U.S. West Coast Upper Continental Slope Trawl Survey of Groundfish Resources off Washington, Oregon, and California, 2001: Estimates of Distribution, Abundance, and Length of Composition

摘要

The Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring (FRAM) Division of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) conducted the fifth in a series of annual bottom trawl surveys of commercial groundfish resources off the U.S. West Coast between 25 June 2002 and 24 September 2002. The West Coast groundfish fishery includes about 80 commercially fished stocks spanning the area from the Canadian to Mexican borders in nearshore to offshore waters. Multiple vessel types, ranging in size from kayaks to trawlers, participate in the fishery. The fishery uses various types of mobile and fixed gear including bottom trawls, midwater trawls, pots, longlines, and other hook and line gear; however, trawlers take the majority of groundfish. Active management of the fishery began in the early 1980s with the establishment of optimal yields (OYs) and trip limits for several managed species. Management measures include landings limits, size limits, gear restrictions, and time/area closures. The management measures are designed to avoid overfishing and rebuild overfished stocks. The objective of the annual NWFSC slope survey is to provide fishery-independent data used in the assessment of the status and trends of fish species inhabiting the upper continental slope.The Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring (FRAM) Division of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) conducted the fifth in a series of annual bottom trawl surveys of commercial groundfish resources off the U.S. West Coast between 25 June 2002 and 24 September 2002. The West Coast groundfish fishery includes about 80 commercially fished stocks spanning the area from the Canadian to Mexican borders in nearshore to offshore waters. Multiple vessel types, ranging in size from kayaks to trawlers, participate in the fishery. The fishery uses various types of mobile and fixed gear including bottom trawls, midwater trawls, pots, longlines, and other hook and line gear; however, trawlers take the majority of groundfish. Active management of the fishery began in the early 1980s with the establishment of optimal yields (OYs) and trip limits for several managed species. Management measures include landings limits, size limits, gear restrictions, and time/area closures. The management measures are designed to avoid overfishing and rebuild overfished stocks. The objective of the annual NWFSC slope survey is to provide fishery-independent data used in the assessment of the status and trends of fish species inhabiting the upper continental slope.