A hierarchical life cycle model for Atlantic salmon stock assessment at the North Atlantic basin scale

We developed an integrated hierarchical Bayesian life cycle model that simultaneously estimates the abundance of post-smolts at sea, post-smolt survival rates, and proportions maturing as 1SW, for all SU in Northern Europe, Southern Europe and North America. The model is an age- and stage-based life cycle model that considers 1SW and 2SW life history strategies and harmonizes the life history dynamics among SU in North America and Europe. The new framework brought a major contribution to improve the scientific basis for Atlantic salmon stock assessment. It is a benchmark for the assessment and forecast models currently used by ICES for Atlantic salmon stock assessment in the North Atlantic. ...