Estimation of fish movement parameters from tagging data, with application to Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

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The conditional probability density for the location of fish can be modelled by Kolmogorov’s forward equation. The parameters of such a model are estimated from Cod tagging data around Iceland during the period from 1993 to 1997. The movement parameters in the Kolmogorov model are advection - velocity and diffusion parameters. These parameters are estimated based on compartmental divisions around Iceland and on the given time divisions. Three time intervals are considered within each year: spawning migration from January 1 until April 30, spawning from May 1 until May 31 and feeding migration from June 1 until December 31. The maximum likelihood function is the main tool in parameter estimation. The likelihood function is calculated from the probability density function, which is obtained from the Kolmogorov’s model. Keywords: fish migration, advection-diffusion equation, cod, parameter estimation.