NMFS Says First Ever Winter Sablefish Spawning Survey Will Deliver Better Stock Data
SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] February 4, 2016
NMFS scientists at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center plan to get even more data about the health of the region's valuable sablefish stock through a winter survey the agency conducted in December.
Researchers teamed up with a Trident Seafoods fishing vessel to conduct the first-ever winter season survey of mature sablefish females in Alaskan waters.
The project runs counter to past sablefish research which was usually done during the summer months. Sciensts found the assessements provide more accurate stock data, speficially a better proportion of the population that is spawning.
“Mid-December is a great time to sample sablefish for maturity since fish are preparing to spawn but have not yet spawned,” said Cara Rodgveller, a NOAA Fisheries biologist involved in the study. “This makes determining maturity very straight forward because mature females should have developed eggs.”
To Read Full Story Login Below.