Stock Recruitment Relationship

The stock-recruitment relationship describes how the size or health of a fish population (stock) influences the number of new fish (recruits) that are born or survive to join the population. Generally, larger, healthier adult populations tend to produce more recruits, but this relationship can vary—too many fish can lead to competition and lower survival rates among young, while too few may produce fewer recruits. Understanding this relationship helps manage fisheries sustainably, ensuring enough fish are harvested without depleting future generations.