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.