2016 Assessment of the Dusky Rockfish Stock in the Gulf of Alaska
February 14, 2016
Rockfish are assessed on a biennial stock assessment schedule to coincide with the availability of new survey data. For Gulf of Alaska rockfish in alternate (even) years we present an executive summary to recommend harvest levels for the next two years.
We use a statistical age-structured model as the primary assessment tool for Gulf of Alaska dusky rockfish which qualifies as a Tier 3 stock. 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