A selection of nonparametric statistical methods for assessing trends in trawl survey indicators as part of an ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM)

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Lowestoft, NR33 0HT, UK

Corresponding author: john.cotter@fishworldscience.com

Received: 23 June 2008
Accepted: 27 February 2009

Abstract

A selection of ten uni- and multivariate, nonparametric statistical methods thought to be useful for assessing trends in indicators estimated from trawl surveys is described. Nonparametric methods make minimal assumptions about the data and can therefore be suitable when parametric modelling methods, as typically preferred by fisheries scientists, are not suitable. The various methods described are sensitive to a variety of specific features of a trend thereby allowing many different forms of variation over time to be identified, e.g. changes in level, sloping straight or curved lines, and differing cyclicities. In contrast, model-based investigations can be constrained in this regard if the single model which is adopted and fitted to the trend is a simplification of its form.