UNIT 14 

 PACIFIC COAST AND ALASKA PELAGIC FISHERIES 



Gathering roe on kelp, Sum- 

 mit Island, Togiak Bay, 

 Alaska. 



Mexican fleets, but no bilateral manageinent 

 agreement has yet been reached for coordinated 

 management of the stocks. Harvest levels are 

 increasing in Mexican waters, and the absence oi 

 a governing bilateral agreement is compromising 

 management of the same stocks that both countries 

 fish. 



northern anchovy, Pacific sardine, and chub 

 mackerel. The new models are more reliable and 

 precise than earlier ones. The models now use more 

 data, including fish-sporter data from pilots 

 employed by commercial fishermen, and the 

 California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries In- 

 vestigations" long-term ichthyoplankton data base. 



Underutilized Species 



Jack mackerel is an underutilized species, while 

 the Pacific sardine is increasing in abundance after 

 decades at low levels. These species may support 

 an increased harvest by U.S. fishermen in the near 

 future. 



PROGRESS 



National Marine Fisheries Service scientists 

 continue to work closely with state biologists and 

 the Pacific Fishery Management Council in 

 assessing and managing the stocks. Stock 

 assessment models have been developed for 



FOR FURTHER READING 



California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations 

 (CALCOFI) Reports, volumes 36-39. 



Hill, K. I'., M. Yaremlvo, L. D. Jacobson, N. C. H. 1 o, 

 •md D. Hanan. 1998. Stock assessment .ind 

 man.igement recommendations for Pacific sardine 

 (Sardinops sagax) in 1997. California Department of 

 Fish and Game Administrative Report 98-5. 



Yaremko, M., |. T. Barnes, and L. D. Jacobson. 1998. 

 Status of the Pacific mackerel resource during 1997 

 and management recommendations for the fishery. 

 (California Department of Fish and Came 

 Administrative Report 98-3. 



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