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Status of Stocks & Multispecies Assessment Program

Groundfish Stock Assessments for 2009:  Gulf of Alaska (GOA)

In the GOA, assessments for 19 stocks or stock groups were completed. Since new primary groundfish survey data were unavailable, full assessments were presented only for walleye pollock, Pacific cod, sablefish, and "other species" groups. For longer-lived species, executive summaries were presented.

The fishery management plan (FMP) for GOA groundfish has been modified (amendment 79) so that the OFL and ABC levels for the "other species" complex in the GOA could be specified. Previously the FMP simply set the TAC at or below 5% of the sum of the target TACs without consideration of the potential impact on stocks within the "other species" category.

In this year's SAFE report, separate assessments were presented for sculpins, squid, octopus, and sharks. These provide the basis for setting the OFL and ABC levels for this complex.

The sum of the recommended ABCs for 2009 is 509,515 t, which represents a 5% decrease from the 2008 total. The largest contributor to this decrease was due to declines in Pacific cod and pollock (see Table 1).

Sablefish also declined by about 1,600 t (-12%). ABC levels increased in deep water flatfish (3%) and flathead sole (4%). Arrowtooth flounder was down by 2% (about 5,000 t). The ABC level increased slightly for Pacific ocean perch (112 t or 2%). The ABC for northern rockfish declined by 187 t (-4%) while the demersal shelf rockfish ABC dropped by 5% and pelagic shelf rockfish dropped by 9%. All other species groups ABC levels stayed the same, since new survey data were unavailable.

 
Table 1.  The 2008 catch levels compared to the 2008 and 2009 ABC specifications and change in ABC (in metric tons (t)) for the groundfish species types for the Gulf of Alaska.  Note that "Other species" ABC were specified for the first time starting in 2009 (change in ABC is based on all species groups except "Other species."
 
Species 2008 Catch   2008 ABC   2009 ABC   Change
Pollock 51,721   60,180   49,900   down 10,280 (-17%)
Pacific cod 42,424   66,493   55,300   down 11,193 (-17%)
Sablefish 12,284   12,730   11,160   down 1,570 (-12%)
Flatfish 15,544   123,759   125,617   up 1,858 2%
Arrowtooth flounder 29,163   226,470   221,512   down 4,958 (-2%)
Rockfish 22,816   33,548   33,005   down 543 (-2%)
Atka mackerel 2,071   4,700   4,700   same 0%
Skates 3,548   8,321   8,321   same 0%
Other species   6,540  
Total 179,571   536,201   516,055   down 20,146 (-5%)

The abundances of Dover sole, flathead sole, arrowtooth flounder, Pacific ocean perch, rougheye rockfish, northern rockfish, and dusky rockfish are above target stock size. The abundances of pollock, Pacific cod, and sablefish are below target stock size.

The target biomass levels for other deepwater flatfish, shallow-water flatfish, rex sole, shortraker rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish, other pelagic shelf rockfish, other slope rockfish, thornyhead rockfish, Atka mackerel, skates, sculpins, squid, octopus, and sharks are unknown.

For most stocks, the Council established TACs equal to ABCs with some exceptions. These exceptions include Pacific cod, where the quota was reduced approximately 24.4% to account for removals in the state-managed fishery, and those fisheries where the bycatch of other target species is a concern, specifically for shallow-water flatfish (Western (W) and Central (C) GOA), flathead sole (W and C GOA), arrowtooth flounder (GOA wide) and other slope rockfish (East Yakutat/Southeast Outside). For those fisheries, the TAC was set below the ABC. Atka mackerel was also established at levels to meet incidental catch needs in other fisheries only (no directed fishing is allowed).

Brief summaries of each GOA species or species group are provided on the following page.
 

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