At least seven species of octopus are found in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). For management purposes, all octopus species are grouped into a single assemblage. Neither the relative abundances of the various species or the species composition of the commercial catch are well documented, but research indicates that the giant Pacific octopus Enteroctopus dofleini is the most abundant octopus species in shelf waters and makes up the bulk of octopus catches in commercial fisheries. Octopuses are taken as incidental catch in trawl, longline, and pot fisheries throughout the GOA; a portion of the catch is retained or sold for human consumption or bait. The highest octopus catch rates are from Pacific cod pot fisheries in the central and western GOA (NMFS statistical areas 610 and 630). Through 2010, octopuses were managed as part of the “other species” complex, with catch reported only in the aggregate along with sharks, squids, and sculpins. In 2011, the GOA Fishery Management Plan was amended to provide separate management for sharks, sculpins, squids, and octopuses. In compliance with the reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act, each complex has its own annual catch limit. Harvest recommendations for the octopus complex are made using a modified Tier 6 approach, where the overfishing level (OFL) is calculated by multiplying the best available estimate of octopus biomass by the best estimate of natural mortality for E. dofleini. Catch limits for octopus for 2011-2014 were set using the average biomass from the last 3 surveys. Beginning in 2015, a random-effects (RE) model is used to provide a minimum biomass estimate.
The longline survey abundance index increased 14% from 2016 to 2017 following a 28% increase in 2016 from 2015. The lowest point of the time series wa...
The Gulf of Alaska (GOA) northern and southern rock sole assessment has been moved to a 4-year assessment cycle per the stock assessment prioritizatio...
The estimated 2018 total sculpin complex biomass in the GOA is 33,134 t. This represents a small decrease from the last full assessment in 2015. The r...
The shark complex (spiny dogfish, Pacific sleeper shark, salmon shark and other/unidentified sharks) in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) is assessed on a bien...
Summary of Changes in Assessment Inputs: 1) 2016-2017 catch data were added to the model and 2015 catch was updated to include October to December cat...
Survey abundance estimates for the shallow-water complex were higher in 2017 compared to 2015 for all species except Yellowfin sole and Butter sole. T...
In 2017, the scheduled frequency for some stock assessments was changed in response to the National Stock Assessment Prioritization effort. Prior to 2...
The scheduled frequency for some stock assessments was recently changed in response to the National Stock Assessment Prioritization effort (Methot 201...
Arrowtooth flounder biomass estimates in the current model have changed relative to the projection model estimates in 2016. The model projection of sp...
The Other Rockfish (OR) complex (Table 16.1 and Figure 16.1) in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) is assessed on a biennial stock assessment schedule to coinci...
Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Atka mackerel have been moved to a biennial stock assessment schedule to coincide with the availability of new survey data from t...
A full, age-structured assessment is presented for GOA rex sole. In previous years, the biomass estimates of the assessment were used to calculate OFL...
Gulf of Alaska rockfish are assessed on a biennial stock assessment schedule. For this on-cycle year, we incorporate new survey biomass. Following the...
The base model projection of female spawning biomass in 2018 is 342,683 t, which is 57.5% of unfished spawning biomass (based on average post-1977 rec...
Squids in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) are managed as a single stock complex comprising approximately 15 species. Historically squids were managed as part...
There are currently no target fisheries for skates in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), and directed fishing for skates is prohibited. Incidental catches in o...
The National Standard Guidelines for Fishery Management Plans published by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) require that a stock assessmen...
The results of a preliminary statistical age-structured assessment model (ASA) are not presented this year due to personnel changes. The ASA will be p...
Pacific ocean perch in the Gulf of Alaska are assessed on a biennial stock assessment schedule to coincide with the availability of new survey data. F...
The Gulf of Alaska deepwater flatfish complex (consisting of Dover sole, Greenland turbot, and deepsea sole) is assessed every four years and was last...
North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Plan Team for the Groundfish Fisheries of the Gulf of Alaska
2016 | Gulf of Alaska Stock Assessments
Description:
The demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) complex (yelloweye, quillback, copper, rosethorn, canary, China, and tiger rockfish) is assessed on a biennial cycle...
The longline survey abundance index increased 14% from 2016 to 2017 following a 28% increase in 2016 from 2015. The lowest point of the time series wa...
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