CATCHABILITY

In general, the extent to which a stock is susceptible to fishing. In fisheries models, the factor (q) relating fishing mortality (F) to fishing effort (f): F = qf. In such case, catchability is also the proportion of the stock which is removed by one unit of fishing effort. (or fishing intensity). It is also a measure of fishing mortality-per-unit-effort. Catchability often increases with developments in fishing technology, and so needs to be monitored. Also referred to catchability coefficient . See: Availability.