The Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) of NOAA Fisheries, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), conducts research on marine mammals off the coasts of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California.
Volcanic eruptions at Bogoslof have changed the landscape dramatically. It’s home to a thriving breeding ground of northern fur seals. Scientists monitor the fur seal population every 4 years to understand how they respond to such a dynamic environment.
The National Standard Guidelines for Fishery Management Plans published by NOAA Fisheries require that a stock assessment and fishery evaluation report be prepared and reviewed annually for each fishery management plan.
The Gulf of Alaska thornyhead complex remain on a biennial stock assessment schedule with a full stock assessment produced in even years and no stock assessment produced in odd years.
The shark complex (spiny dogfish, Pacific sleeper shark, salmon shark and other/unidentified sharks) in the Gulf of Alaska is assessed on a biennial stock assessment schedule.
The shallow-water flatfish stock complex in the Gulf of Alaska includes Alaska plaice, butter sole, English sole, sand sole, starry flounder, yellowfin sole, northern rock sole, and southern rock sole.
