Multivariate Health Index of the anchovy
Understanding the dynamics of small pelagic fish under environmental variability
Oral presentation · 6 May 2026 · La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
SPF-2026 International Symposium: Navigating Changes in Small Pelagic Fish and Forage Communities
Overview
This presentation introduced a multidimensional framework for evaluating the state of highly variable small-pelagic populations using Peruvian anchoveta (Engraulis ringens) as the applied case. The central premise is that stock condition cannot always be represented adequately by biomass alone when biological condition, demographic structure, spatial organization, and reproductive output can change on different trajectories.
The proposed framework integrates complementary stock-state dimensions into a synthetic diagnostic signal while retaining the underlying indicators needed for interpretation. The intended use is ecosystem-informed assessment, temporal comparison among years or regimes, and communication of changes in stock condition under strong environmental variability.