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Originally Posted by jpeff31787
How was the target and limit determined and what exactly is meant by these terms?
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Spawning stock biomass is the stock population (or its weight) that is capable of reproducing. The target and limit are most commonly determined with numerical models that suggest what levels of SSB are needed to reproduce healthy population levels with some allowance for uncommon events like winter kills.
A "gut check" on target and limit levels is provided by the historical levels. If populations have rebounded after historical lows in this parameter, then it is likely that the population will rebound if the SSB dips again. If more restrictive limits were needed to rebound from historical lows, then they may be needed again if the SSB dips.