Estimating population growth rate for Indian Ocean blue shark (Prionace glauca) using demographic method

The study conducted demographic analysis to estimate population growth rate and steepness of stock-recruitment relationship by Leslie matrix method for the Indian Ocean blue shark (Prionace glauca). Monte Carlo simulation was used to integrate uncertainty of biological information. The results indicated that blue shark productivity was high, with the intrinsic rate of increase γ=0.25-0.33 y-1 based on a one-year reproductive cycle (RC) assumption; However, the productivity was lower, with γ=0.19-0.20 y-1based on a two-year RC assumption. The steepness of Beverton- Holt stock-recruitment model was estimated to be 0.76-0.81 in most scenarios, except for one scenario (steepness was 0.85) in which constant natural mortality at age was assumed.