Status of the Pacific Whiting Resource in 1989 and Recommendations to Management in 1990

摘要

The report evaluates the condition of the Pacific whiting (Merluccius productus) resource in 1989 and includes management recommendations for 1990. The harvest of Pacific whiting has increased in recent years and in 1989 the harvest was 309,000 metric tons (t). The fishery continues to be supported by the strong 1980 and 1984 year classes. However, there has been no evidence of strong recruitment to the population since the 1984 year class; as a consequence, the female spawning biomass will decline from 829,000 t in 1989 to an estimated 599,000 t in 1990 and will continue to decline through at least 1991. Two harvesting strategies are explored: a constant effort strategy and a variable effort strategy, where effort for a particular year is proportional to the level of female spawning biomass.