2019 Assessment of the Deepwater Flatfish Stock Complex in the Gulf of Alaska

The "flatfish" species complex previous to 1990 was managed as a unit in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). It included the major flatfish species inhabiting the region, with the exception of Pacific halibut. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council divided the flatfish assemblage into four categories for management in 1990; "shallow flatfish" and "deep flatfish", flathead sole and arrowtooth flounder. 

The key results for the assessment of the deepwater flatfish complex are compared to the key results from the accepted 2018 partial assessment in the included document. The results for Dover sole are based on the author’s base case model and Tier 3a management. A risk matrix approach was used to evaluate whether the ABC should be set at a lower value than the maxABC (see “Harvest Recommendations” section). The risk matrix levels are 1 for all categories except for “Assessment-related considerations,” where a risk level of 2 was assigned. Based on these risk levels, the ABC was set equal to the maxABC.