1999 

 OUR LIVING OCEANS 



stocks that were previously classified as unknown. This is in contrast to only 3 stocks whose 

 utilization level was reclassified as unknown. 



Shortspine thornyhead 

 rockfish, Newport, Oregon. 



The Stock level relative to L'Fl'Y shows how the stock size compares to the level of 

 abtuidance which on average would support the LTPY harvest. In general, management 

 actions should prevent stocks from tailing below 1 TPY, or rebuild them (i.e. to change 

 from below LTPY to near or above L'lTY). In terms ol stock level relative to LTPY, 7 stocks 

 changed status from below LTPY to near or above LLPY: pollock in the Northeast Region, 

 Atlantic menhaden, Ckilf of Mexico pink shrimp. Pacific sardine. North Pacific albacore, 

 thornvhead rockfish in the Gulf of Alaska, and western Pacific spiny and slipper lobsters. 

 In contrast, 18 stocks changed status Irom near or above LLPY to below LTP\': Atlantic 

 cod, windowpane flounder, spinv dogfish, red hake, white hake, bluehsh, sea scallop, alba- 

 core, and bigcye tuna in the Northeast Region; coho salmon. Pacific whiting, sablefish, 

 widow rockfish, canary rockfish, and yellowtail rockfish oil the Pacific Coast (Oregon- 

 Vancouver Island); Tinner crabs off Alaska; and sablefish in the Eastern Bering Sea and 

 Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska (2 stocks). Lhe status ot 10 stocks was reclassified as 

 known, ct)mpared to 3 stocks that were reclassified as unknown. 



C_;hanges in the degree of utilization by the fishery can occur more rapidK' th.m ciianges 

 in stock status relative to LTPY. For example, a fishery can be regulated such that the stock's 

 classification changes from overutilized to underutilized in a single year by restricting the 

 number of days-at-sea of fishing vessels, by closing large areas to fishing, or by other regu- 

 latory measures. In contrast, allowing a stock to rebuild from below to above LTPY can 

 take many years, depending on the stocks intrinsic natural capacity to grow, on its initial 

 level ot depletion, and on the regulatory measures put in place dtiring the rebuilding pro- 

 gram. Similarly, deterioration in stock status from, tor example, near to below LLPY is a 

 process that cannot always be halted instantaneously. 



In addition, changes in how stocks are classified in terms of popul.ition status and 

 utili/ation bv the fishery can be due to improved seientific understanding ot their long- 

 term potential and of how fishing affects stock abundance over time. Even though NMFS 

 has intended to use terms like LLPY in a consistent manner in every edition ot Our iiviug 

 Oceans, our abilitv to quantif- L'LP^' impro\es as we accumulate more biological and tish- 

 er\- intormation, which can result in substanti\'e changes. For example, the two stocks that 

 experienced the largest positive and negative changes in estimates ot LLPY between OLO 



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