The scheduled frequency for some stock assessments was recently changed in response to the National Stock Assessment Prioritization effort (Methot 2015; Hollowed et al. 2016). In previous years, all Gulf of Alaska (GOA) rockfish stocks were assessed on a biennial stock assessment schedule to coincide with the availability of new survey data. There was no change in this schedule for the rougheye and blackspotted (RE/BS) rockfish complex. For this off-cycle (even) year, we present a partial assessment consisting of an executive summary with recent fishery catch and survey trends as well as recommend harvest levels for the next two years. In on-cycle (odd) years, we will present a full stock assessment document with updated assessment and projection model results to recommend harvest levels for the next two years. Please refer to last year’s full stock assessment and fishery evaluation (SAFE) report for further information regarding the stock assessment (Shotwell et al., 2017, available online at https://www.afsc.noaa.gov/REFM/Docs/2017/GOArougheye.pdf). We use a statistical age-structured model as the primary assessment tool for the Gulf of Alaska rougheye and blackspotted (RE/BS) rockfish complex which qualifies as a Tier 3 stock. This assessment consists of a population model, which uses survey and fishery data to generate a historical time series of population estimates, and a projection model, which uses results from the population model to predict future population estimates and recommended harvest levels. The data sets used in this assessment include total catch biomass, fishery age and size compositions, trawl and longline survey abundance estimates, trawl survey age compositions, and longline survey size compositions. For an off-cycle year, we do not re-run the assessment model, but do update the projection model with new catch information. This incorporates the most current catch information without re-estimating model parameters and biological reference points. As with last year, we use the full assessment base model from 2015.

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)