Yelloweye rockfish. 



reversed due to a subsequent string ot above-aver- 

 age year classes (those spawned in 1 989-9 1 ). The 

 cod stock is now considered to be healthy, though 

 declining shghtly in abundance, and hilly utilized. 



Flatfishes: All flatfish species are underutilized 

 and, with the exception ot Greenland turbot, ap- 

 pear to be at above-average abundance levels. 1 he 

 underutilization of flatfish results from the fish- 

 ery management plan requirement to maintain 

 overall groundfish catches within the 2,000,000 t 

 optimum yield cap and a desire to prexeiit exces- 

 sive incidental catches of Pacific h.ilibui and king 

 and Tanner crabs. 



Yellowfin sole is the most abundant of the flat- 

 fishes. Within the overall groundfish complex, 

 yellowfin sole ranks second in abundance behind 

 walleye pollock. In terms of harvest, yellowfin sole 

 ranks third among the groundfish complex behind 

 pollock and Pacific cod. Greenland turbot, the only 

 flatfish stock below target abundance levels, shows 

 a continued decline from the high levels during 

 the early 1980's due to poor spawning success. 



Among the other flatfish species, abundance 

 continues to be high and stable. Rock sole is now 

 the second most abundant of the flatfishes and 

 the third most abundant of all groundfish species, 

 having increased steadily throughout the survey 

 time series (i.e. since 197'S). 



Sablefish: Sablefish (or blackcod) is a valuable 

 species caught mostly with longline and pot gear 

 in depths greater than those fished by trawlers. 

 Sablefish is considered to be a single stock from 

 the Ik'ring Sea and Aleutian Islands region to the 

 Gulf of Alaska. The population declined substan- 

 tially in 1990, perhaps due to migrations into the 



Gulf of Alaska and a general retraction of the 

 stock's range. Recent recruitment has been rela- 

 tively weak, and the stock is considered below its 

 long-term average level. Sablefish is fully exploited 

 (within the context of allowing stock-rebuilding 

 to occur). 



Rockfish: Rockfishes are assessed and managed 

 as two major groups: Pacific ocean perch and other 

 rockfish. The former's abundance dropped sharply 

 owing to intensive foreign fisheries in the 196()'s 

 and remained low into the early 1980's. In recent 

 years, catch levels have been set well below cur- 

 rent potential yield to help rebuild the stocks. The 

 Pacific ocean perch group appears to h.ive recov- 

 ered and is currently harvested at full utilization 

 levels (within the context of risk-averse manage- 

 ment). 



Atka Mackerel: I he Atka mackerel stock lives 

 mainly in the Aleutian Islands region. Previously, 

 current potential yield for this species had been 

 set conservatively low because of uncertainty re- 

 garding its abundance. However, trawl surveys 

 conducted by the Alaska Fisheries Science Center 

 in 1986 and 1991 have confirmed a higher abun- 

 dance than was previousK' le.ili/ed, ,ind a gradual 

 increase in the rate of exploitation was phased in 

 from 1992. This stock is considered at its average 

 level, declining slightly, and tulK utilized. 



Other Species: In recent years, other species 

 have represented 1% or less of the total ground- 

 fish catch. Sculpins and skates probably consti- 

 tute most of this resource, but the abuiul.ince of 

 pelagic squids, smelts, and sharks is largely un- 

 known. The current potential yield has been set 

 at the average catch level. 



204 



