2016 Assessment of the Big and Longnose Skate Stocks and the Other Skate Stock Complex in the Gulf of Alaska
February 19, 2016
The Gulf of Alaska (GOA) skate complex is managed as three units. Big skates (Beringraja binoculata) and longnose skates (Raja rhina) each have separate harvest specifications, with acceptable biological catches (ABCs) specified for each GOA regulatory area (western, central, and eastern). A single gulfwide overfishing level (OFL) is specified for each stock. All remaining skate species are managed as an “Other Skates” complex with gulfwide harvest specifications. All GOA skates are managed under Tier 5, where OFL and ABC are based on survey biomass estimates and natural mortality rate.
Gulf of Alaska skates are assessed on a biennial schedule, with full assessments due in odd years to coincide with the availability of new trawl survey data. In even years an executive summary is prepared with updated catch data.