Yes, but if the only variable that has changed over multiple years long surveys is the limit (that's a big one, it's basically predatory pressure) you can at least draw basic conclusions. Would it hold up to peer review, probably not. But its not about being published, its about drawing common sense conclusions.
Things like the weather vary weekend to weekend. Month to month. Survey data isn't about who caught what, which weekend. It's about the state of the fishery over the long term.
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