"Sablefish"

Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) inhabit the northeastern Pacific Ocean from northern Mexico to the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), westward to the Aleutian Islands (AI), and into the Bering Sea (BS) (Wolotira et al. 1993).

The longline survey abundance index increased 9% from 2017 to 2018 following a 14% increase in 2017 from 2016. The lowest point of the time series was 2015. The fishery catch-rate/abundance index stayed level from 2016 to 2017 and is at the time series low (the 2018 data are not available yet). Spawning biomass is projected to increase rapidly from 2019 to 2022, and then stabilize.

The longline survey abundance index increased 9% from 2017 to 2018 following a 14% increase in 2017 from 2016. The lowest point of the time series was 2015. The fishery catch-rate/abundance index stayed level from 2016 to 2017 and is at the time series low (the 2018 data are not available yet). Spawning biomass is projected to increase rapidly from 2019 to 2022, and then stabilize.

This report summarizes release and recovery data within the tag database and describes the results of studies utilizing these tag data by NOAA Fisheries and others on sablefish age, growth, and migration. Hopefully it will prove both interesting and informative for those who have contributed the largest share of the data—individual members of the fishing industry.

We use information collected during the Alaska Fisheries Science Center's annual longline survey on the continental slope of the eastern Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and the Gulf of Alaska to estimate the size of the sablefish population in Alaska.

The Alaska Fisheries Science Center conducts annual longline surveys to estimate the relative abundance of major groundfish species on the continental slope of the eastern Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and the Gulf of Alaska. The survey is primarily designed to assess sablefish and indices of abundance have been computed since 1979. Catch data from other species are also available. From 1979 to 1994, the AFSC conducted cooperative annual longline surveys with Japan, and then independently from 1987 to present.

Data is available from annual bottom longline surveys conducted cooperatively by Japan (1979–1994) and the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Fisheries Science Center (1988 to present).

Analysis of the Final Rule to Prohibit the Use of Hired Masters for Sablefish Catcher Vessel Quota Shares Received by Transfer after February 12, 2010 Consistency of the Final Rule With National Standards 9 and 10 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Region April 1, 2016 This analysis was prepared in response to a January 13, 2016, order from the United States District Court, Western District of Washington, regarding a 2014 final rule issued by NMFS (Fairweather Fish, Inc. et al. vs. Pritzker et al., Case No. 3:14-cv-05685-BHS). The final rule prohibits initial Quota recipients from using a hired master to harvest Individual Fishing Quota derived from sablefish catcher vessel Quota received by transfer after February 12, 2010. NMFS has determined that the Final Rule is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act National Standards 9 (minimize bycatch and bycatch mortality) and 10 (promote safety at sea). This analysis describes the factors NMFS considered in determining that the Final Rule is consistent with National Standards 9 and 10. While the Final Rule is expected to have economic impacts on some Quota holders as described in the record associated with this action, the Final Rule is not expected to increase bycatch or bycatch mortality in the sablefish IFQ fishery overall or reduce the safety of human life at sea for persons participating on board a vessel in the sablefish IFQ fishery.

Pound for pound, sablefish is one of the highest valued finfish in Alaska’s commercial fisheries.