Download FAR 2021/77 Geostatistical estimates for the intertidal shellfish monitoring in the northern North Island region, 2019–20

Geostatistical models were used to estimate cockle abundance for 12 sites in the 2019–20 northern bivalve survey. Estimates often had greater precision than the sampling-based estimator, and fine-scale predictions reproduced sampling observations. Nevertheless, results were sensitive to model settings and site configuration. Spatio-temporal models accounting for earlier surveys also improved precision in population estimates, except for sites where cockle beds shifted between years.