Massive Recruitment Event Shows Up in Alaska Sablefish Stocks
SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] by Peggy Parker - November 20, 2017
The 2017 surveys and the age data from 2016 of Alaska sablefish resulted in a very large estimate of the 2014 year-class of sablefish in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands, triggering a recommendation for a 14% increase in allowable biological catch (ABC) for 2018.
This recruitment year class is higher than scientists have ever seen. Further, the 2017 data shows a potential for two or more year classes being exceptionally strong now. Scientists described the recruitment as “ten times higher than average.”
The 14% increase would put the ABC at 14,957mt for 2018, up from this year’s ABC 13,0 83 mt. This year’s total allowable catch (TAC) was set at 13,0 83 mt. Catch as of November 15 has reached 12,195 mt.
The unexpected data would have indicated an 87% increase in ABC, but...
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