Introducing selfisher: open source software for statistical analyses of fishing gear selectivity

There is a need to improve fishing methods select for certain sizes and species while excluding others. Experiments are conducted quantify selectivity of gears how variables such as gear design (e.g., mesh size, shape), environmental parameters light, turbidity, substrate) or biological fish condition) alter selectivity; the resulting data be analyzed using specialized statistical in many cases. Here, we present new tool analyzing this type data: an R package named “selfisher”. It allows estimating multiple fixed effects length, total catch weight, variables) random haul). A bootstrapping procedure also provided. We demonstrate its use via four case studies, including (A) covered codend analyses gears, (B) paired study with numerous covariates, (C) comparison unpaired hauls gillnets (D) polynomials splines. This software will make it easier model selectivity, teach methods, more repeatable.