Chapter 13 : Assessment of the Rougheye and Blackspotted Rockfish stock in the Gulf of Alaska ( Executive Summary )

Introduction Rockfish are assessed on a biennial stock assessment schedule to coincide with the availability of new survey data. We use a separable age-structured model as the primary assessment tool for Gulf of Alaska rougheye and blackspotted rockfish (RE/BS complex). The model consists of an assessment, which uses survey and fishery data to generate a historical time series of population estimates, and a projection which uses results from the assessment model to predict future population estimates and recommended harvest levels. The model was constructed with AD Model Builder software and allows for size composition data that is adaptable to several rockfish species. For Gulf of Alaska rockfish in alternate (even) years we present an executive summary to recommend harvest levels for the next (odd) year. For this off-cycle year, we only updated the 2009 projection model estimates with revised catch data for 2009 and a new catch estimate for 2010. Please refer to last year’s full stock assessment, which is available online, (Shotwell et al., 2009 http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/REFM/docs/2009/GOArougheye.pdf) for further information regarding the assessment model. A full stock assessment document with updated assessment and projection model results will be presented in next year’s SAFE report.