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IMPROVING ASSESSMENTS OF WEST COAST GROUNDFISH
IMPROVING ASSESSMENTS OF WEST COAST GROUNDFISH
Problem Statement
The abundance of nine West Coast groundfish stocks has fallen below the overfished
threshold due to excessive historical harvest levels, lack of timely tracking
of the downtrend and poor stock productivity. Accurate and timely stock
assessments are needed to track and guide the rebuilding of these overfished
species and to determine sustainable harvest levels for other species.
Critical Factors
- The Pacific Fisheries Management Council sets stringent harvest quotas for
groundfish based on stock assessments prepared and coordinated by the Northwest
Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC).
- Accurate stock assessments are needed to track and guide the rebuilding of
overfished stocks.
- Accurate stock assessments are needed to balance achieving optimum yield
with reducing the risk of overfishing healthy stocks.
- The status of many groundfish species cannot be determined from available
information. Long-term shifts in the ocean climate hamper understanding of stock
productivity and rates of rebuilding.
- The NWFSC is the only NOAA Fisheries Center that does not have a dedicated
Fisheries Research Vessel (FRV) for multi-disciplinary field research and
scientific surveys.
- The NWFSC collaborates with states, industry and universities to collect
information needed to assess the status of stocks.
Status of Research
Scientists from the NWFSC assess the status of groundfish stocks by using
population models that incorporate data from the fishery, scientific surveys
and life-history studies. Since 1997, the NWFSC has conducted or coordinated
assessments of about six stocks per year. These assessments determine the
stock abundance relative to historical levels and determine the level of
stock productivity. The results indicate that nine stocks have fallen below
the overfished threshold and must be rebuilt to their target level according
to requirements of the Sustainable Fisheries Act. Stock productivity has been
low, even in comparison to other long-lived species. Therefore, rebuilding periods
may often take many decades.
The NWFSC has several programs designed to improve the data available to
stock assessment scientists. In particular, the observer program, which
started in 2001, will improve data on total catch. Efforts to expand
surveys of groundfish populations will track trends in abundance more
closely. Advanced technology studies are helping to provide data on
previously unassessed species and habitats. Collaborative projects with
industry and universities are augmenting the survey and life history data.
In addition to its goal to improve data, the NWFSC is involved in projects
focused on the future of groundfish. One current area of research involves
developing a better understanding of climate effects on productivity in order
to improve forecasts of stock rebuilding. Also, the NWFSC's participation
in NOAA Fisheries' Stock Assessment Improvement Plan has provided the Center
with the opportunity to train several graduate students, which will expand
the pool of scientists for future stock assessment studies. The NWFSC led
development of a West Coast groundfish research plan to coordinate these
efforts and those of other involved agencies.
Future Considerations
As concerns grow about the health and abundance of West Coast groundfish -- and
pressures intensify to allocate the total allowable catch among commercial,
recreational and tribal interest groups -- stock assessments must become more
accurate and timely. Recovering from the current fisheries failure and preventing
future failures, while minimizing the impact on coastal fishing communities,
will require precise and comprehensive information on a sustained basis.
Government and university scientists must pool their resources with fishing
industry leaders to produce more reliable assessment data. Assessments
on additional species also must be conducted. More scientists must be
trained and hired to increase our capacity to produce timely stock assessments.
Additionally, more ecosystem and climate information must be integrated into stock
assessments. This will require new projects with university collaborators in this area.
Key Players
Fishery Resource Analysis & Monitoring (FRAM) Division, NWFSC
Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries
Pacific Fishery Management Council
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
California Department of Fish and Game
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Oregon State University
University of Washington
Oregon Trawl Commission
Coast Draggers Association
Fishermen's Marketing Association
Midwater Trawlers Cooperative
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Contact: Dr. Elizabeth Clarke, Director, FRAM Division (206/860-3381)
NWFSC Issue Paper FRAM 6401
Issue Papers Home
last modified 2002-10-02
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