Abstract. --To evaluate possible regulatory schemes for restoring the stocks of striped bass Morone saxatilis in Rhode Island coastal waters, we constructed a computer simulation model ofa cohort's expected lifetime egg production. The model demonstrated that the expected increase in egg production from a proposed increase in minimum legal harvestable size (from 17 to 24 in) also could be achieved by an alternate management regime which, unlike the proposed size increase, would allow continued use of traditional fishing gears. The alternative regime increased the minimum size (but only to 18 in) and simultaneously reduced instantaneous fishing mortality from 0.45 to 0.30. Our findings of equivalence between the two regimes are reasonably robust to errors in population parameters. We then used the simulation model to generate curves of egg production per female recruit under a wide range of regulatory regimes. Such curves can illustrate the potential effects of management measures on depleted stocks. land Department of Environmental Management (DEM) was to propose regulations that were considered equivalent to the 24-in limit in restoration potential, but which would allow the continuing participation of the traditional net fisheries on a limited scale. This was accomplished by specifying only a modest increase in minimum size (to 18 in rather than 24 in TL), but simultaneously specifying a reduction in instantaneous fishing mortality (F). The reduction was to be achieved through additional closed seasons, gear restrictions, and area closures. We devised an egg production model for comparing these management regimes and used the model to generate expected egg production curves for a wide range of regulatory conditions. This report illustrates, by example, the production of such curves, which form an additional tool for managing depleted stocks. A prior version of this manuscript was released as Technical Report 84-6 of the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography and Technical Report 84-17 of the Oceanography Department of Old Dominion University. Description of the Model As stock replenishment is currently a major goal of Atlantic coast striped bass management, the 40
