Pacific cod

Pacific cod in the western north Pacific is abundant and not subject to overfishing.There are four Pacific cod stocks in the north Pacific. In the east, they are: Aleutian Islands (AI), Bering Sea (BS), and Gulf of Alaska (GOA). In the west is the Bering Sea (West) and Chukotskaya, Karaginskaya & Petropavlovsko-Komandorskaya subzones stock.This rating covers the western stock. It is divided into three separate stock components: west Bering Sea, Karaginskaya subzone, and Petropavlovsk-Komandorskaya subzone.The stock as a whole is in a good state and fishing pressure is within sustainable limits. In 2020 the catch limit was set at 155,000 tons for all components combined. No cases of exceeding the total allowable catch (TAC) have been reported.Western Bering Sea and Chukotskaya subzones:In this area, research surveys and models demonstrate increasing spawning stock biomass (SSB), biomass (B) and catch per unit effort (CPUE). From 1993-2003, SSB ranged from 226–331 thousand tonnes. In 2018 and 2019, this had increased to 2.09-2.56 million tonnes. In 2021, the SSB is expected to be around 3.21 million tons, well above BMSY (1.12 million tonnes). Therefore, the stock is not in an overfished state.A figure for current fishing mortality (F) was not provided. FMSY is set at 0.105. This would equate to a catch limit of 320,000t, which would have been 2.5 times the 2020 limit. Owing to uncertainties in future stock projections, a limit of 120,000 tonnes was recommended - similar to previous years. From 2012-2019, catches have been 75% of the TACs. Therefore, the stock does not appear to be subject to overfishing.Karaginskaya subzone:Around 30% of the total fishing effort takes place in the Karaginskaya area. Research surveys and models show that the biomass has been stable in this zone, with the stock in 2019 close to the highest in the time series. Since 2000, Pacific cod biomass has consistently been above BMSY. In 2021, SSB is estimated to be at 58,780 tons, above the proxy for MSY (Btr, 52,650 tonnes). Therefore, the stock is not in an overfished state.Fishing mortality (F) was 0.294, equal to the target (Ftr) and corresponding to a catch limit of 20,000 tons. With that F, the risk of overfishing is very low, below 0.1. Therefore, the stock is not subject to overfishing.Petropavlovsk-Komandorskaya subzone:Around 10% of the total fishing effort takes place in the Petropavlovsho-Komandorskaya area. Simulations show that in this zone, Pacific cod biomass (B) and SSB are showing an upward trend, with the biomass now the highest in the time series. In 2021, SSB was estimated at 69,500 tons, above the BMSY (64.1 thousand tons).A figure for current fishing mortality (F) was not provided. FMSY is set at 0.296. This would equate to a catch limit of 15,400 tons. The fishing mortality rate in 2020 was estimated at F0.257, corresponding to a catch of 14,200 tons. Therefore, the stock does not appear to be subject to overfishing.

A number of management measures are in place and compliance is good. Catches are below scientifically recommended limits. There are some limitations on the information available from Russian fisheries. Fishing for Pacific cod in the West Bering Sea takes place within the Russian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The stock is separated into three management areas by the Russian authorities: East Kamchatka (Petropavlovsk-Komandor), Karaginsk, and Anadyr-Navarin. Russian fisheries management is coordinated by the Federal Fisheries Agency.There are a number of fishery management tools in place. The main measure is a catch limit (Total Allowable Catch, TAC) for each area. These are based on stock assessments, which are carried out by scientific agency VINRO. TACs are set using harvest control rules, with fishing mortality being reduced when stocks fall below certain thresholds. In recent years, TACs have not been surpassed. Management therefore appears to follow scientific recommendations, and compliance with catch limits appears to be good. Since 2015, the harvest strategy has been significantly revised with new requirements including analysis of stock size, life history, fishing technologies, determination of long-term goals of exploitation, determination of target and limit reference points in terms of spawning or commercial biomass and fishing mortality. The harvest strategy in place is thought to be responsive to the status of the stock and has been designed to meet stock management objectives. There is limited information on gear specific fisheries regulations implementation for bottom trawl and demersal seine fishery in Russian waters. Other management tools include a mesh size limit on bottom trawl fishery, prohibition of target fishery for Pacific cod in Petropavlovsko-Komandorskaya subzone at depths less than 200m, and a minimum landing size 40 cm of standard length. Closure of subzones also occur on a seasonal basis due to biological activities or sensitive habitats or species in the area at specific times. All Pacific cod caught as a target species must be completely utilised.Monitoring and enforcement is carried out by the FFA through its regional offices, and the Coast Guard, which falls under the Federal Security Service (FSB). Fish caught in Russian waters must be landed in Russian ports. Other measures include random inspections at sea, electronic logbooks, and satellite tracking of boats (VMS and AIS). Quota rights are revoked if a fishing firm commits two serious infringements of regulations within one calendar year. According to FSB reports, violations were discovered in around 5% of inspections.

Some west Bering Sea cod is caught by otter trawls, which are likely to cause some damage to the seabed. There may also be bycatch of vulnerable species. Data on this fishery is scarce.Pacific cod in the western Bering Sea (WBS) are caught by longline, otter trawl, and demersal (Danish) seine. Pacific cod is taken both as a target species and a bycatch of fisheries targeting other species, such as pollock.Demersal otter trawl and Danish seine make up 53.9% of the total catch on average in the Western Bering Sea zone and 11.4% in the Chukotskaya zone. In the Karaginskaya subzone, Danish seine and trawls made up 68.4% of the total catch from 2001 to 2014, however in 2013-2014, an increase in catches by longliners occurred and now 50% is being caught by longliners or mobile gears.Demersal trawls have contact with the seabed, resulting in penetration and abrasion of habitat features. The impact of trawling on the seabed depends on the where trawling happens, and on what scale. For example, habitats that are used to natural disturbance through tides and waves are less sensitive to impacts. Areas not used to mobile towed gears are typically more sensitive. Data on the footprint of this fishery, and the seabed habitats it covers, is unavailable.Demersal otter trawls have the potential to take relatively high quantities of bycatch. Information about the bycatch (including ETP species) in the bottom trawl fishery in the area is not available. There are reports of Pacific sleeper shark being caught in trawls.Closed areas have been declared around rookeries of otters, Steller sea-lions and seals to protect these species.

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