Butler et al : Biology and population dynamics of Sebastes levis in the southern California Bight 



277 



117° 



Figure 13 



Commercial passenger fishing vessel (CPFV) mean catch rates (cowcod per 

 angler day) for each fishing block during the 1990-98 seasons (no dot means 

 zero CPUE). Heavy black lines surround two cowcod conservation areas. 



little experience managing cowcod to increase abundance. 

 Long time series do not exist for many species of groupers 

 and snappers that have similar life histories and similar 

 abundance declines in the Caribbean (Huntsman et al., 

 1997, Coleman et al., 2000). No-take marine protected 

 areas in the Caribbean Sea have greater numbers and 

 more biomass of large grouper species than adjacent areas 

 where fishing takes place (Chiappone et al., 2000). Thus, 

 comparative studies may be useful in understanding the 

 population dynamics of similar species with little data and 

 in rebuilding species with little management history. 



Acknowledgments 



We appreciate and acknowledge the work of many people 

 at the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) South- 

 west Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC), Northwest Fish- 

 eries Science Center (NWFSC), Alaska Fisheries Science 

 Center (AFSC), and California Department of Fish and 

 Game (CDFG) who contributed to this project. Elaine 

 Acuna, Dave Ambrose, Sherri Charter, and Bill Watson 

 (SWFSC) carefully checked all identifications of cowcod 

 larvae in the CalCOFI collection. Rich Charter (SWFSC) 

 provided CalCOFI station data. Kevin Hill (CDFG) pro- 

 vided data on cowcod catch rates in the commercial pas- 

 senger fishing vessel fleet. Jim Allen and Shelly Moore, 

 Southern California Coastal Water Resource Project 

 (SCCWRP), provided data on cowcod juveniles in otter 

 trawl surveys. Rich Cosgrove (SWFSC ) analyzed bathymet- 



ric data and provided GIS maps. Robson Collins and Bob 

 Lea, (CDFG) provided otoliths. Dan Fuller (SWFSC) pre- 

 pared and read sections of otoliths. Don Pearson (SWFSC) 

 provided data on commercial catches of cowcod. Mark 

 Wilkins (AFSC) provided data from the triennial survey. 

 J. DeVore (Pacific Fishery Management Council) provided 

 advice and information about current management. Milton 

 Love (University of California, Santa Barbara) provided 

 cowcod data from submersible observations. Henry Orr 

 (SWFSC) prepared illustrations. Sam Herrick (SWFSC) 

 provided economic information about cowcod landings. 

 Richard Methot (NWFSC), Ray Conser (SWFSC), Robert 

 Mohn (Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada), Sam 

 Herrick (SWFSC), and Tom Ohio (Moss Landing, CA) care- 

 fully reviewed the stock assessment upon which this paper 

 is based. Three anonymous reviewers made suggestions 

 that helped us improve the paper substantially. 



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