diff --git a/SS_benchfore.tpl b/SS_benchfore.tpl
index d2e5025e..fd9982c3 100644
--- a/SS_benchfore.tpl
+++ b/SS_benchfore.tpl
@@ -2543,6 +2543,7 @@ FUNCTION void Get_Forecast()
                   //                SSB_pop_gp(y,p,GP4(g)) += fec(g)*elem_prod(natage(t,p,g),mfexp(-Z_rate(t,p,g)*spawn_time_seas));   // accumulates SSB by area and by growthpattern
                   //                SSB_B_yr(y) += make_mature_bio(GP4(g))*elem_prod(natage(t,p,g),mfexp(-Z_rate(t,p,g)*spawn_time_seas));
                   //                SSB_N_yr(y) += make_mature_numbers(GP4(g))*elem_prod(natage(t,p,g),mfexp(-Z_rate(t,p,g)*spawn_time_seas));
+                  natage(t, p, g, 0) = 0.0; // these fish should not exist at beginning of year.  They are created after spawning.  Are here in array only due to Fcast_Loop1
                   SSB_pop_gp(y, p, GP4(g)) += fracfemale_mult * fec(g) * natage(t, p, g); // accumulates SSB by area and by growthpattern
                   SSB_B_yr(y) += fracfemale_mult * make_mature_bio(GP4(g)) * natage(t, p, g);
                   SSB_N_yr(y) += fracfemale_mult * make_mature_numbers(GP4(g)) * natage(t, p, g);
@@ -2560,6 +2561,7 @@ FUNCTION void Get_Forecast()
                 for (g = 1; g <= gmorph; g++)
                   if (sx(g) == 2 && use_morph(g) > 0) //  male; all assumed to be mature
                   {
+                    natage(t, p, g, 0) = 0.0; // these fish do not yet exist
                     MaleSPB(y, p, GP4(g)) += Wt_Age_t(t, 0, g) * natage(t, p, g); // accumulates SSB by area and by growthpattern
                   }
               }
diff --git a/SS_prelim.tpl b/SS_prelim.tpl
index 4b8ac397..b23dff21 100644
--- a/SS_prelim.tpl
+++ b/SS_prelim.tpl
@@ -49,6 +49,14 @@
       echoinput << tempvec(1, k) << endl;
       y = abs(tempvec(1));
       f = tempvec(6);
+      if (f == -2)
+      {
+        if (tempvec(7) > 0.0)
+        {
+          warnstream << "WTATAGE.SS has positive fecundity at age 0 for year = " << y << " Are you sure? fecundity is for the time of spawning and age 0 fish normally do not exist at time of spawning";
+          write_message(WARN, 0);
+        }
+      }
       if (y < 9999)
         last_yr_read(f) = max(y, last_yr_read(f));
       if (y < 9999 && tempvec(1) < 0)
diff --git a/SS_readcontrol_330.tpl b/SS_readcontrol_330.tpl
index b91df468..a384ee4c 100644
--- a/SS_readcontrol_330.tpl
+++ b/SS_readcontrol_330.tpl
@@ -1131,7 +1131,14 @@
 !!if(k2>0) echoinput<<"  read Length_Maturity for each GP"<<Length_Maturity<<endl;
 
   init_int First_Mature_Age     // first age with non-zero maturity
-!! echoinput<<First_Mature_Age<<"  First_Mature_Age"<<endl;
+ LOCAL_CALCS
+  echoinput<<First_Mature_Age<<"  First_Mature_Age"<<endl;
+  if (First_Mature_Age == 0)
+  {
+    warnstream<<"First_Mature_Age read as:  " << First_Mature_Age << ", which is unusual. Check logic of spawn_month and settlement time & age";
+    write_message(WARN,0);
+  }
+ END_CALCS
 
   init_int Fecund_Option
 //   Value=1 means interpret the 2 egg parameters as linear eggs/kg on body weight (current SS3 default),