Science & Data

Native Names: In the Aleut languages, Atka mackerel are known as tmadgi among the Eastern and Atkan Aleuts and Atkan of Bering Island. They are also known as tavyi among the Attuan Aleuts.

From December 11–15, 2023, researchers will evaluate a new multi-function trawl system's midwater and surface-trawling performance in preparation for the Integrated West Coast Pelagics Survey.

Native Names: In the Aleut languages, Atka mackerel are known as tmadgi among the Eastern and Atkan Aleuts and Atkan of Bering Island. They are also known as tavyi among the Attuan Aleuts (Sepez et al. 2003).

Native Names: In the Aleut languages, Atka mackerel are known as tmadgi-{ among the Eastern and Atkan Aleuts and Atkan of Bering Island. They are also known as tavyi-{ among the Attuan Aleuts (Sepez et al. 2003).

Native Names: In the Aleut languages, Atka mackerel are known as tmadgi among the Eastern and Atkan Aleuts and Atkan of Bering Island. They are also known as tavyi among the Attuan Aleuts (Sepez et al. 2003).

Atka mackerel (Pleurogrammus monopterygius) are widely distributed along the continental shelf across the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea from Asia to North America.

Atka mackerel are a substrate-spawning fish with male parental care. Single or multiple clumps of adhesive eggs are laid on rocky substrates in individual male territories within nesting colonies where males brood eggs for a protracted period. Nesting colonies are widespread across the continental shelf of the Aleutian Islands and western GOA down to bottom depths of 144 m (Lauth et al. 2007b). Historical data from ichthyoplankton tows done on the outer shelf and slope off Kodiak Island in the 1970s and 1980s (Kendall and Dunn 1985) suggest that nesting colonies may have existed at one time in the central GOA. Possible factors limiting the upper and lower depth limit of Atka mackerel nesting habitat include insufficient light penetration and the deleterious effects of unsuitable water temperatures, wave surge, or high densities of kelp and green sea urchins (Gorbunova 1962, Lauth et al. 2007b, Zolotov 1993).

The National Standard Guidelines for Fishery Management Plans published by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) require that a stock assessment and fishery evaluation (SAFE) report be prepared and reviewed annually for each fishery management plan (FMP). The SAFE reports are intended to summarize the best available scientific information concerning the past, present, and possible future condition of the stocks and fisheries under federal management. The FMPs for the groundfish fisheries managed by the Council require that drafts of the SAFE reports be produced each year in time for the December North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meetings.

Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Atka mackerel have been moved to a biennial stock assessment schedule to coincide with the availability of new survey data from the biennial trawl survey. A full assessment was presented in 2011, which included data from the 2011 GOA bottom trawl survey. On alternate (even) years we present an executive summary with updated catch, last year’s key assessment parameters, any significant new information available in the interim, and projections for this year. Although a survey was conducted in 2013, we only provided an expanded executive summary with updated catch and the 2013 survey information, due to the government shut-down in October 2013. In 2014, we again presented an executive summary in keeping with the biennial schedule.

Native Names: In the Aleut languages, Atka mackerel are known as tmadgi-{ among the Eastern and Atkan Aleuts and Atkan of Bering Island. They are also known as tavyi-{ among the Attuan Aleuts (Sepez et al. 2003).