A Multidimensional Continuum Model of Fish Population Dynamics and Behaviour: Application to the Barents Sea Capelin (Mallotus Villosus)

Abstract

The theoretical basis for a fishery model continuous in physical, temporal, and biological dimensions is discussed. A concrete application, constructed as one component of a larger system of physical and biological dynamic models descriptive of the Barents Sea ecosystem, is presented. Some of the potentials of such an approach are demonstrated through an example simulation of population dynamics. Simple parameterizations of other components of the ecosystem (ocean currents, temperature, sea ice, cod, marine mammals, the fishing fleet, copepods, and krill) are used to provide an ersatz environment in which to perform simulation tests.

Keywords

• Capelin
• fishery dynamics
• fish populations
• population dynamics
• ecosystem modeling
• fish migration
• fish behaviour