COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the Yellowmouth Rockfish in Canada – 2010: Limiting Factors and Threats
Several characteristics of rockfish species make them particularly susceptible to disturbance. In particular, rockfish have relatively low intrinsic rates of increase due to their slow growth, delayed maturity and extreme longevity (Adams 1980; Roberts and Stevens 2006). Recruitment is highly variable and little is known about controlling factors. Many rockfish species exhibit site fidelity once maturity is reached, potentially resulting in small isolated populations vulnerable to localized depletion (Roberts and Stevens 2006). Co–occurrence with a number of other groundfish species makes fishery management at the species level challenging, although recent improvements to management of the groundfish species complex have been made to deal with this issue. Rockfish physiology makes these species prone to complete mortality when brought to the surface from depth (Fort et al. 2006; Haigh and Starr 2008). Taken together, these traits have led to declines in many slope rockfish as a result of overfishing, habitat loss from bottom trawling and adverse environmental changes (Roberts and Stevens 2006).
Commercial fishing is currently the main threat to Yellowmouth Rockfish. As for other rockfish, intensive fishing practices may disproportionately target the largest, oldest and most fecund Yellowmouth individuals, potentially leading to a truncated age distribution, loss of spawning biomass and diminished recruitment success (Berkeley and Markle 1999).
Yellowmouth Rockfish is captured mainly by bottom and mid–water trawls in BC, although a limited hook–and–line fishery also exists. The species is also taken in small numbers by the halibut fishery (Appendices 2–4). The trawl fishery for slope rockfish has been active since the 1930s but early catch statistics for Yellowmouth Rockfish are unreliable because several species were grouped together for catch reports. Furthermore, no data exist on historical discard levels in groundfish fisheries prior to 1995. Since the late 1970s reporting has improved significantly (DFO 1999a). Today the fishery has 100% observer coverage for bottom trawls and most mid–water trawls, in addition to 100% dockside monitoring, ensuring that all catches (including landings and discards) are enumerated (Roberts and Stevens 2006). In 2006 a three–year pilot plan was implemented to have 100% at–sea electronic and video monitoring for the hook–and–line fishery as well (DFO 2007).
The current standing stock of Yellowmouth Rockfish is unknown. The paucity of historical records on species composition in the commercial fishery makes it difficult to determine the current population status of the species along the BC coast. Data from more recent research surveys are also problematic as they tend to span too short a time period, target other species (e.g., shrimp) and/or do not adequately cover the preferred mid–water habitat of this species. In addition, Yellowmouth Rockfish may be mistakenly identified as Pacific Ocean Perch after capture, which could lead to underestimates of actual harvest or bycatch rates (Love et al. 2002).
Yellowmouth Rockfish is a commercially important species in BC (DFO 1999a). In the 2007–2008 fishing season, the total Canadian catch of Yellowmouth Rockfish had a landed value of approximately $1.5 million, based on a $0.50/lbs price (DFO 2008a).
The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program has classified all slope rockfish as high conservation concern and inherently vulnerable (Roberts and Stevens 2006). The status of the Yellowmouth Rockfish has not been assessed by NatureServe (NatureServe 2007) nor by the BC Conservation Data Centre (Prescott pers. comm. 2007).
Yellowmouth Rockfish are currently managed by catch quotas, which were introduced in 1979. Yellowmouth catch within Area 5E (Langara Spit, northwest of the Queen Charlotte Islands) was managed under a slope rockfish aggregate (Yellowmouth, Pacific Ocean Perch and Rougheye Rockfish S. aleutianus) quota between 1983–1988 and in 1986 coastwide aggregate quotas were in place for these three slope rockfish species. In the past, quotas were based on observed relative abundance of Yellowmouth collected from biomass surveys. However, these surveys were directed at Pacific Ocean Perch, were limited to the Queen Charlotte Sound area (area 5AB) and relied solely on bottom trawl surveys (DFO 1999a; Schnute et al. 1999). Since 1997, quota determinations have also incorporated information from observer data onboard trawl vessels. In addition, the IVQ system was introduced for the BC trawl fishery in 1997, setting area–specific annual catch (retained and discarded) limits on quota species for each vessel.
The Canadian Yellowmouth Rockfish fishery is regulated by an individual quota set each fishing season. For the 2008–2009 fishing season 96.77% (2364 t) of the Yellowmouth total allowable catch (TAC) has been allocated to the trawl fishery, 2.49% (60 t) to the hook and line and 0.74% (18 t) to the halibut fishery. An additional three tonnes have been designated for research purposes (DFO 2008a). In the last two fishing seasons (2006–2007 and 2007–2008) Pacific groundfish trawl fleets have landed less than 60% of the Yellowmouth TAC (Table 4).
In the US, Yellowmouth Rockfish are managed as part of slope rockfish assemblages to which a total allowable catch is assigned. Yellowmouth Rockfish likely receive partial protection from fishing in RCAs (from Washington to California) and in the eastern Gulf of Alaska where trawling is currently banned (Enticknap and Sheard 2005; Roberts and Stevens 2006).
| Sebastes reedi | |
| Yellowmouth Rockfish | sébaste à bouche jaune |
| Range of Occurrence in Canada: Pacific Ocean (Marine waters along BC’s continental slope) | |
| Demographic Information | |
|---|---|
Generation time (average age of parents in the population)
|
30 yrs |
Observed percent reduction in total number of mature individuals over the last 10 years or three generations:
|
Indications of decline in surveys with longest time series and in commercial CPUE, possibly substantial |
| Projected or suspected percent reduction or increase in total number of mature individuals over the next 10 or 5 years, or 3 or 2 generations | Unknown |
| [Observed, estimated, inferred, or suspected] percent [reduction or increase] in total number of mature individuals over any [10 or 5 years, or 3 or 2 generations] period, over a time period including both the past and the future. | Unknown |
| Are the causes of the decline clearly reversible? | Unknown |
Are the causes of the decline understood?
|
Causes of variable recruitment not well known; fishing could be involved |
Have the causes of the decline ceased?
|
No |
| [Observed, inferred, or projected] trend number of populations | N/A (single population) |
| Are there extreme fluctuations in number of mature individuals? | No |
| Are there extreme fluctuations in number of populations? | N/A |
| Extent and Area Information | |
| Estimated extent of occurrence | 48 000 km² |
| [Observed, inferred, or projected] trend in extent of occurrence | Unknown |
| Are there extreme fluctuations in extent of occurrence? | Probably not |
| Index of area of occupancy (IAO) | 11 000–34 000 km² |
| [Observed, inferred, or projected] trend in area of occupancy | Unknown |
| Are there extreme fluctuations in area of occupancy? | Probably not |
| Is the total population severely fragmented? | No |
| Number of current locations | N/A |
| Trend in number of locations | N/A |
| Are there extreme fluctuations in number of locations? | N/A |
| Trend in area and/or quality of habitat | Unknown |
| Number of mature individuals in each population | |
| Population | N Mature Individuals |
| Total | Unknown |
| Number of populations (locations) | N/A |
| Quantitative Analysis | |
| Not carried out | N/A |
| Threats (actual or imminent, to populations or habitats) | |
| Commercial harvest may pose direct threats to populations through overfishing and indirect threats through habitat destruction caused by bottom trawling. | |
| Rescue Effect (immigration from an outside source) | |
| Status of outside population(s)? USA: Information limited on current status in US waters. BC is probably the population centre of the species. |
|
| Is immigration known? | No |
| Would immigrants be adapted to survive in Canada? | Probably |
| Is there sufficient habitat for immigrants in Canada? | Probably |
| Is rescue from outside populations likely? | Unknown |
| Current Status | |
| COSEWIC: Threatened (April 2010) | |
| Status and Reasons for Designation | |
| Status: Threatened | Alpha–numeric code: A2b |
| Reasons for designation: As with other rockfish species, this slow–growing (generation time 30 years), long–lived (maximum age 100 years) species is vulnerable to commercial fishing. Research vessel surveys indicate that abundance has declined considerably over the past 40 years (1.5 generations). While contemporary surveys designed specifically for groundfish species indicate a recent period (5 years) of relative stability, it is not clear that the decline has ceased. The initial period of decline occurred as the commercial fishery for this and other rockfish species developed. Although this is considered normal for a newly exploited population, the total decline in abundance is inferred to be well beyond what is optimal for an exploited population. The absence of any strong recruitment events during the last 20 years is also a concern. The species is an important component of BC’s commercial fisheries. Fishing continues to be a threat and there is no established limit reference point to help manage these fisheries in a precautionary manner. |
|
| Applicability of Criteria | |
| Criterion A (Decline in Total Number of Mature Individuals): Meets Threatened A2b based on a suspected continuous long–term decline from an unfished condition to a level inferred to between 30 and 50% of the optimal level for an exploited population. | |
| Criterion B (Small Distribution Range and Decline or Fluctuation): Not met as extent of occurrence and index of area of occupancy exceed thresholds. | |
| Criterion C (Small and Declining Number of Mature Individuals): Not met as population size estimate not available, and certainly larger than threshold. | |
| Criterion D (Very Small Population or Restricted Distribution): Not met. | |
| Criterion E (Quantitative Analysis): Not undertaken. | |
The report writer is grateful to Rowan Haigh (Department of Fisheries and Oceans) and Paul Starr (Canadian Groundfish Research and Conservation Society) for their much appreciated assistance in the writing of this report. Environment Canada provided funding and support.
List of authorities contacted
Barry Ackerman, Groundfish Trawl Coordinator, Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, Vancouver, BC.
David Clark, Ecological Information Specialist, Parks Canada, Gatineau, PQ
Ann Clarke, Science Officer, COSEWIC Secretariat, Ottawa, ON.
Lara Cooper, Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, Dept. Fisheries and Oceans, St. Andrews, NB
Courtney Druce, Species at Risk Officer, Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, Vancouver, BC.
Jeff Fargo, Head of Flatfish Assessment Program, Pacific Biological Station, Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, Nanaimo, BC.
Alain Filion, Science Officer, COSEWIC Secretariat, Ottawa, ON.
Kevin Fort, Species at Risk Biologist, Canadian Wildlife Service, Delta, BC.
David Fraser, Species at Risk Specialist, BC Ministry of the Environment, Victoria, BC.
Monique Goit, Science Officer, COSEWIC Secretariat, Ottawa, ON.
Gloria Goulet, Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Coordinator, COSEWIC Secretariat, Ottawa, ON.
Rowan Haigh, Research Biologist, Slope Rockfish, Pacific Biological Station, Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, Nanaimo, BC.
Heather Holmes, Marine Ecologist, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Parks Canada, Ucluelet, BC.
Vicki Marshall, Fisheries Assessment Stock Coordinator, BC Ministry of the Environment, Victoria, BC.
Patrick Nantel, Conservation Biologist, Species at Risk Program, Parks Canada, Gatineau, PQ.
Harry Nyce, Sr., Nisga’a Wildlife Committee and Joint Fisheries Management Committee, Gitwinksihlkw, BC.
Sue Pollard, Aquatic Species at Risk Specialist, BC Ministry of the Environment, Victoria, BC.
Howard Powles, Marine Fishes Subcommittee, COSEWIC, Gatineau, PQ.
Erin Prescott, Information Specialist, BC Conservation Data Centre, BC Ministry of the Environment, Victoria, BC.
Norm Sloan, Marine Ecologist/Ecosystem Coordinator, Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, Parks Canada, Queen Charlotte, BC.
Paul Starr, Scientist, Canadian Groundfish Research and Conservation Society, Nanaimo, BC.
Jenny Wu, Data Management and Mapping Specialist, COSEWIC Secretariat, Ottawa, ON.
Lynn Yamanaka, Head of Inshore Rockfish Program, Pacific Biological Station, Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, Nanaimo, BC.
Adams, P.B., 1980. Life history patterns in marine fishes and their consequences for fisheries management. Fishery Bulletin 78: 1–12.
Archibald, C.P., W. Shaw, and B.M. Leaman. 1981. Growth and mortality estimates of rockfishes (Scorpaenidae) from B. C. coastal waters 1977–1979. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 1048. iv + 57 pp. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, B. C.
Bailey, R.M., E.A. Lachner, C.C. Lindsey, C.R. Robbins, P.M. Roedel, W.B. Scott, and L.P. Woods. 1970. A List of Common and Scientific Names of Fishes from the United States and Canada. 2nd edition. American Fisheries Society Special Publication 2. Bethesda, MD. 102 pp.
Ban, N., and J. Alder. 2008. How wild is the ocean? Assessing the intensity of anthropogenic marine activities in British Columbia, Canada. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 18: 55–85.
Barrie, V., B.D. Bornhold, K.W. Conway, and J.L. Luternauer. 1991. Surficial geology of the northwestern Canadian continental shelf. Continental Shelf Research 11(8-10): 701–715.
Bellman, M.A., S.A. Heppell, and C. Goldfinger. 2005. Evaluation of a US west coast groundfish habitat conservation regulation via analysis of spatial and temporal patterns of trawl fishing effort. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 62(12): 2886–2900.
Berkeley, S.A., and D. Markle. 1999. Effects of fishing–induced age truncation on recruitment and reproductive potential in black rockfish (Sebastes melanops). Final report to Oregon Sea Grant, R/OPF–46, Corvallis, OR.
Chen, L. 1971. Systematics, variation, distribution, and biology of rockfishes of the subgenus Sebastomus (Pisces, Scorpaenidae, Sebastes). Bulletin of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 117 pp.
DFO. 1999a. Yellowmouth Rockfish British Columbia coast. DFO Science Stock Status Report A6–17.
DFO. 1999b. Yellowtail rockfish. DFO Science Stock Status Report A6–07.
DFO. 2007. Pacific Region Integrated Fisheries Management Plan Groundfish: March 10, 2007 to March 31, 2008. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 18 pp.
DFO 2008a. Pacific Region Amended Integrated Fisheries Management Plan Groundfish: March 8, 2008 to February 20, 2009. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 30 pp.
DFO 2008b. Groundfish Trawl YTD Catch Summaries, Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Web site: [accessed August 2008].
DiCosimo, J., and N. Kimball. 2001. Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska: a species profile. North Pacific Fishery Management Council, Anchorage, AK. 21 pp.
Engel, J., and R. Kvitek. 1998. Effects of otter trawling on a benthic community in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Conservation Biology 12: 1204–1214.
Enticknap, B., and W. Sheard. 2005. Conservation and management of North Pacific rockfishes. Alaska Marine Conservation Council, Anchorage, AK. 49 pp.
Fort, K., K. Amey, and M. Dunn. 2006. Scott Islands Marine Wildlife Area Study Area: an ecosystems overview report. Technical Report Series No. 427. Canadian Wildlife Service, Pacific and Yukon Region.
Gomez–Uchida, D., and M.A. Banks. 2005. Microsatellite analyses of spatial genetic structure in darkblotched rockfish (Sebastes crameri): Is pooling samples safe? Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 62 (8): 1874–1886.
Grant, D., M. Gjernes, and N. Venables. 1996. A Practical Guide to the Identification of Commercial Groundfish Species of British Columbia. Archipelago Marine Research Ltd., Victoria, BC.
Haigh, R., and P. Starr. 2008. A review of Yellowmouth Rockfish Sebastes reedi along the Pacific coast of Canada: biology, distribution, and abundance trends. Can. Sci. Advis. Sec., Res. Doc. 2008/055.
Hannah, R.W., S.J. Parker, and T.V. Buell. 2005. Evaluation of a selective flatfish trawl and diel variation in rockfish catchability as bycatch reduction tools in the deepwater complex fishery off the U. S. west coast. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 25 (2): 581–593.
Hart, J.L. 1973. Pacific Fishes of Canada. Bulletin of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 180. 740 pp.
Harvey, C.J., K. Gross, V.H. Simon, and J. Hastie. 2008. Trophic and fishery interactions between Pacific hake and rockfish: effect on rockfish population rebuilding times. Marine Ecology Progress Series 365: 165–176.
Heifetz, J, J.N. Ianelli, D.M. Clausen, D.L. Courtney, and J.T. Fujioka. 2000. Slope rockfish. Pp. 231–294, in Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation Report for the Groundfish Resources of the Gulf of Alaska as projected for 2001. North Pacific Fishery Management Council, Anchorage, AK.
Hyde, J.R., and R.D. Vetter. 2007. The origin, evolution and diversification of rockfishes of the genus Sebastes (Cuvier). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 44(2): 790-811.
IUCN. 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of threatened species (web application). IUCN, Cambridge, United Kingdom [accessed August 2008]
Jarvis, E.T. 2007. The effects of barotraumas on the catch–and–release survival of southern California nearshore and shelf rockfishes (Scorpaenidae, Sebastes spp.). M.Sc. thesis, California State University, Long Beach, California. 67 pp.
Kent, M.L., V. Watral, S.C. Daw, P. Reno, J.R. Heidel, and S.R.M. Jones. 2001. Ichthyophonus and Mycobacterium–like bacterial infections in commercially–important rockfish, Sebastes spp., in the eastern North Pacific Ocean. Journal of Fish Diseases 24: 427–431.
Kramer, D.E., and V.M. O’Connell. 1995. Guide to Northeast Pacific Rockfish. Genera Sebastes and Sebastolobus. Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Bulletin No. 25.
Leaman, B.M., and R.D. Stanley. 1993. Experimental management programs for two rockfish stocks off British Columbia, Canada. Pp. 403–418 in S.J. Smith, J.J. Hunt, and D. Rivard (eds). Risk evaluation and biological reference points for fisheries management. Canadian Special Publication of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 120.
Leaman, B.M., R. Kieser, P. Wither, and R.D. Stanley. 1990. W.E. Ricker hydroacoustic cruise to study rockfish behavior off northern Vancouver Island, March 14–23, 1990. Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2091, 63 pp.
Lee, Y–W, and D.B. Sampson. 2000. Spatial and temporal stability of commercial groundfish assemblages off Oregon and Washington as inferred from Oregon trawl logbooks. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 57: 2443–2454.
Love, M.S., M. Yoklavich, and L. Thorsteinson. 2002. The Rockfishes of the Northeast Pacific. University of California Press, Los Angeles, CA. 405 pp.
Matarese, A.C., A.W. Kendall, D.M. Blood, and M.V. Vinter. 1989. Laboratory guide to early life history stages of northeast Pacific fishes. NOAA Tech. Rep. NMFS 80: 1-652.
Mills, K.L., T. Laidig, S. Ralston, and W.J. Sydeman. 2007. Diets of top predators indicate pelagic juvenile rockfish (Sebastes spp.) abundance in the California Current System. Fisheries Oceanography 16(3): 273–283.
Moser, H.G., and G.W. Goehlert. 1991. Ecology of pelagic larvae and juveniles of the genus Sebastes. Environmental Biology of Fishes 30: 203–224.
Munk, K.M. 2001. Maximum ages of groundfishes in waters off Alaska and British Columbia and considerations of age determination. Alaska Fishery Research Bulletin 8(1): 12–21.
NatureServe 2007. NatureServe Explorer: an online encyclopedia of life (web application). Version 6.2. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia [accessed September 2007]
NPMC. 2006. Fishery management plan for groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. North Pacific Fishery Management Council, Anchorage, Alaska. viii + 114 pp. + Appendices.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2007. Sport Fish Identification Guide to Marine Fishes off Oregon [accessed October 2007]
Orr, J.W., M.A. Brown, and D.C. Baker. 2000. Guide to rockfishes (Scorpaenidae) of the genera Sebastes, Sebastolobus, and Adelosebastes of the Northeast Pacific Ocean. 2nd edition. U. S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Technical Memo. NMFS–AFSC–117. 47 pp.
Pearcy, W.G., 1992. Movements of acoustically–tagged yellowtail rockfish Sebastes flavidus on Hecata Bank, Oregon. Fishery Bulletin 90(4): 726–735.
Prescott, E., pers. comm. 2007. Email correspondence to A.L. Smith. June 2007. Species at Risk Information Specialist, B.C. Conservation Data Centre, Government of B.C., Victoria, B.C.
Roberts, S.,and M.M. Stevens. 2006. Seafood Watch seafood report: rockfishes of the genera Sebastes and Sebastolobus. Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, California. 107 pp.
Rogers, J.B., and E.K. Pikitch. 1992. Numerical definition of groundfish assemblages caught off the coasts of Oregon and Washington using commercial fishing strategies. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 49(12): 2648-2656.
Schnute, J.T., N. Olsen, and R. Haigh. 1999. Slope rockfish assessment for the west coast of Canada in 1999. Canadian Stock Assessment Secretariat Research Document 99/184. 110 pp. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa, ON.
Shanks, A.L.,and G.L. Eckert. 2005. Population persistence of California current fishes and benthic crustaceans: a marine drift paradox. Ecological Monographs 75(4): 505–524.
Sinclair, A.F., Conway, K.W., and Crawford, W.R. 2005. Associations between bathymetric, geologic and oceanographic features and the distribution of the British Columbia bottom trawl fishery, in Theme Session L: The Spatial Dimension of Ecosystem Structure and Dynamics. ICES Annual Science Conference, Aberdeen, Scotland, September 20–24, 2005. CM 2005/L:25. 31 pp.
Stanley, R.D., and A.R. Kronlund. 2005. Life history characteristics for silvergray rockfish (Sebastes brevispinis) in British Columbia waters and the implications for stock assessment and management. Fishery Bulletin 103(4): 670–684.
Westrheim, S.J. 1975. Reproduction, maturation, and identification of larvae of some Sebastes (Scorpaenidae) species in the northeast Pacific Ocean. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 32: 2399–2411.
Westrheim, S.J., and H. Tsuyuki. 1967. Sebastodes reedi, a new scorpaenid fish in the northeast Pacific Ocean. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 24 (9): 1945–1954.
Wourms, J.P. 1991. Reproduction and development of Sebastes in the context of the evolution of piscine viviparity. Environmental Biology of Fishes 30: 111–126.
Yamanaka, K.L., and L.C. Lacko. 2001. Inshore rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus, S. maliger, S. caurinus, S. melanops, S. nigrocinctus, and S. nebulosus) stock assessment for the west coast of Canada and recommendations for management. Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Research Document 2001/139. 102 pp. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, B. C.
Andrea L. Smith obtained her M.Sc. in conservation biology and her Ph.D. in evolutionary ecology, both at Queen’s University. She has worked on a variety of research projects, including studying seabird ecology in British Columbia, the Canadian arctic and the Galapagos, endangered species in Hawaii and the Mojave desert, and forest bird communities in Mexico. Andrea has written several articles on environmental issues for the magazine ON Nature and conducted a gap analysis on provincial natural heritage policy for Ontario Nature. She now works as a researcher at York University’s Institute for Research and Innovation in Sustainability (IRIS), examining the interdisciplinary challenges of preventing and controlling invasive species.
No collections were examined for this report.
| Year | CA Trawl | US Trawl | Zn HL | Shed II | Halibut | Total HL | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1931 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1932 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1933 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1934 | — | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 |
| 1935 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 |
| 1936 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | 3 |
| 1937 | — | 3 | — | — | — | 3 | |
| 1938 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | 4 |
| 1939 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | 4 |
| 1940 | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | 9 |
| 1941 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | 3 |
| 1942 | — | 63 | — | — | — | — | 63 |
| 1943 | — | 204 | — | — | — | — | 204 |
| 1944 | — | 85 | — | — | — | — | 85 |
| 1945 | 14 | 887 | — | — | — | — | 901 |
| 1946 | 16 | 447 | — | — | — | — | 463 |
| 1947 | 0 | 234 | — | — | — | — | 234 |
| 1948 | 1 | 379 | — | — | — | — | 380 |
| 1949 | 1 | 461 | — | — | — | — | 463 |
| 1950 | 3 | 410 | — | — | — | — | 413 |
| 1951 | 7 | 410 | — | — | — | — | 417 |
| 1952 | 18 | 361 | — | — | — | — | 379 |
| 1953 | 2 | 142 | — | — | — | — | 144 |
| 1954 | 10 | 137 | — | — | — | — | 147 |
| 1955 | 12 | 179 | — | — | — | — | 191 |
| 1956 | 7 | 178 | — | — | — | — | 185 |
| 1957 | 10 | 118 | — | — | — | — | 128 |
| 1958 | 11 | 113 | — | — | — | — | 124 |
| 1959 | 38 | 124 | — | — | — | — | 162 |
| 1960 | 6 | 101 | — | — | — | — | 107 |
| 1961 | 9 | 146 | — | — | — | — | 155 |
| 1962 | 36 | 265 | — | — | — | — | 301 |
| 1963 | 17 | 261 | — | — | — | — | 278 |
| 1964 | 42 | 172 | — | — | — | — | 215 |
| 1965 | 34 | 229 | — | — | — | — | 263 |
| 1966 | 22 | 406 | — | — | — | — | 428 |
| 1967 | 27 | 333 | — | — | — | — | 360 |
| 1968 | 36 | 446 | — | — | — | — | 482 |
| 1969 | 45 | 809 | — | — | — | — | 854 |
| 1970 | 55 | 564 | — | — | — | — | 619 |
| 1971 | 66 | 520 | — | — | — | — | 587 |
| 1972 | 174 | 564 | — | — | — | — | 738 |
| 1973 | 142 | 727 | — | — | — | — | 868 |
| 1974 | 83 | 423 | — | — | — | — | 506 |
| 1975 | 110 | 250 | — | — | — | — | 360 |
| 1976L | 189 | — | — | — | — | — | 189 |
| 1977 | 1,596 | — | — | — | — | — | 1,596 |
| 1978 | 1,214 | — | — | — | — | — | 1,214 |
| 1979L | 438 | — | — | — | — | — | 438 |
| 1980 | 548 | — | — | — | — | — | 548 |
| 1981 | 1,039 | — | — | — | — | — | 1,039 |
| 1982 | 1,160 | — | — | — | — | — | 1,160 |
| 1983 | 1,524 | — | — | — | — | — | 1,524 |
| 1984 | 1,324 | — | — | — | — | — | 1,324 |
| 1985 | 1,628 | — | — | — | — | — | 1,628 |
| 1986 | 2,491 | — | — | — | — | — | 2,491 |
| 1987 | 1,857 | — | — | — | — | — | 1,857 |
| 1988 | 1,322 | — | — | — | — | — | 1,322 |
| 1989 | 1,611 | — | 0 | — | — | 0 | 1,611 |
| 1990 | 1,666 | — | 12 | — | — | 12 | 1,678 |
| 1991D | 1,225 | — | 13 | — | — | 13 | 1,238 |
| 1992L | 1,475 | — | 13 | — | — | 13 | 1,487 |
| 1993 | 1,157 | — | 10 | — | — | 10 | 1,167 |
| 1994D | 1,231 | — | 12 | — | — | 12 | 1,243 |
| 1995T | 1,391 | — | 24 | — | 2 | 26 | 1,417 |
| 1996D,O | 1,402 | — | 12 | — | 6 | 19 | 1,421 |
| 1997Q,T | 1,939 | — | 7 | — | 2 | 9 | 1,948 |
| 1998 | 1,795 | — | 9 | — | 2 | 11 | 1,806 |
| 1999 | 2,008 | — | 9 | — | 2 | 11 | 2,020 |
| 2000T | 1,803 | — | 9 | — | 3 | 12 | 1,815 |
| 2001 | 1,930 | — | 10 | — | 4 | 15 | 1,945 |
| 2002 | 1,941 | — | 25 | — | 7 | 32 | 1,973 |
| 2003 | 1,860 | — | 14 | 0 | 8 | 22 | 1,883 |
| 2004 | 1,917 | — | 12 | 0 | 9 | 21 | 1,938 |
| 2005 | 1,816 | — | 15 | — | 5 | 20 | 1,835 |
| 2006 | 1,613 | — | — | — | — | — | 1,613 |
| 2007 | 1,680 | — | 0 | — | 11 | 11 | 1,691 |
| Total | 48,848 | 11,175 | 204 | 0 | 77 | 282 | 60,305 |
D Dockside monitoring program (DMP) started: 1991 – halibut; 1994 – trawl; 1996 – ZN H&L
O Obserwer program started: 1996 – ZN H&L
L Limited vessel entry: 1976 – trawl; 1979 – halibut; 1992 – ZN H&L
Q Individual vessel quota (IVQ) system started for TAC species: 1997 – trawl
T Trip limits implemented: 1995 – ZN monthly limit on rockfish aggregate; 1997 – trawl trip limit of 15,000 lbs for combined non–TAC rockfish; 2000 – halibut option D with annual limit of 20,000 lbs of rockfish aggregate.
| Year | n | n+ | E [B] | B | B0.05 | B0.95 | CV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 236 | 38 | 1814 | 1800 | 761 | 3399 | 0.364 |
| 2004 | 234 | 48 | 4256 | 4251 | 1165 | 9493 | 0.477 |
| 2005 | 224 | 44 | 1770 | 1782 | 667 | 3673 | 0.430 |
| 2007 | 257 | 75 | 1656 | 1625 | 838 | 2788 | 0.302 |
| Year | n | n+ | E [B] | B | B0.05 | B0.95 | CV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 98 | 2 | 29.3 | 28.9 | 0.0 | 82.0 | 0.736 |
| 2006 | 166 | 9 | 159.0 | 161.8 | 46.8 | 317.3 | 0.435 |
| Survey year |
Relative biomass (t) | Mean bootstrap biomass (t) | Lower 95% bound biomass (t) | Upper 95% bound biomass (t) | Bootstrap CV |
Analytic CV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 366.5 | 357.5 | 82.9 | 830.0 | 0.501 | 0.509 |
| 1969 | 321.8 | 325.5 | 38.1 | 749.2 | 0.581 | 0.570 |
| 1971 | 770.2 | 799.3 | 81.7 | 2393.3 | 0.795 | 0.836 |
| 1973 | 398.9 | 404.6 | 95.2 | 845.7 | 0.468 | 0.492 |
| 1976 | 418.9 | 418.4 | 73.6 | 1045.4 | 0.569 | 0.569 |
| 1977 | 26.3 | 26.0 | 4.3 | 72.7 | 0.658 | 0.645 |
| 1984 | 89.8 | 86.2 | 5.9 | 280.5 | 0.802 | 0.799 |
| Survey year |
Relative biomass (t) | Mean bootstrap biomass (t) | Lower 95% bound biomass (t) | Upper 95% bound biomass (t) | Bootstrap CV | Analytic CV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 17.8 | 17.9 | 3.9 | 51.0 | 0.604 | 0.609 |
| 2000 | 26.3 | 26.3 | 0.0 | 97.8 | 0.911 | 0.937 |
| 2001 | 44.3 | 44.4 | 8.9 | 105.4 | 0.526 | 0.538 |
| 2002 | 97.3 | 96.5 | 9.3 | 351.2 | 0.871 | 0.835 |
| 2003 | 34.0 | 34.5 | 8.5 | 72.7 | 0.459 | 0.456 |
| 2004 | 36.0 | 35.1 | 7.8 | 87.7 | 0.567 | 0.584 |
| 2005 | 11.2 | 11.0 | 0.0 | 42.5 | 0.884 | 0.887 |
| 2006 | 55.8 | 56.7 | 7.0 | 135.1 | 0.533 | 0.539 |
| 2007 | 62.9 | 63.9 | 26.3 | 116.9 | 0.366 | 0.371 |
| Estimate type | Survey year | Relative biomass (t) | Mean bootstrap biomass | Lower bound biomass | Upper bound biomass | Bootstrap CV | Analytic CV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Vancouver | 1980 | 139 | 141 | 0 | 361 | 0.609 | 0.661 |
| 1983 | 613 | 627 | 138 | 1608 | 0.575 | 0.585 | |
| 1989 | 202 | 203 | 16 | 622 | 0.735 | 0.753 | |
| 1992 | 15 | 14 | 2 | 43 | 0.713 | 0.726 | |
| 1995 | 72 | 69 | 1 | 222 | 0.778 | 0.791 | |
| 1998 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 20 | 0.925 | 1.000 | |
| 2001 | 0 | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Canada Vancouver | 1980 | 151 | 153 | 0 | 391 | 0.609 | 0.661 |
| 1983 | 442 | 461 | 0 | 1478 | 0.746 | 0.739 | |
| 1989 | 187 | 189 | 18 | 594 | 0.752 | 0.771 | |
| 1992 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 41 | 0.898 | 0.917 | |
| 1995 | 56 | 55 | 1 | 172 | 0.780 | 0.791 | |
| 1998 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 0.931 | 1.000 | |
| 2001 | 0 | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| U.S. Vancouver | 1980 | 0 | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1983 | 180 | 177 | 3 | 650 | 0.943 | 0.946 | |
| 1989 | 14 | 14 | 1 | 36 | 0.624 | 0.616 | |
| 1992 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 0.606 | 0.631 | |
| 1995 | 16 | 15 | 0 | 51 | 0.825 | 0.791 | |
| 1998 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0.972 | 1.000 | |
| 2001 | 0 | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Year | 3C | 3D | 4B | 5A | 5B | 5C | 5D | 5E | UNK | CST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 |
| 1972 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1973 | — | — | — | 177 | — | — | — | — | — | 177 |
| 1974 | — | — | — | 79 | — | — | — | — | — | 79 |
| 1975 | 0 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
| 1976 | — | — | — | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | 12 |
| 1977 | — | — | — | 333 | 3 | — | 4 | 1,257 | — | 1,596 |
| 1978 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 98 | — | — | 1,105 | — | 1,214 |
| 1979 | 2 | 0 | — | 6 | 25 | — | — | 405 | — | 438 |
| 1980 | — | — | — | 25 | 23 | — | — | 500 | — | 548 |
| 1981 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 46 | 69 | — | 925 | — | 1,039 |
| 1982 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 179 | 322 | 169 | — | 482 | — | 1,160 |
| 1983 | 33 | 40 | — | 411 | 342 | 58 | — | 640 | 0 | 1,524 |
| 1984 | 6 | 120 | — | 28 | 591 | 64 | — | 514 | — | 1,324 |
| 1985 | 4 | 412 | — | 128 | 371 | 37 | 0 | 676 | — | 1,628 |
| 1986 | 1 | 982 | — | 227 | 91 | 10 | — | 1,179 | — | 2,491 |
| 1987 | 7 | 703 | — | 439 | 82 | 67 | 0 | 559 | — | 1,857 |
| 1988 | 7 | 169 | — | 364 | 359 | 17 | 1 | 407 | — | 1,322 |
| 1989 | 43 | 315 | — | 599 | 245 | 24 | — | 386 | — | 1,611 |
| 1990 | 40 | 280 | — | 437 | 382 | 50 | 0 | 478 | — | 1,666 |
| 1991 | 37 | 217 | — | 490 | 339 | 20 | 1 | 121 | — | 1,225 |
| 1992 | 60 | 273 | — | 526 | 443 | 47 | 3 | 124 | — | 1,475 |
| 1993 | 48 | 301 | — | 383 | 247 | 19 | 2 | 157 | — | 1,157 |
| 1994 | 70 | 383 | 0 | 578 | 140 | 15 | 0 | 44 | — | 1,231 |
| 1995 | 65 | 275 | — | 672 | 290 | 16 | 1 | 72 | — | 1,391 |
| 1996O | 112 | 242 | 0 | 487 | 418 | 26 | 0 | 116 | — | 1,402 |
| 97I | 7 | 148 | — | 380 | 39 | 3 | 0 | 18 | — | 594 |
| 1997 | 24 | 326 | — | 882 | 642 | 20 | 7 | 38 | — | 1,939 |
| 1998 | 55 | 163 | — | 772 | 612 | 70 | 0 | 173 | — | 1,795 |
| 1999 | 66 | 97 | — | 802 | 758 | 66 | 1 | 220 | — | 2,008 |
| 2000 | 23 | 92 | — | 554 | 603 | 88 | 0 | 442 | — | 1,803 |
| 2001 | 42 | 82 | — | 809 | 521 | 43 | 1 | 432 | — | 1,930 |
| 2002 | 54 | 83 | — | 702 | 706 | 20 | 1 | 476 | — | 1,941 |
| 2003 | 22 | 30 | 0 | 820 | 617 | 31 | 0 | 340 | — | 1,860 |
| 2004 | 53 | 28 | — | 846 | 781 | 30 | 0 | 179 | — | 1,917 |
| 2005 | 24 | 22 | — | 596 | 971 | 40 | 2 | 161 | — | 1,816 |
| 2006 | 18 | 35 | — | 541 | 837 | 13 | 0 | 169 | — | 1,613 |
| 2007 | 21 | 44 | 0 | 370 | 992 | 8 | 12 | 233 | — | 1,680 |
| Total | 950 | 5,862 | 1 | 14,622 | 12,935 | 1,137 | 35 | 12,930 | 0 | 48,471 |
I Interim period (Jan–Mar) before implementation of IVQ in 1997 for offshore trawl. Fishing years prior to this period are calendar years; fishing yeas after this period run from April to March.
O Obserwer program started in 1996
| Year | 3C | 3D | 4B | 5A | 5B | 5C | 5D | 5E | UNK | CST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | — | — | — | 0.3 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 |
| 1990 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 6.9 | — | 12 |
| 1991 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 1.9 | 4.2 | — | 13 |
| 1992 | 0.0 | — | — | 1.0 | 5.6 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 5.5 | — | 13 |
| 1993 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.4 | — | — | — | 6.5 | — | 10 |
| 1994 | — | 0.0 | — | 9.6 | 0.1 | — | — | 1.7 | — | 12 |
| 1995 | — | 0.1 | — | 9.9 | 1.2 | 0.0 | — | 6.8 | 5.7 | 24 |
| 1996 | 0.0 | 0.7 | — | 7.8 | — | 0.0 | 0.2 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 12 |
| 97I | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.0 | — | 0 |
| 1997 | — | 0.2 | — | 1.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | — | 1.3 | 3.2 | 7 |
| 1998 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 4.5 | 0.4 | 9 |
| 1999 | 0.1 | 0.2 | — | 4.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 9 |
| 2000 | — | 0.1 | 0.0 | 4.2 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 9 |
| 2001 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 6.5 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 10 |
| 2002 | — | 0.1 | — | 14.9 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 3.7 | 2.8 | 25 |
| 2003 | — | 0.1 | — | 6.3 | 7.0 | — | — | 0.2 | 0.7 | 14 |
| 2004 | — | 0.1 | — | 7.8 | 3.7 | — | — | 0.1 | — | 12 |
| 2005 | — | 0.1 | 0.0 | 12.8 | 1.9 | — | — | 0.0 | — | 15 |
| 2006 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.0 | — | 0 |
| 2007 | — | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | — | — | 0.0 | — | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 5 | 1 | 94 | 28 | 5 | 3 | 52 | 14 | 204 |
I Interim period (Jan–Mar) before implementation of IVQ in 1997 for offshore trawl. Fishing years prior to this period are calendar years; fishing yeas after this period run from April to March.
| Year | 3C | 3D | 4B | 5A | 5B | 5C | 5D | 5E | UNK | CST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | — | — | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0.0 | 2.1 | 2 |
| 1996 | — | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.7 | 6 |
| 97I | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.3 | 0 |
| 1997 | — | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | — | 0.0 | 0.9 | 2 |
| 1998 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 2 |
| 1999 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | — | 2 |
| 2000 | — | 1.6 | — | — | 0.6 | — | — | 1.1 | 0.0 | 3 |
| 2001 | — | 2.1 | — | — | 0.9 | — | — | 1.3 | 0.0 | 4 |
| 2002 | — | 3.5 | — | — | 1.2 | — | — | 2.7 | 0.0 | 7 |
| 2003 | — | 5.0 | — | — | 2.0 | — | — | 1.0 | 0.0 | 8 |
| 2004 | — | 4.7 | — | — | 1.9 | — | — | 2.7 | 0.0 | 9 |
| 2005 | — | 2.5 | — | — | 1.1 | — | — | 1.3 | 0.0 | 5 |
| 2006 | 0.1 | 0.2 | — | 8.3 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | — | 14 |
| 2007 | 0.1 | 0.1 | — | 6.3 | 4.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | — | 11 |
| Total | 0 | 21 | 0 | 16 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 6 | 78 |
I Interim period (Jan–Mar) before implementation of IVQ in 1997 for offshore trawl. Fishing years prior to this period are calendar years; fishing yeas after this period run from April to March.
Regional areas used in the halibut fishery are assigned to the following PMFCs: QC=5E, PR=5D, NC=5D, CC=5B, WC=2D, SG=4D. PFMA areas are assigned PMFC areas using PFMA centroids in PMFC polygons.
1 Note that in Fig. 3 all AO grid cells with fewer than three fishing vessels have been excluded due to privacy concerns. These grids are, however, included in all AO calculations.
Page details
- Date modified: