Status of the Pacific Whiting Resource in 1987 and Recommendations to Management in 1988

摘要

The document provides a summary of the status of the Pacific whiting (Merluccius productus) stock in 1987 and recommendations for management in 1988. The current status of the Pacific whiting stock was evaluated on the basis of 1986 Northwest and Alaska Fisheries Center (NWAFC) bottom trawl and hydroacoustic survey data and information on the relative abundance of juveniles in 1984-86 California Department of Fish and Game juvenile survey data. Analysis of the age structure of the stock revealed three strong year classes (1977, 1980, and 1984) are presently supporting the stock. New estimates of offshore Pacific whiting fishery production were made using an age-structured simulation model. Estimates of maximum long-term production from the Pacific whiting stock ranged from 165,000 to 196,000 t.