account in the preparation of future research plan.