NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-AFSC-208

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service

Alaska Fisheries Science Center

March 2010

by

P. G. von Szalay, N. W. Raring, F. R. Shaw,

M. E. Wilkins, and M. H. Martin

Data Report: 2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey
NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS

The National Marine Fisheries Service's Alaska Fisheries Science Center

uses the NOAA Technical Memorandum series to issue informal scientific and

technical publications when complete formal review and editorial processing

are not appropriate or feasible. Documents within this series reflect sound

professional work and may be referenced in the formal scientific and technical

literature.

The NMFS-AFSC Technical Memorandum series of the Alaska Fisheries

Science Center continues the NMFS-F/NWC series established in 1970 by the

Northwest Fisheries Center. The NMFS-NWFSC series is currently used by

the Northwest Fisheries Science Center.

This document should be cited as follows:

von Szalay, P. G., N. W. Raring, F. R. Shaw, M. E. Wilkins, and 

M. H. Martin. 2010. Data Report: 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl

survey. U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-AFSC-208,

245 p.

Reference in this document to trade names does not imply endorsement by

the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA.
March 2010

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-AFSC-208

by

P. G. von Szalay, N. W. Raring, F. R. Shaw,

M. E. Wilkins, and M. H. Martin

Data Report: 2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Alaska Fisheries Science Center

7600 Sand Point Way N.E.

Seattle, WA 98115

www.afsc.noaa.gov

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Gary F. Locke, Secretary

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

 Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary and Administrator

National Marine Fisheries Service

Eric C. Schwaab, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries
This document is available to the public through: 

National Technical Information Service 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

5285 Port Royal Road 

Springfield, VA 22161 

www.ntis.gov 
iii 

PREFACE

This data report is one of two types of standard reports presenting data from the 2009 

 Gulf of Alaska groundfish survey conducted by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 

The two standard reports are: 

1) Cruise Report outlines the survey objectives; documents itinerary, personnel, and 

vessels employed; and summarizes major accomplishments. 

2) Data Report (this document), contains detailed descriptions of the survey planning 

and operation, species distribution and abundance charts, length frequency plots, 

tables of estimated biomass, catch per unit effort, average weight and length 

estimates, length frequency plots, length-weight regression parameters, list of 

identified species, survey strata specifications and charts, and trawl descriptions 

and diagrams. 

v 

ABSTRACT

Scientists of the Groundfish Assessment Program of Alaska Fisheries Science Center's 

Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering (RACE) Division conducted the sixth 

biennial groundfish assessment survey of the Gulf of Alaska during the summer of 2009. These 

surveys extend the series of surveys, previously conducted every 3 years between 1984 and 

1999, which constitute the time series used in stock assessments of Gulf of Alaska groundfish 

resources. The survey area covered the continental shelf and upper continental slope to 1,000 m 

in the Gulf of Alaska from Islands of Four Mountains (170°W long.) to Dixon Entrance 

(132°40'W long.). The survey was conducted aboard three chartered commercial trawlers, the 

FV Pacific Explorer, FV Sea Storm, and FV Vesteraalen. Trawl haul samples were collected 

successfully at 823 survey stations using standard RACE Division Poly Nor'Eastern highopening bottom trawl nets with rubber bobbin roller gear. 

The primary survey objectives were to define the distribution and estimate the relative 

abundance of the principal groundfish within the survey area and to collect data to estimate 

biological parameters useful to groundfish researchers and managers including age, growth, 

length-weight relationships, feeding habits, and size, sex, and age composition. The survey also 

collected ancillary data requested by other research groups. 

A total of 185 fish and 393 invertebrate species were captured in survey tows. 

Arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias), Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus), giant grenadier 

(Albatrossia pectoralis), walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma), Pacific ocean perch 
vi 

(Sebastes alutus), and Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) were, in descending order, the 

most abundant species within the survey area. Atka mackerel (Pleurogrammus monopterygius), 

Pacific hake (Merluccius productus), southern rock sole (Lepidopsetta bilineata), flathead sole 

(Hippoglossoides elassodon), and spotted ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei) were locally abundant in 

some areas. Survey results are presented including estimates of catch per unit of effort, 

biomass, population size composition, and length-weight relationships, as well as charts 

depicting the distribution of catch for commercially important species encountered during the 

survey. 
vii 

CONTENTS

PREFACE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii

ABSTRACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

METHODS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Survey Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Vessels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Fishing Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Survey Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Data Collection Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Collection and Processing of Samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Abundance, Size Composition, and Length-Weight Relations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Survey Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

RESULTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Catch Results by Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Catch Results by Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

FLATFISHES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Arrowtooth flounder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Pacific halibut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Flathead sole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Southern rock sole. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Northern rock sole. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Rex sole. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Dover sole. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Yellowfin sole. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Other Flatfishes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Alaska plaice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Starry flounder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

English sole. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Butter sole. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

ROUNDFISHES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Walleye pollock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Pacific cod. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Atka mackerel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Sablefish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Giant grenadier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

ROCKFISHES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

Pacific ocean perch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

Northern rockfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Rougheye rockfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

Blackspotted rockfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

Dusky rockfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
viii 

Dark rockfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156

Sharpchin rockfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

Shortraker rockfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

Shortspine thornyhead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

Other Rockfishes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182

Redstripe rockfish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182

Silvergray rockfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182

Harlequin rockfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183

Redbanded rockfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183

Yelloweye rockfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183

Rosethorn rockfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184

SKATES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197

Alaska skate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197

Aleutian skate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197

Bering skate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198

Big skate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198

Longnose skate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198

MISCELLANEOUS SPECIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209

Capelin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209

Eulachon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209

Pacific hake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209

CITATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216

APPENDIX A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220

Strata specifications and locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220

APPENDIX B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225

Fish and invertebrate taxa encountered. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225

APPENDIX C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243

Weight-length relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
INTRODUCTION

The sixth biennial groundfish survey of groundfish and invertebrate resources of the Gulf 

of Alaska (GOA) was conducted during the summer of 2009 by the National Marine Fisheries 

Service's (NMFS) Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC). Scientists from the Groundfish 

Assessment Program of AFSC's Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering (RACE) 

Division in Seattle, Washington, were responsible for the survey’s design and operations. The 

biennial regimen extends the series begun in 1984, previously conducted every 3 years between 

1984 and 1999, which have provided an information time series of distribution, abundance, and 

biological characteristics of GOA groundfish resources for the purpose of stock assessment and 

management. 

In this report, we document the operations and results of the 2009 GOA bottom trawl 

survey. Results of routine analyses of distribution, relative abundance, size composition, and 

biological characteristics are shown for the principal groundfish species in each of the five 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission (INPFC) statistical areas in the GOA: 

Shumagin, Chirikof, Kodiak, Yakutat, and Southeastern. These results provide stock assessment 

scientists and resource managers the most current information to be used for subsequent stock 

assessments. Only the 2009 survey results are presented and no comparisons are made to the 

results of previous GOA surveys. 
The survey objectives were to: 

1) Delineate the distributions of major groundfish and commercially important 

invertebrate species inhabiting the continental shelf and upper continental slope of the 

GOA in depths ≤ 1,000 m. 

2) Collect data used to estimate the abundance of the major groundfish species. 

3) Collect data on specific biological characters of interest to researchers and resource 

managers including: 

• size, sex, and age composition 

• growth and length-weight relationships 

• food habits 

4) Collect specimens and related information for special research projects on behalf of 

researchers at the Resource Assessment & Conservation Engineering (RACE) and 

Resource Ecology & Fisheries Management (REFM) Divisions and Auke Bay 

Laboratories of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, the International Pacific Halibut 

Commission, and the Northwest Fisheries Science Center. The projects included: 

• A taxonomic study of snailfish; 

• Genetic studies of Pacific hake, rougheye, blackspotted, and shortraker 

rockfish, and Pacific ocean perch; 

• A study of light levels at trawl stations; 

• A study of marine mammal food habits; 

• A study of age and growth for big skate and longnose skate; 

2
• A study of age and growth for forage species; 

• A study of squid stock structure and distribution; 

• A study of weight and length relationships for octopuses; 

• A study to identify untrawlable areas; 

• A study of the reproductive biology of Pacific ocean perch, and northern, 

blackspotted, rougheye, and shortraker rockfishes; 

• A study of the visual ecology of snailfishes; 

• A study to identify Pacific sandfish spawning habitat; 

• A study of the effect of trawl heave on the accuracy of seafloor trawlability 

measurements using an echosounder; 

• A study of growth rate differences in rex sole from the eastern and western 

Gulf of Alaska 

 

METHODS

 Survey Area 

The Gulf of Alaska forms the northeastern border of the Pacific Ocean and consists of 

complex bathymetric features ranging from jagged, mountainous pinnacles to flat, muddy areas. 

These features provide a variety of habitats resulting in a complex ecosystem mosaic (Fig. 1). 

Prevailing rough bottom conditions in many areas require the standard use of rubber bobbin 

roller gear for all survey bottom trawling operations. The 2009 GOA survey included the entire 

3
continental shelf and upper portion of the continental slope down as deep as the 1,000 m depth 

contour. 

The total area the survey represents is approximately 320,000 km2 (Table 1). The 

continental shelf, waters shallower than about 200 m and consisting of about 79% of the total 

Gulf of Alaska survey area, extends approximately 220 km (120 nautical miles (nmi)) off Cook 

Inlet and narrows to 40 km (22 nmi) off Dixon Entrance and 20 km (11 nmi) off the Islands of 

Four Mountains. Gullies intrude onto the shelf in many areas, extending from the upper slope to 

the inner shore. These gully areas make up about 16% of the total survey area. The outer shelf 

is bordered by the continental slope, a region approximately 20 km in width, which descends 

steeply to the abyssal Aleutian Trench in the western and central GOA and to the Alaska Plain in 

the eastern GOA. The survey assessed only that portion of the slope between 200 and 1,000 m, 

an area of approximately 68,635 km2. About 32% (101,489 km2) of the total survey area is 

within the Kodiak INPFC area (Table 1). The portion of the survey area contained within the 

Chirikof INPFC area and the Shumagin INPFC area are approximately equal at about 21% 

(68,053 km2) and 20% (65,228 km2), respectively, while the Yakutat INPFC survey area makes 

up about 18% (57,197 km2). The Southeastern INPFC survey area comprises the smallest 

portion, about 9% of the total survey area (28,038 km2). 

 Vessels 

 Since the inception of the Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey series in 1984, commercial 

trawlers and crew have been chartered to conduct the survey operations under the supervision 

and guidance of RACE Groundfish Assessment Program staff. Three vessels (occasionally two) 

4
172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 1. -- Bathymetric and geographic features of the survey area for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial groundfish survey.

Unalaska Island

Unimak Island

Sanak 

 Gully

Shumagin Islands

Albatross Bank

Barnabus 

 Gully

Chirikof Island

Shumagin

 Gully

Semidi

 Bank

Davidson

 Bank

Sankak Bank

Sandman

 Reefs

Shelikof

 Gully

Shelikof Strait

Chirikof

 Bank

5
150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

56°N

58°N

60°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 1. -- Continued.

Cordova

Cook Inlet

 Kenai

 Peninsula

 Prince of 

Wales Island

 Cape 

Ommaney

Baranof 

 Island

Chichagof

 Island

Spencer

 Gully

Alsek 

Valley

Yakutat 

 Valley

Pamplona

 Spur Cape

St. Elias

Wessels 

 Reef

Canada

Amatuli 

Trough

Portlock 

 Bank

Chiniak 

 Gully

Albatross 

 Bank

Marmot 

 Gully

6
have been chartered each year the survey has been done. Since these surveys generate 

quantitative data for a time series to describe trends in abundance, distribution, and population 

biology characteristics of managed resources, it is essential that standardized methods be 

maintained. Stringent standards for selecting charter vessels are specified whenever new 

charters are arranged to ensure that the sampling platforms can adequately collect samples and 

do so in as similar a manner as possible within and between years. As such, vessels and crews 

must meet minimum criteria in terms of size, main engine horsepower, fishing machinery, 

skipper and crew experience, and navigational and safety equipment. Continuity of suitable 

platforms has been further enhanced in the past decade through the use of multi-year charters, 

assuring both the government and the contractors a stable planning situation for as much as 

4 years at a time. 

 In 2009, three U.S. commercial fishing vessels, FV Pacific Explorer, FV Sea Storm, and 

FV Vesteraalen were chartered to conduct the Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. All three 

vessels were house-forward stern trawlers with stern ramps and two aft net storage reels (Sea 

Storm and Vesteraalen; two forward net storage reels on the Pacific Explorer); telescoping deck 

cranes; propeller nozzles; and paired, controlled-tension hydraulic trawl winches with 1,280 m, 

1,460 m, and 2,200 m of 2.54 cm (Pacific Explorer, Sea Storm, and Vesteraalen, respectively) 

diameter steel cable. The Pacific Explorer is 47.2 m in overall length (LOA) and is powered by 

a single continous 1,800 HP main engine. The Sea Storm and Vesteraalen are both 37.8 m 

(LOA) and are also powered by single continuous main engines (1,710 HP on the Sea Storm and 

1,725 HP on the Vesteraalen). The Pacific Explorer was operated by Captain Rick Loan for the 

7
first leg and by Captain Lorin Perry for the second through fourth legs. Captain Tim Cosgrove 

skippered the Vesteraalen for all four legs. The Sea Storm was operated by Captain Steve 

Branstiter for all four legs. All vessels were equipped with GPS receivers with video position 

plotters, at least two radars, single sideband and VHF transmitter-receivers, color video fishfinders, paper recorder depth sounders, and autopilots. 

Fishing Gear 

The fishing gear and protocols for deployment are described in detail in Stauffer (2004). 

All vessels used standard RACE Division Poly Nor’Eastern four-seam bottom trawls with 

 24.2 m roller gear constructed with 36 cm rubber bobbins separated by 10 cm rubber disks. The 

fishing dimensions of the trawls during deployment were monitored and recorded using Scanmar 

acoustic net mensuration equipment mounted on the wing-tips and headrope of the trawl. Each 

trawl and associated rigging was measured and certified as conforming to standard 

measurements prior to its use in the survey. 

Survey Design 

 The 2009 biennial survey used stratified random sampling consistent with previous GOA 

surveys (von Szalay et al. 2008, Britt and Martin 2000, Martin and Clausen 1995, Stark and 

Clausen 1995, Munro and Hoff 1995). The Gulf of Alaska was divided into 59 strata defined by 

water depth, bottom terrain (e.g., shelf, gully, and slope), and INPFC statistical area (Appendix 

A). As in previous surveys, a modified Neyman optimal allocation strategy (Cochran 1977) 

8
based upon catch rates from the 1990-2007 surveys was used to allocate effort among strata. 

Neyman optimum allocation calculations were made for each of the principal groundfish species 

for each previous survey year using the estimated time to perform a tow in a given stratum as the 

cost variable, since observations in deeper strata have a greater probability of unacceptable gear 

performance. A mean sample size was estimated for each species across years and then a 

weighted mean of the estimated sample sizes was calculated using each species’ mean biomass 

multiplied by its ex-vessel value as the weighting variable. These numbers were rounded to 

whole numbers and represented the number of stations allocated to each stratum with the 

additional constraint that each stratum was required to have at least two samples. 

The calculated number of stations was randomly selected without replacement from 

polygons formed from the intersection of a grid composed of cells 25 km2

 in area and the stratum 

boundaries. Since many of the polygons formed by this process are less than 25 km2

, the 

probability of selection was directly related to each polygon’s area. Small polygons (less than 

 5 km2 in area) were excluded from the pool available for assignment since a vessel would be 

unable to perform a valid tow within such a small area. To maximize efficient use of survey 

time and optimize fuel consumption, assignment of tows to vessels was non-random in the 

Central GOA where the shelf is nearly 200 km wide in places. In general, the Vesteraalen was 

assigned to sample the outer shelf and slope stations, the Pacific Explorer the middle shelf 

stations, and the Sea Storm the nearshore stations. However, tows in all strata, with the 

exception of those between Kodiak Island and Cook Inlet, were assigned randomly between at 

least two boats. 

9
We allocated 825 stations among the 59 strata. Geographic center points of the assigned 

station polygon were considered to define the location of the station. Vessels were assigned 

stations and were directed to thoroughly search each area using echosounder returns to locate 

sufficient trawlable bottom to perform a successful 15-minute tow, preferably through the center 

point. If trawlable bottom could not be found in the immediate area of the assigned point, a 

suitable location within the station polygon was sought. If, in the judgment of the field party 

chief and skipper, no trawlable grounds could be found within the polygon within 2 hours, a 

nearby alternate station was selected from successful tows completed during previous GOA 

surveys. If sufficient trawlable bottom was encountered while transiting to the alternate site, this 

location was instead selected for the sample. 

Data Collection Techniques 

The protocols used by the AFSC’s RACE Division for conducting bottom trawl surveys 

have been standardized (Stauffer 2004). Criteria for a successful tow include maintaining a 

continuous vessel speed of 3 knots (5.56 m/sec) while keeping the net in contact with the bottom 

and in fishing configuration for 15 minutes. Occasionally, tows of shorter duration were 

necessary to avoid obstacles (and, hence, net damage) or when net configuration (e.g., reduced 

wing spread) indicated that an exceptionally large catch was affecting the performance of the 

trawl. The track of the vessel was recorded every 2 seconds during each tow using the vessel’s 

global positioning system (GPS). Pressure at depth, water temperature, and time were recorded 

every 3 seconds during most tows using a Seabird SBE-39 bathythermograph placed on the 

headrope of the net. The vertical and horizontal net openings were monitored with Scanmar net 

10
mensuration equipment. Scanmar net spread data were generally not collected for tows over 

extremely rough bottom so as not to risk losing the instruments. Backup surface water 

temperatures were measured at most stations with a bucket thermometer except for on the 

Pacific Explorer, which lacked a suitable location for collecting these data. To minimize fishing 

power differences between the survey vessels, standardized trawling and gear handling methods 

were practiced including the use of scope ratio tables (trawl warp relative to bottom depth) and 

maintaining a 3-knot trawling speed. 

A trawl sample was considered successful if horizontal and vertical net openings 

remained within established tolerances, the roller gear maintained consistent contact with the 

bottom, the net suffered little or no damage during the tow, and there were no conflicts with 

derelict fishing gear. Trawl samples were considered unsuccessful when the field party chief 

judged that the catch was affected by trawl damage, an unstable trawl configuration, insufficient 

bottom contact, or in the event the duration of the tow was less than 10 minutes. 

Collection and Processing of Samples

Catches were sorted to species or other appropriate taxonomic levels and then weighed in 

aggregate using an electronic motion-compensating scale. Catches weighing less than 

approximately 1,000 kg were emptied directly onto a sorting table, sorted by species, and 

weighed to the nearest 0.01 kg using a Marel model M1100 digital scale. Species groups 

weighing less than about 2 kg were generally weighed to the nearest 2 g on a Marel model M60 

digital scale. Larger catches were processed in like manner by iteratively filling the sorting table 

11
from the codend, sorting, and weighing until the entire catch had been processed. Alternatively, 

the total weight of the catch was weighed with Measurement Systems International Portaweigh 

Model 4300 crane scale and the sorting table was filled with a portion of the catch. The excess 

catch was dumped into a deck bin and the dominant species, usually three or fewer, making up 

the bulk of the catch were identified. The contents of the deck bin were sorted, discarding the 

predominant species and retaining the non-dominant species, which were sorted and weighed 

with those from the table. Total weight estimates for the predominant species were calculated by 

expanding their proportion by weight from the sorted sample to the difference between the total 

catch weight and the total weight of all non-dominant species. Pacific halibut were measured 

and discarded as promptly as possible and their weights were estimated from the length data. 

Numbers and weights of all taxa were estimated for each haul. 

Additional biological information was recorded from individuals of species of 

commercial value, ecological importance, or abundance in the survey area. A random subsample 

of 100-300 individuals (target subsample size was species-dependent) of each of these species 

identified in the catch was sorted by sex, and individual fork lengths (FL) were measured using 

Polycorder (Omnidata) data loggers with barcode readers and barcoded length strips. Fish that 

could not be readily sexed were classified as unsexed and measured. Age structures were 

collected from randomly selected samples of walleye pollock (See Appendix Table B-1 for 

scientific names of fish species), samples stratified by haul, sex, and size of rockfish species, and 

samples stratified by area, sex, and size of other target species. Every attempt was made to 

distribute the age specimen collections over the entire survey area. Individuals sampled for age 

12
were measured to the nearest 1 cm (FL) and weighed to the nearest 2-5 g (scale accuracy 

depends on the weight of the specimen) with a Marel model M60 scale. 

Stomach samples for selected species were collected throughout the survey area by 

biologists from the AFSC's Resource Ecology and Ecosystem Modeling (REEM) Program 

aboard the Vesteraalen. In addition, stomach samples for selected species were scanned for their 

content aboard the Sea Storm by REEM staff. Ancillary data and specimens including whole 

specimens, ovaries, a variety of tissues, and acoustic data were collected for several other 

research projects including a taxonomic study of snailfish, and genetic studies of Pacific ocean 

perch, Pacific hake, and rougheye, blackspotted, and shortraker rockfish. Additional studies 

included measurements of light level variability; marine mammal food habits; age and growth of 

big skate, longnose skate, and forage species; squid stock structure and distribution; weight and 

length relationships for octopuses; identification of untrawlable areas; reproductive biology of 

Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, blackspotted rockfish, rougheye rockfish, and shortraker 

rockfish; visual ecology of snailfishes; identification of Pacific sandfish spawning habitat; the 

effect of trawl heave on the accuracy of seafloor trawlability measurements; and growth rate 

differences in rex sole from the eastern and western Gulf of Alaska. 

Abundance, Size Composition, and Length-Weight Relations 

Biomass estimates were calculated using the area-swept method (Alverson and Pereyra 

1969). The area swept was calculated as the product of estimated distance towed by the 

estimated mean net spread for each tow. The distance towed was assumed to be represented by 

13
the distance traveled over ground by the vessel between the time when the footrope came into 

contact with the bottom (on-bottom) and the time when the center of the footrope left the bottom 

(off-bottom). The distance traveled by the vessel was estimated by smoothing the GPS location 

data and measuring the distance along this line. The mean net spread was estimated by 

averaging the smoothed net spread readings from the Scanmar units between on-bottom and offbottom positions. Net spreads for tows for which there were insufficient Scanmar readings were 

estimated by a stepwise generalized additive model using net number, net height (when 

available), mean speed over ground (when available), depth, total catch and the actual 

scope/expected scope ratio as variables. For each species, catch-per unit effort (CPUE) was 

calculated as catch weight (kg) per area swept by the trawl in hectares (ha). Mean CPUE was 

calculated, including zero catches, within each stratum. Mean CPUE values of combined strata 

were calculated as the weighted average of the component strata CPUE means weighted by 

stratum area. Biomass estimates were calculated by multiplying each stratum mean CPUE by 

the stratum area and summing the results to obtain estimates by INPFC statistical areas and 

depth intervals. The 95% confidence interval was calculated for each species biomass estimate. 

A detailed description of the analytical procedures is presented in Wakabayashi et al. (1985). 

Population length compositions were estimated by expanding the length-frequency to the 

total catch for each species by length and sex category at each station (Wakabayashi et al. 1985). 

 The stratum population within a sex-length category was calculated by multiplying the stratum 

population by the proportion of fish in that category from the summed station data. Population 

size composition estimates were summed over strata to derive estimates by area. 

14
Individual length and weight measurements were used to establish length-weight 

relationships. The length-weight allometric relationship was expressed as: 

W = a * Lb

, 

where W is weight (grams), L is length (mm), and a and b are the fitted parameters from a nonlinear least squares regression. Parameters for the most common species are listed in 

 Appendix C. 

Survey Limitations 

The primary purpose of this survey is to support management of a large number of fish 

and benthic invertebrate species, including various functional groups of fish: flatfish, roundfish, 

and rockfish. The different functional groups have expected differences in both haul level and 

survey level catchabilities, which, in turn, are generally unknown and may not be consistent even 

within each group. Survey catch rates and derived abundance estimates, which are used to tune 

stock assessment models, are used to monitor fish trends and status. Gear deployment is 

standardized and intentionally not modified over time to ensure scientific consistency and 

statistical continuity of the time series necessary to reliably monitor the status of fish stocks and 

forecast trends. 

 

15
RESULTS

 Out of a total of 884 attempted tows, 823 (93%) were completed successfully at allocated 

survey stations and were included in the biomass and size composition analysis (Table 1). Net 

spread measurements were successfully collected for 860 tows (97%). Headrope depth and 

temperature measurements were successfully collected for 870 tows (98%). Bottom

temperatures ranged from 2.4° to 9.7° C. Sea surface temperatures were successfully collected 

for 871 tows and ranged from 3.3° to 15.7° C. 

Net height and spread were measured for all but 20 of the successful survey hauls (for 

these hauls net dimensions were estimated from other bottom trawl hauls). Average net spread 

ranged from 12.5 to 19.3 m. Average net heights of successfully completed tows ranged from 

3.9 to 9.1 m. Temperatures were successfully recorded for all but 14 tows. Average bottom 

temperatures ranged from 2.4° C to 9.7° C. Sea surface temperatures ranged from 3.3° to 

15.7° C. 

16
Table 1. -- Number of stations allocated, attempted, and successfully completed, and sampling density for 

the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by International North Pacific Fisheries 

Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area

Depth

range (m)

Stations

allocated

Stations

attempted

Stations

successful

Area

(km2

)

Sampling density

(stations/1,000 km2)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 135 127 41,289 3.08

101 - 200 40 40 40 14,677 2.73

201 - 300 17 20 17 2,788 6.10

301 - 500 7 7 7 2,531 2.77

501 - 700 3 3 3 2,006 1.50

701 - 1000 2 2 2 1,937 1.03

All depths 196 207 196 65,228 3.00

Chirikof 1 - 100 79 79 78 26,035 3.00

101 - 200 71 72 72 23,849 3.02

201 - 300 25 25 25 11,546 2.17

301 - 500 7 8 7 1,604 4.36

501 - 700 5 6 5 1,953 2.56

701 - 1000 3 3 3 3,066 0.98

All depths 190 193 190 68,053 2.79

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 105 100 38,516 2.60

101 - 200 126 128 125 43,332 2.88

201 - 300 31 31 31 11,490 2.70

301 - 500 16 16 16 2,912 5.49

501 - 700 4 5 4 1,745 2.29

701 - 1000 4 4 4 3,494 1.14

All depths 281 289 280 101,489 2.76

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 19 19 16,661 1.14

101 - 200 36 37 36 29,382 1.23

201 - 300 17 18 17 5,170 3.29

301 - 500 8 9 8 2,628 3.04

501 - 700 2 2 2 1,469 1.36

701 - 1000 2 1 1 1,887 0.53

All depths 84 86 83 57,197 1.45

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 11 11 6,546 1.68

101 - 200 26 27 26 11,084 2.35

201 - 300 19 19 19 5,052 3.76

301 - 500 14 15 14 3,117 4.49

501 - 700 2 2 2 1,033 1.94

701 - 1000 2 2 2 1,206 1.66

All depths 74 76 74 28,038 2.64

All areas 1 - 100 336 349 335 129,047 2.60

101 - 200 299 304 299 122,324 2.44

201 - 300 109 113 109 36,046 3.02

301 - 500 52 55 52 12,792 4.07

501 - 700 16 18 16 8,206 1.95

701 - 1000 13 12 12 11,590 1.04

All depths 825 851 823 320,005 2.57

17
Catch Results by Area 

At least 185 fish species from 40 families were captured during the 2009 survey. 

Appendix B presents lists of fish (Appendix B-1) and invertebrate (Appendix B-2) species 

encountered during the survey. Relative abundance estimates, reported as CPUE, are presented 

in Table 2 for the 20 most abundant groundfish species in each of the five INPFC areas. 

Over the entire survey area, arrowtooth flounder was the most abundant groundfish 

encountered during the survey (Table 2). Arrowtooth flounder had the highest CPUE of any 

species in all of the five INPFC areas. Pacific cod, giant grenadier, walleye pollock, Pacific 

ocean perch, and Pacific halibut were also very important components of the Gulf-wide species 

composition. 

 In the Shumagin INPFC area, arrowtooth flounder had by far the greatest CPUE of any 

species. Walleye pollock, Pacific cod, giant grenadier, Atka mackerel, and Pacific halibut were 

also relatively abundant in this area. In the Chirikof INPFC area, arrowtooth flounder dominated 

all other species in terms of CPUE. Walleye pollock, Pacific ocean perch, Pacific cod, giant 

grenadier, and Pacific halibut were also important components of the species composition. In 

the Kodiak INPFC area, arrowtooth flounder was by far the dominant component of the 

groundfish CPUE. Giant grenadier, Pacific cod, Pacific halibut, Pacific ocean perch, and 

walleye pollock were also relatively abundant in this area. In the Yakutat INPFC area, 

arrowtooth flounder, Pacific ocean perch, and Pacific halibut were the dominant species. The 

mean CPUEs of these species were either more than twice or almost twice that of the next most 

abundant species: sablefish. In the Southeastern INPFC area, arrowtooth flounder was again the 

18
most abundant species. Pacific ocean perch, Pacific hake, spotted ratfish, Pacific halibut, and 

walleye pollock were also important catch components. 

19
Table 2. -- Mean CPUE (kg/ha) for the 20 most abundant groundfish in each International North 

 Pacific Fisheries Commission area during the 2009 biennial Gulf of Alaska bottom 

 trawl survey. 

 

 Shumagin area Chirikof area Kodiak area

Species CPUE Species CPUE Species CPUE

arrowtooth flounder arrowtooth flounde 43.8 r arrowtooth flounder 64.0 75.5

walleye pollock walleye pollock 32.7 giant grenadier 34.7 40.6

Pacific cod Pacific ocean perch 30.5 Pacific cod 30.8 39.4

giant grenadier Pacific cod 28.5 Pacific halibut 20.6 24.7

Atka mackerel giant grenadie 20.7 r Pacific ocean perch 14.3 24.4

Pacific halibut Pacific halibut 16.0 walleye pollock 13.8 19.6

southern rock sole flathead sole 12.7 sablefish 9.6 8.1

flathead sole rex sole 12.3 flathead sole 7.5 6.3

northern rock sole southern rock sole 8.6 southern rock sole 7.4 5.4

northern rockfish sablefish 6.9 eulachon 5.8 5.2

Pacific ocean perch eulachon 4.9 dusky rockfish 3.1 4.0

rex sole Pacific sleeper shark 3.0 northern rockfish 3.0 3.6

yellow Irish lord northern rock sole 3.0 rex sole 2.7 3.1

shortspine thornyhead 2.9 Dover sole northern rock sole 2.4 2.1

sablefish popeye grenadie 2.7 r shortspine thornyhead 2.1 1.7 

yellowfin sole Aleutian skate 1.8 Dover sole 1.4 2.0

starry flounder northern rockfish 1.6 rougheye rockfish 1.3 1.9

shortraker rockfish Pacific herring 1.4 yellowfin sole 1.3 1.8

Pacific sleeper shark starry flounde 1.3 r longnose skate 1.2 1.8

popeye grenadier shortspine thornyhead 1.2 big skate 1.1 1.4

Number of hauls Number of hauls 196 190 Number of hauls 280

 Yakutat area Southeastern area All areas

Species CPUE Species CPUE Species CPUE

arrowtooth flounder arrowtooth flounde 32.8 r arrowtooth flounder 34.7 55.4

Pacific ocean perch Pacific ocean perch 17.0 Pacific cod 22.5 23.5

Pacific halibut Pacific hake 13.2 giant grenadier 17.0 22.5

sablefish spotted ratfish 7.2 walleye pollock 12.9 22.0

lingcod Pacific halibut 4.5 Pacific ocean perch 11.6 20.3

dusky rockfish walleye pollock 4.4 Pacific halibut 11.1 17.4

walleye pollock sablefish 4.3 flathead sole 7.9 7.0

shortspine thornyhead 3.0 shortspine thornyhead sablefish 5.2 6.3

spiny dogfish rex sole 2.6 southern rock sole 4.1 6.0

shortraker rockfish Dover sole 2.2 Atka mackerel 3.4 4.2

rex sole sharpchin rockfish 2.0 rex sole 3.2 3.9

big skate flathead sole 1.9 2.5 northern rock sole 3.0

Pacific cod rougheye rockfish 1.9 northern rockfish 2.3 2.8

eulachon lingcod 1.8 eulachon 2.3 2.7

flathead sole shortraker rockfish 1.7 shortspine thornyhead 2.5 2.2 

longnose skate silvergray rockfish 1.5 Dover sole 2.0 2.4

rougheye rockfish Pacific herring 0.8 dusky rockfish 1.9 2.3

silvergray rockfish English sole 0.7 Pacific hake 1.8 1.5

English sole southern rock sole 0.7 big skate 1.4 1.4

Pacific herring giant grenadie 0.6 r shortraker rockfish 1.3 1.4

Number of hauls Number of hauls 83 74 Number of hauls 823

20
Catch Results by Species 

For each commercially or ecologically important species, the following information is 

presented: 

1. A brief synopsis of the data collected. 

2. A table presenting the number of hauls, the number of hauls with catch, mean CPUE, 

estimated biomass with 95% confidence intervals, and mean weight of that 

species by INPFC area and depth. 

3. A figure showing the distribution and relative abundance of that species. 

4. A figure showing the estimated size composition of the population for that species. 

5. CPUE and biomass estimates (with 95% confidence intervals) by stratum for that 

species. 

For other species that were locally abundant (other flatfish and other rockfish, skates, 

capelin, eulachon, and Pacific hake), only items 1, 2, and 5 above are presented. 

The scientific names follow the fifth edition of the Common and Scientific Names of 

Fishes from the United States and Canada (Robins et al. 1991). The exceptions to this are in the 

orders Pleuronectiformes (flatfish) and Scorpaeniformes (rockfish) scientific names. The names 

used throughout this report reflect recent reexamination of the phylogeny of these orders 

(Berendzen 1997, Cooper and Chapleau 1998, Ivankov 1996, Orr and Matarese 2000, Rass 1996, 

Orr and Blackburn 2004, Orr and Hawkins 2008). 

21
FLATFISHES 

Arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias) 

 Arrowtooth flounder was the most abundant species caught in the 2009 survey (Table 2) 

with the highest mean CPUE in all five INPFC areas. Arrowtooth flounder were caught 

throughout the survey area at all depths less than 700 m, occurring in 89% of tows at these 

depths, including 99% of the tows at depths between 101 and 500 m. The highest densities 

generally occurred on the broad continental shelf in the Kodiak and eastern Chirikof INPFC 

areas, especially around the Barren Islands and in the area northeast of Kodiak Island (Fig. 2 and 

Table 4). Mean densities were uniformly low on the continental slope at depths greater than 

 500 m and essentially zero at depths greater than 700 m. Mean weight generally increased with 

depth except in the Kodiak INPFC area (Table 3), as fish less than 30 cm FL were relatively rare 

at depths greater than 300 m (Fig. 3). A distinct length mode around 40 to 45 cm for males 

occurred at depths between 201 and 300 m in the Shumagin and Southeastern INPFC areas and 

at depths between 301 m and 500 m in the Southeastern and Yakutat INPFC areas. In addition, a 

length mode for females around 55 cm occurred in all INPFC areas and at all depths between 0 

and 500 m except in the Shumagin INPFC area and in the Chirikof INPFC area at depths less 

than 200 m. The arrowtooth flounder population in the survey area was dominated by females, 

which accounted for approximately 68% of the total estimated population. 

 

22
Table 3. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with arrowtooth flounder, mean CPUE, biomass, 

and mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 118 39.49 163,042 66,475 259,608 0.455

101 - 200 40 39 78.96 115,893 55,095 176,691 0.513

201 - 300 17 17 15.46 4,310 2,182 6,438 0.67

301 - 500 7 7 7.93 2,006 767 3,245 1.306

501 - 700 3 1 0.88 176 0 737 1.43

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 182 43.76 285,427 174,606 396,248 0.481

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 65 34.66 90,234 20,382 160,087 0.791

101 - 200 72 72 121.82 290,540 144,944 436,136 0.65

201 - 300 25 25 43.77 50,534 28,589 72,479 0.851

301 - 500 7 7 20.99 3,367 1,658 5,075 1.234

501 - 700 5 2 3.13 612 0 1,599 1.594

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 171 63.96 435,287 273,768 596,806 0.698

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 83 38.92 149,890 72,540 227,240 1.007

101 - 200 125 125 125.79 545,082 322,756 767,407 0.906

201 - 300 31 31 50.40 57,906 26,165 89,646 0.838

301 - 500 16 16 46.53 13,548 539 26,557 1.271

501 - 700 4 2 0.25 44 0 152 0.684

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 257 75.52 766,469 530,015 1,002,924 0.923

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 18 24.74 41,220 17,550 64,889 0.543

101 - 200 36 35 43.25 127,082 63,063 191,101 0.602

201 - 300 17 17 17.41 9,000 5,509 12,492 1.066

301 - 500 8 7 38.43 10,100 2,857 17,342 1.099

501 - 700 2 1 0.27 40 0 210 1.443

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 78 32.77 187,441 120,054 254,827 0.615

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 8 11.71 7,664 0 17,547 0.733

101 - 200 26 25 68.74 76,193 0 169,324 0.613

201 - 300 19 19 17.97 9,079 732 17,425 0.744

301 - 500 14 14 13.90 4,333 1,357 7,309 1.029

501 - 700 2 1 1.32 137 0 724 1.034

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 67 34.74 97,406 3,941 190,870 0.644

All areas 1 - 100 335 292 35.03 452,050 310,460 593,640 0.639

101 - 200 299 296 94.40 1,154,790 866,340 1,443,239 0.717

201 - 300 109 109 36.29 130,829 95,212 166,446 0.841

301 - 500 52 51 26.07 33,353 18,763 47,942 1.178

501 - 700 16 7 1.23 1,009 0 2,020 1.379

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 755 55.37 1,772,029 1,449,878 2,094,181 0.708

23
E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 2. -- Distribution and relative abundance of arrowtooth flounder from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Arrowtooth Flounder

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< 58.8

58.8 - 332.7

332.7 - 611.6

> 611.6 (max. = 1,893.5)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

24
E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 2. -- Continued (arrowtooth flounder).

Cordova

25
n = 9,460

20 40 60 80

6

4

2

0

2

4

6

SHUMAGIN

n = 4,458

20 40 60 80

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

CHIRIKOF

n = 5,305

20 40 60 80

KODIAK

 1 - 100 M

n = 4,603

20 40 60 80

6

4

2

0

2

4

6

n = 8,444

20 40 60 80

n = 14,142

20 40 60 80

 101 - 200 M

n = 812

20 40 60 80

6

4

2

0

2

4

6

n = 1,943

20 40 60 80

n = 1,963

20 40 60 80

 201 - 300 M

n = 103

20 40 60 80

6

4

2

0

2

4

6 n = 332

20 40 60 80

n = 901

20 40 60 80

301 - 500 M

n = 14,978

20 40 60 80

6

4

2

0

2

4

6

n = 15,177

20 40 60 80

n = 22,311

20 40 60 80

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 3. -- Size composition of arrowtooth flounder from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska 

bottom trawl survey, by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission 

statistical areas and depth intervals. 

26
n = 1,458

20 40 60 80

6

4

2

0

2

4

6

YAKUTAT

n = 283

20 40 60 80

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

SOUTHEASTERN

n = 21,158

20 40 60 80

TOTAL

 1 - 100 M

n = 3,492

20 40 60 80

6

4

2

0

2

4

6

n = 2,543

20 40 60 80

n = 33,224

20 40 60 80

 101 - 200 M

n = 663

20 40 60 80

6

4

2

0

2

4

6

n = 797

20 40 60 80

n = 6,178

20 40 60 80

 201 - 300 M

n = 517

20 40 60 80

6

4

2

0

2

4

6

n = 484

20 40 60 80

n = 2,337

20 40 60 80

301 - 500 M

n = 6,130

20 40 60 80

6

4

2

0

2

4

6

n = 4,107

20 40 60 80

n = 62,703

20 40 60 80

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 3. -- Continued (arrowtooth flounder). 

27
Table 4. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for arrowtooth flounder sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Kodiak 101 - 200 Barren Islands 18 18 272.57 299,301 85,838 512,765

Shumagin 101 - 200 West Shumagin Gully 4 4 206.73 47,097 0 122,061

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 27 156.04 120,688 12,363 229,014

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 19 142.88 158,656 58,017 259,295

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 26 117.29 92,793 46,962 138,624

Kodiak 201 - 300 Upper Shelikof Gully 4 4 115.86 37,172 417 73,927

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 25 99.91 57,611 13,460 101,763

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 35 86.45 63,426 38,359 88,493

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 32 80.39 99,668 5,406 193,930

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 14 79.62 54,839 0 147,531

Shumagin 101 - 200 Sanak Gully 6 6 62.97 26,732 3,221 50,243

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Slope 6 6 60.52 9,202 1,674 16,730

Yakutat 101 - 200 Middleton Shelf 10 10 59.434 43,658 23,118 64,198

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 19 58.728 70,926 29,359 112,493

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 31 53.938 58,210 0 126,233

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 29 51.589 42,064 23,345 60,783

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 11 50.887 21,354 6,813 35,895

Yakutat 101 - 200 Fairweather Shelf 10 10 49.986 38,627 0 77,467

Chirikof 201 - 300 Lower Shelikof Gully 17 17 49.25 49,342 27,296 71,387

Kodiak 1 - 100 Kenai Peninsula 9 7 48.81 25,674 0 68,296

Southeastern 201 - 300 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 5 5 48.46 5,453 0 14,772

Kodiak 301 - 500 Kodiak Slope 16 16 46.53 13,548 471 26,624

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakutat Flats 7 7 41.57 37,542 0 91,998

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 27 37.08 18,636 0 37,849

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Slope 7 7 36.80 2,844 0 6,087

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 32 36.52 56,248 4,106 108,391

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 20 28.38 18,900 6,603 31,198

Shumagin 1 - 100 Fox Islands 19 16 26.82 22,346 489 44,203

Yakutat 1 - 100 Yakutat Shallows 11 10 26.26 26,119 3,026 49,211

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 46 24.45 33,446 20,876 46,017

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Gullies 9 9 23.639 7,193 3,742 10,643

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 12 22.721 18,042 3,340 32,744

Yakutat 1 - 100 Middleton Shallows 8 8 22.491 15,101 6,687 23,515

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 26 22.342 11,195 3,671 18,719

Chirikof 301 - 500 Chirikof Slope 7 7 20.989 3,367 1,599 5,134

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 22 19.148 13,982 1,422 26,541

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 17 15.46 4,310 2,172 6,449

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakataga Shelf 9 8 13.75 7,255 1,652 12,859

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 8 11.71 7,664 0 17,668

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kodiak Slope 7 7 11.30 1,834 476 3,191

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 24 11.03 7,581 2,847 12,316

Kodiak 1 - 100 Northern Kodiak Shallows 8 7 11.01 2,423 0 5,051

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 14 9.23 3,626 2,322 4,930

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 8 8.50 1,808 707 2,908

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Gullies 2 1 8.11 898 0 12,303

Kodiak 1 - 100 Lower Cook Inlet 15 12 8.03 7,934 0 21,137

Shumagin 301 - 500 Shumagin Slope 7 7 7.93 2,006 724 3,288

Chirikof 201 - 300 Chirikof Slope 8 8 7.80 1,192 716 1,668

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Deep Gullies 7 7 6.352 1,489 567 2,411

Chirikof 501 - 700 Chirikof Slope 5 2 3.134 612 0 1,677

Southeastern 501 - 700 Southeastern Slope 2 1 1.322 137 0 1,872

Shumagin 501 - 700 Shumagin Slope 3 1 0.878 176 0 934

Yakutat 501 - 700 Yakutat Slope 2 1 0.27 40 0 544

Kodiak 501 - 700 Kodiak Slope 4 2 0.252 44 0 168

28
Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis)

 Pacific halibut was the sixth most abundant species caught in the 2009 survey (Table 2) with 

the third highest mean CPUE in the Yakutat INPFC area. Pacific halibut were particularly 

abundant at depths less than 100 m where they were caught in approximately 98% of the tows, 

and 78% of the estimated halibut biomass was found at these depths. The highest CPUEs were 

found at this depth range in all INPFC areas (Table 5). The frequency of occurrence of Pacific 

halibut in tows decreased from west to east, ranging from about 89% of the tows in the 

Shumagin INPFC area to 42% of the tows in the Southeastern INPFC area. The highest densities 

were recorded on Albatross Banks northeast of Kodiak Island, around the Kenai Peninsula, and 

in the Middleton Shallows in the Yakutat INPFC area (Fig. 4 and Table 6). Most halibut were 

not sexed prior to length measurement. A pronounced length mode around 62 cm was noted in 

the two shallowest depth zones of the Yakutat and Southeastern INPFC areas, and around 42 cm 

in the Shumagin INPFC area. Two more moderate length modes around 20 and 42 cm were 

noted in depths less than 100 m in the Chirikof INPFC area (Fig. 5). 

29
Table 5. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with Pacific halibut, mean CPUE, biomass, and 

mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 126 20.99 86,677 71,176 102,178 1.47

101 - 200 40 35 11.10 16,290 5,604 26,977 2.459

201 - 300 17 12 3.78 1,054 363 1,745 5.906

301 - 500 7 1 0.10 25 0 85 1.792

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 174 15.95 104,047 85,536 122,558 1.582

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 78 25.11 65,371 49,136 81,606 1.72

101 - 200 72 61 10.16 24,234 13,850 34,617 3.456

201 - 300 25 13 3.34 3,862 1,357 6,366 5.68

301 - 500 7 3 2.34 375 0 935 8.749

501 - 700 5 2 1.42 278 0 718 10.167

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 157 13.83 94,120 74,807 113,433 2.057

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 97 57.08 219,844 118,041 321,648 2.381

101 - 200 125 102 6.67 28,885 20,845 36,924 6.176

201 - 300 31 11 1.52 1,744 640 2,847 5.939

301 - 500 16 4 1.10 321 4 638 11.845

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 214 24.71 250,794 148,661 352,926 2.576

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 16 24.42 40,695 0 102,389 2.803

101 - 200 36 28 10.92 32,072 6,190 57,954 3.766

201 - 300 17 7 4.81 2,488 629 4,347 14.92

301 - 500 8 3 1.49 391 0 937 12.071

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 54 13.23 75,647 11,745 139,549 3.256

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 11 35.67 23,349 0 49,915 2.756

101 - 200 26 14 7.87 8,726 727 16,725 4.149

201 - 300 19 5 0.65 330 0 665 5.267

301 - 500 14 1 0.08 25 0 84 6.036

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 31 11.57 32,430 5,125 59,736 3.048

All areas 1 - 100 335 328 33.78 435,937 317,196 554,677 2.054

101 - 200 299 240 9.01 110,207 79,040 141,373 3.809

201 - 300 109 48 2.63 9,478 6,236 12,719 6.861

301 - 500 52 12 0.89 1,138 388 1,888 9.433

501 - 700 16 2 0.34 278 0 718 10.167

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 630 17.41 557,037 434,492 679,582 2.295

30
E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E E

E E E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 4. -- Distribution and relative abundance of Pacific halibut from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Pacific Halibut

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< 17.08

17.08 - 122.13

122.13 - 227.19

> 227.19 (max. = 1,003.38)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

31
E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

EE E EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E E E

E

E

E EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E EE

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 4. -- Continued (Pacific halibut).

Cordova

32
n = 4,446

 20 60 100

6

4

2

0

2

4

6

SHUMAGIN

n = 2,781

 20 60 100

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

CHIRIKOF

n = 5,497

 20 60 100

KODIAK

 1 - 100 M

n = 474

 20 60 100

6

4

2

0

2

4

6 n = 442

 20 60 100

n = 398

 20 60 100

 101 - 200 M

n = 27

 20 60 100

6

4

2

0

2

4

6 n = 33

 20 60 100

n = 17

 20 60 100

 201 - 300 M

n = 1

 20 60 100

6

4

2

0

2

4

6 n = 7

 20 60 100

n = 4

 20 60 100

301 - 500 M

n = 4,948

 20 60 100

6

4

2

0

2

4

6

n = 3,263

 20 60 100

n = 5,916

 20 60 100

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 5. -- Size composition of Pacific halibut from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom 

trawl survey, by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical 

areas and depth intervals. 

33
n = 400

 20 60 100

6

4

2

0

2

4

6

YAKUTAT

n = 353

 20 60 100

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

SOUTHEASTERN

n = 13,484

 20 60 100

TOTAL

 1 - 100 M

n = 268

 20 60 100

6

4

2

0

2

4

6

n = 118

 20 60 100

n = 1,700

 20 60 100

 101 - 200 M

n = 15

 20 60 100

6

4

2

0

2

4

6

n = 6

 20 60 100

n = 98

 20 60 100

 201 - 300 M

n = 3

 20 60 100

6

4

2

0

2

4

6

n = 1

 20 60 100

n = 16

 20 60 100

301 - 500 M

n = 686

 20 60 100

6

4

2

0

2

4

6

n = 478

 20 60 100

n = 15,291

 20 60 100

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 5b. – Continued (Pacific halibut). 

34
Table 6. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for Pacific halibut sorted by descending CPUE 

for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 39 90.08 138,748 45,043 232,453

Kodiak 1 - 100 Kenai Peninsula 9 8 52.70 27,723 0 62,151

Yakutat 1 - 100 Middleton Shallows 8 5 51.53 34,597 0 97,758

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 11 35.67 23,349 0 50,241

Kodiak 1 - 100 Lower Cook Inlet 15 15 33.46 33,082 6,567 59,598

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 37 29.78 32,134 19,844 44,423

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 27 29.39 16,946 1,666 32,226

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 17 25.31 20,097 10,821 29,372

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 26 22.58 15,528 9,369 21,687

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 35 22.18 27,504 17,782 37,226

Yakutat 101 - 200 Fairweather Shelf 10 9 20.43 15,789 0 40,861

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 46 20.30 27,774 19,620 35,928

Shumagin 1 - 100 Fox Islands 19 19 19.047 15,871 8,537 23,205

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 24 17.996 13,141 6,427 19,855

Kodiak 1 - 100 Northern Kodiak Shallows 8 8 15.205 3,345 1,731 4,959

Shumagin 101 - 200 Sanak Gully 6 6 13.167 5,590 0 13,140

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakataga Shelf 9 6 12.521 6,607 0 15,152

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 8 11.501 7,922 0 15,931

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 23 11.45 8,855 1,862 15,848

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 18 11.41 12,666 4,822 20,510

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 6 11.40 2,425 524 4,326

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 28 10.77 7,899 2,101 13,698

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 25 10.70 8,721 52 17,389

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakutat Flats 7 6 9.11 8,231 1,830 14,632

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 21 8.93 7,067 2,751 11,383

Shumagin 101 - 200 West Shumagin Gully 4 4 8.689 1,980 0 4,517

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 25 7.447 3,743 2,482 5,004

Yakutat 1 - 100 Yakutat Shallows 11 11 6.131 6,099 2,577 9,620

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 20 5.41 2,713 1,491 3,935

Kodiak 101 - 200 Barren Islands 18 15 5.35 5,879 3,130 8,628

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 12 3.78 1,054 360 1,749

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 13 3.56 4,297 1,615 6,978

Chirikof 201 - 300 Lower Shelikof Gully 17 9 3.53 3,533 1,037 6,029

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Slope 6 3 2.57 391 0 964

Kodiak 201 - 300 Upper Shelikof Gully 4 3 2.55 818 0 1,944

Chirikof 301 - 500 Chirikof Slope 7 3 2.34 375 0 954

Chirikof 201 - 300 Chirikof Slope 8 4 2.148 328 0 687

Yakutat 101 - 200 Middleton Shelf 10 7 1.969 1,446 576 2,317

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 6 1.92 804 0 1,663

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kodiak Slope 7 3 1.68 272 0 618

Chirikof 501 - 700 Chirikof Slope 5 2 1.42 278 0 753

Kodiak 301 - 500 Kodiak Slope 16 4 1.10 321 2 640

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 5 0.98 653 16 1,291

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 4 0.75 296 0 625

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Slope 7 1 0.32 25 0 86

Southeastern 201 - 300 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 5 1 0.307 35 0 130

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Gullies 9 1 0.208 63 0 209

Shumagin 301 - 500 Shumagin Slope 7 1 0.1 25 0 87

35
Flathead sole (Hippoglossoides elassodon)

 Flathead sole was the seventh most abundant species caught in the 2009 survey (Table 2). 

The population was primarily concentrated in bays around Kodiak Island and along the Alaska 

Peninsula, with 97% of the estimated biomass in waters less than 200 m deep and the remainder 

at depths between 201 and 300 m (Fig. 6 and Tables 7-8). Although the mean CPUE was 

considerably higher in the lower Alaska Peninsula and Northern Kodiak shallows than in any of 

the other strata, the biomass of flathead sole was not predominant in any individual stratum. 

Only about 7% of the estimated biomass was found in the Yakutat and Southeastern INPFC 

areas even though those areas account for 27% of the total survey area. The mean weight of 

flathead sole did not exhibit a consistent correlation with depth among the individual INPFC 

areas, but over the entire survey area the mean weight increased somewhat with increasing depth 

(Table 7). The length frequency data did not exhibit a consistent length mode for either males or 

females in the different INPFC areas or depth ranges. However, a distinct length mode for 

females around 38 cm occurred in the less than 100 m and 201 to 300 m depth ranges in the 

Chirikof INPFC area, as well as in the 201-300 m depth range in the Kodiak INPFC area. A 

distinct mode for males at 35 cm occurred in the 101-200 m depth range in the Chirikof and 

Kodiak INPFC areas (Fig. 7). The sex ratio for flathead sole was even, with males accounting 

for approximately 49% of the population. 

36
Table 7. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with flathead sole, mean CPUE, biomass, and 

mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 100 16.50 68,139 35,679 100,599 0.277

101 - 200 40 24 8.05 11,814 1,560 22,067 0.232

201 - 300 17 7 0.58 163 48 278 0.249

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 131 12.28 80,115 46,434 113,796 0.269

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 43 13.50 35,137 3,721 66,553 0.421

101 - 200 72 59 11.56 27,561 17,471 37,651 0.351

201 - 300 25 19 2.43 2,807 309 5,306 0.452

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 121 9.63 65,505 32,836 98,175 0.39

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 51 6.60 25,438 14,443 36,432 0.29

101 - 200 125 85 8.05 34,870 25,942 43,798 0.336

201 - 300 31 18 2.70 3,097 0 6,323 0.363

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 154 6.25 63,405 49,167 77,644 0.317

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 13 2.00 3,324 388 6,261 0.265

101 - 200 36 20 2.06 6,048 0 13,363 0.31

201 - 300 17 6 0.17 86 0 176 0.341

301 - 500 8 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 39 1.65 9,458 1,876 17,039 0.293

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 3 10.37 6,786 0 16,410 0.145

101 - 200 26 6 0.09 103 0 258 0.157

201 - 300 19 1 0.01 5 0 14 0.397

301 - 500 14 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 10 2.46 6,894 0 16,519 0.145

All areas 1 - 100 335 210 10.76 138,824 91,912 185,737 0.291

101 - 200 299 194 6.57 80,395 63,208 97,583 0.317

201 - 300 109 51 1.71 6,157 2,556 9,759 0.393

301 - 500 52 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 455 7.04 225,377 175,797 274,957 0.302

37
E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E E

E

E

E

E

EE

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

EE

E

E E

E

E

E

E EE

E E

EE

E E

E

E E

EE

E E E

E E

E

E

E E

EE

E E

E E

E E

E E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 6. -- Distribution and relative abundance of a flathead sole from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Flathead Sole

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< 8.05

8.045 - 68.80

68.80 - 129.56

> 129.56 (max. = 531.65)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

38
E

E

E

E E

E

EE

E E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E E E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E EE

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE

E E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

EEE

E

EE

E

EE

E E E

E

E

E EE

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E EE E

E

E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 6. -- Continued (flathead sole).

Cordova

39
n = 6,023

10 20 30 40 50

8

4

0

4

8

SHUMAGIN

n = 1,826

10 20 30 40 50

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

CHIRIKOF

n = 2,278

10 20 30 40 50

KODIAK

 1 - 100 M

n = 1,236

10 20 30 40 50

8

4

0

4

8

n = 3,025

10 20 30 40 50

n = 4,588

10 20 30 40 50

 101 - 200 M

n = 97

10 20 30 40 50

8

4

0

4

8 n = 289

10 20 30 40 50

n = 425

10 20 30 40 50

 201 - 300 M

No data

10 20 30 40 50

8

4

0

4

8

No data

10 20 30 40 50

No data

10 20 30 40 50

301 - 500 M

n = 7,356

10 20 30 40 50

8

4

0

4

8

n = 5,140

10 20 30 40 50

n = 7,291

10 20 30 40 50

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 7. -- Size composition of flathead sole from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl 

survey, by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas 

and depth intervals. 

40
n = 363

10 20 30 40 50

8

4

0

4

8

YAKUTAT

n = 284

10 20 30 40 50

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

SOUTHEASTERN

n = 10,811

10 20 30 40 50

TOTAL

 1 - 100 M

n = 518

10 20 30 40 50

8

4

0

4

8

n = 37

10 20 30 40 50

n = 9,404

10 20 30 40 50

 101 - 200 M

n = 20

10 20 30 40 50

8

4

0

4

8

n = 1

10 20 30 40 50

n = 832

10 20 30 40 50

 201 - 300 M

No data

10 20 30 40 50

8

4

0

4

8

No data

10 20 30 40 50

No data

10 20 30 40 50

301 - 500 M

n = 901

10 20 30 40 50

8

4

0

4

8

n = 322

10 20 30 40 50

n = 21,010

10 20 30 40 50

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 7. -- Continued (flathead sole). 

41
Table 8. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for flathead sole sorted by descending CPUE 

for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 23 49.88 34,296 3,845 64,746

Kodiak 1 - 100 Northern Kodiak Shallows 8 8 36.42 8,012 720 15,304

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 18 24.90 14,356 5,366 23,346

Shumagin 101 - 200 West Shumagin Gully 4 4 20.17 4,595 0 11,932

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 11 19.04 15,123 0 30,878

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 18 17.61 19,004 0 46,872

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 31 17.35 21,506 10,160 32,851

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 26 16.85 13,328 8,742 17,914

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 27 16.14 12,482 8,036 16,927

Shumagin 101 - 200 Sanak Gully 6 6 14.83 6,295 0 16,021

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 19 13.33 14,796 5,615 23,978

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 3 10.37 6,786 0 16,528

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 41 8.828 12,078 6,170 17,986

Yakutat 101 - 200 Middleton Shelf 10 10 7.947 5,838 0 13,262

Kodiak 101 - 200 Barren Islands 18 14 7.875 8,647 4,214 13,080

Kodiak 201 - 300 Upper Shelikof Gully 4 4 6.136 1,969 0 5,714

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 23 6.095 4,472 2,188 6,755

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 12 6.066 7,326 1,238 13,414

Chirikof 201 - 300 Lower Shelikof Gully 17 15 2.74 2,747 237 5,257

Yakutat 1 - 100 Middleton Shallows 8 6 2.21 1,481 118 2,844

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 10 2.18 1,098 0 2,547

Yakutat 1 - 100 Yakutat Shallows 11 7 1.85 1,843 0 4,610

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 11 1.60 1,067 162 1,973

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 14 1.38 1,010 196 1,824

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 13 1.28 1,977 283 3,672

Kodiak 1 - 100 Kenai Peninsula 9 3 1.17 616 0 1,584

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 14 1.13 924 153 1,695

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 7 0.58 163 47 278

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 13 0.56 283 78 487

Kodiak 1 - 100 Lower Cook Inlet 15 9 0.48 477 116 837

Chirikof 201 - 300 Chirikof Slope 8 4 0.40 61 0 123

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kodiak Slope 7 3 0.38 61 0 150

Shumagin 1 - 100 Fox Islands 19 5 0.31 260 0 725

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Gullies 9 4 0.26 78 0 170

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakataga Shelf 9 3 0.23 123 0 288

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 5 0.13 87 0 240

Yakutat 101 - 200 Fairweather Shelf 10 6 0.10 80 0 205

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 1 0.04 16 0 51

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 2 0.04 8 0 20

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 1 0.01 5 0 14

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakutat Flats 7 1 0.01 7 0 26

42
Southern rock sole (Lepidopsetta bilineata) 

 Southern rock sole was the ninth most abundant species caught in the 2009 survey (Table 2).

The population was primarily confined to water depths less than 100 m in the Shumagin, 

Chirikof, and Kodiak INPFC areas, with the highest concentrations in bays around Kodiak Island 

and around the Shumagin Islands (Table 10 and Fig. 8). Ninety-six percent of the southern rock 

sole biomass occurred in these areas even though they make up only 33% of the total survey area 

(Table 9). The CPUEs ranged from zero to very small throughout the Yakutat and Southeastern 

areas except for two locations in the Southeastern Shallows off of Sitka and off the northern end 

of Chicagof Island, where relatively high abundances were found. A relatively prominent length 

mode around 30 cm for males occurred in the shallowest depth zone of the Kodiak INPFC area 

and at 42-45 cm for females in the Shumagin and Kodiak INPFC areas (Fig. 9). The southern 

rock sole population in the survey area was dominated by females, which accounted for 

approximately 70% of the total estimated population.

43
Table 9. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with southern rock sole, mean CPUE, biomass, and 

mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 113 19.54 80,675 53,953 107,397 0.636

101 - 200 40 22 1.39 2,041 1,014 3,068 0.745

201 - 300 17 1 0.02 5 0 14 0.338

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 136 12.68 82,720 55,978 109,461 0.639

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 61 19.24 50,100 17,619 82,582 0.777

101 - 200 72 14 0.11 256 100 413 0.734

201 - 300 25 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 75 7.40 50,357 17,875 82,838 0.777

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 81 13.76 52,999 33,967 72,031 0.546

101 - 200 125 25 0.29 1,273 486 2,060 0.812

201 - 300 31 1 0.01 6 0 20 0.328

301 - 500 16 1 0.04 12 0 38 0.818

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 108 5.35 54,291 35,243 73,339 0.55

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 3 0.23 384 0 946 1.077

101 - 200 36 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 8 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 3 0.07 384 0 946 1.077

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 8 5.67 3,714 0 8,868 0.583

101 - 200 26 6 0.27 299 26 572 0.391

201 - 300 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 14 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 14 1.43 4,013 0 9,175 0.563

All areas 1 - 100 335 266 14.56 187,873 142,235 233,511 0.637

101 - 200 299 67 0.32 3,869 2,562 5,176 0.714

201 - 300 109 2 --- 10 0 26 0.332

301 - 500 52 1 0.01 12 0 38 0.818

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 336 5.99 191,765 146,107 237,422 0.638

44
E

E

E

E

E E E

EE

E

E

E EE

E E

E

E

EE

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E EE

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E EE E

E

E E

E E

EE

E E

E

E E

EE E

E E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 8. -- Distribution and relative abundance of a southern rock sole from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Southern Rock Sole

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< 6.92

6.92 - 54.66

54.66 - 102.41

> 102.41 (max. = 318.05)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

45
E

E

E E

E E

E

EE

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

EEE

EE

E E E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E EE E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

EE

E E

E E

E

E

E

E EE E

E

E

E

EEE

E

EE

E

EE

E E E

E E

E E

E E

E

E EE

E

E E E

E E

E

EE

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE E

E

E

EE E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 8. -- Continued (southern rock sole).

Cordova

46
n = 6,248

10 20 30 40 50

8

4

0

4

8

SHUMAGIN

n = 2,356

10 20 30 40 50

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

CHIRIKOF

n = 3,649

10 20 30 40 50

KODIAK

 1 - 100 M

n = 235

10 20 30 40 50

8

4

0

4

8 n = 22

10 20 30 40 50

n = 184

10 20 30 40 50

 101 - 200 M

n = 2

10 20 30 40 50

8

4

0

4

8

No data

10 20 30 40 50

n = 2

10 20 30 40 50

 201 - 300 M

No data

10 20 30 40 50

8

4

0

4

8

No data

10 20 30 40 50

n = 2

10 20 30 40 50

301 - 500 M

n = 6,485

10 20 30 40 50

8

4

0

4

8

n = 2,378

10 20 30 40 50

n = 3,837

10 20 30 40 50

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 9. -- Size composition of southern rock sole from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom 

trawl survey, by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical 

areas and depth intervals. 

47
n = 10

10 20 30 40 50

8

4

0

4

8

YAKUTAT

n = 239

10 20 30 40 50

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

SOUTHEASTERN

n = 12,502

10 20 30 40 50

TOTAL

 1 - 100 M

No data

10 20 30 40 50

8

4

0

4

8

n = 42

10 20 30 40 50

n = 483

10 20 30 40 50

 101 - 200 M

No data

10 20 30 40 50

8

4

0

4

8

No data

10 20 30 40 50

n = 4

10 20 30 40 50

 201 - 300 M

No data

10 20 30 40 50

8

4

0

4

8

No data

10 20 30 40 50

n = 2

10 20 30 40 50

301 - 500 M

n = 10

10 20 30 40 50

8

4

0

4

8

n = 281

10 20 30 40 50

n = 12,991

10 20 30 40 50

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 9. -- Continued (southern rock sole). 

48
Table 10. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for southern rock sole sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Kodiak 1 - 100 Northern Kodiak Shallows 8 8 72.62 15,973 0 34,297

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 13 36.62 29,078 0 60,743

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 34 26.70 33,109 9,431 56,787

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 18 20.44 14,054 5,471 22,637

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 25 20.35 11,736 4,711 18,761

Shumagin 1 - 100 Fox Islands 19 18 20.12 16,762 8,900 24,623

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 21 17.59 12,843 6,081 19,606

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 43 12.24 16,751 10,686 22,815

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 35 11.46 17,657 11,960 23,353

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 27 7.58 8,179 3,511 12,847

Kodiak 1 - 100 Kenai Peninsula 9 6 7.11 3,738 0 10,082

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 8 5.67 3,714 0 8,931

Kodiak 1 - 100 Lower Cook Inlet 15 7 3.94 3,896 0 7,882

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 18 2.326 1,896 877 2,916

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 11 1.686 847 110 1,585

Yakutat 1 - 100 Middleton Shallows 8 2 0.424 285 0 847

Shumagin 101 - 200 Sanak Gully 6 3 0.333 142 0 315

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 3 0.31 216 0 475

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 4 0.25 183 0 448

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 3 0.20 83 0 186

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 7 0.19 147 36 258

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 5 0.14 159 19 299

Yakutat 1 - 100 Yakutat Shallows 11 1 0.10 100 0 322

Kodiak 101 - 200 Barren Islands 18 3 0.09 96 0 214

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 7 0.08 65 17 114

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 2 0.06 32 0 86

Kodiak 301 - 500 Kodiak Slope 16 1 0.04 12 0 39

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kodiak Slope 7 1 0.036 6 0 20

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 1 0.016 5 0 14

Shumagin 101 - 200 West Shumagin Gully 4 1 0.01 3 0 11

49
Northern rock sole (Lepidopsetta polyxystra)

 The northern rock sole population was almost exclusively confined to depths less than 100 m 

in the Shumagin, Chirikof, and Kodiak INPFC areas, where approximately 98% of the total 

biomass was found (Tables 11-12 and Fig. 10). Northern rock sole were extremely rare east of 

150oW (Fig. 10). Approximately 57% of the total biomass was concentrated in the shallowest 

depth zone of the Shumagin INPFC area, which makes up less than 13% of the total survey area. 

 Northern rock sole occurred in approximately 94% of the tows in this area and depth range. A 

very distinct length mode around 28 cm occurred for males at depths less than 100 m in the 

Shumagin INPFC area. An equally distinct length mode around 40 cm at depths between 101 

and 200 m occurred for females in the same INPFC area (Fig. 11). No prononounced length 

modes occurred in the Chirikof and Kodiak areas for either males or females. Females were 

considerably more abundant in the survey area and accounted for approximately 59% of the 

northern rock sole population. 

50
Table 11. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with northern rock sole, mean CPUE, biomass, 

and mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 119 13.13 54,229 28,666 79,792 0.303

101 - 200 40 21 1.33 1,956 1,103 2,809 0.589

201 - 300 17 1 < 0.01 1 0 3 0.124

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 141 8.61 56,186 30,609 81,762 0.308

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 62 --- 18,621 5,953 31,289 0.522

101 - 200 72 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 25 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 62 2.74 18,621 5,953 31,289 0.522

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 69 5.45 20,974 6,096 35,852 0.542

101 - 200 125 5 0.01 41 0 86 0.883

201 - 300 31 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 74 2.07 21,014 6,136 35,893 0.543

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 36 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 8 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 0 --- --- --- --- ---

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 1 0.04 25 0 80 0.318

101 - 200 26 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 14 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 1 0.01 25 0 80 0.318

All areas 1 - 100 335 251 7.27 93,849 62,045 125,652 0.37

101 - 200 299 26 0.16 1,997 1,142 2,851 0.593

201 - 300 109 1 --- 1 0 3 0.124

301 - 500 52 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 278 3.00 95,846 64,032 127,660 0.373

51
E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

EE E

E

E E E

EE

E

E

E E

EE

E E

EE

EE E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E EE

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

EE

EE

E E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE

E E E

E

E E

E

E E

EE

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EEE

E E

E

EE E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 10. -- Distribution and relative abundance of a northern rock sole from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Northern Rock Sole

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< 4.01

4.01 - 48.00

48.00 - 92.00

> 92.00 (max. = 324.54)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

52
E

E

E E E

E E

EE

E E

E

EE

EE

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

EEE

EE

E E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E EE E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E EE E

E

E E E

E

E

E

EEE

E

EE

E

EE

E E E

E E

E E

E E

E

E EE

E

E E E

E E

E

EE

E

E

E E E E

E

E

EE E

E

E E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E EE

E E

E

E

E

E

E EE

E

E

E

EE

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 10. -- Continued (northern rock sole).

Cordova

53
n = 5,850

10 20 30 40 50 60

8

4

0

4

8

SHUMAGIN

n = 1,648

10 20 30 40 50 60

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

CHIRIKOF

n = 2,081

10 20 30 40 50 60

KODIAK

 1 - 100 M

n = 294

10 20 30 40 50 60

8

4

0

4

8

No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

n = 5

10 20 30 40 50 60

 101 - 200 M

n = 1

10 20 30 40 50 60

8

4

0

4

8

No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

 201 - 300 M

No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

8

4

0

4

8

No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

301 - 500 M

n = 6,145

10 20 30 40 50 60

8

4

0

4

8

n = 1,648

10 20 30 40 50 60

n = 2,086

10 20 30 40 50 60

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 11. -- Size composition of northern rock sole from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska 

bottom trawl survey, by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission 

statistical areas and depth intervals. 

54
No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

8

4

0

4

8

YAKUTAT

n = 3

10 20 30 40 50 60

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

SOUTHEASTERN

n = 9,582

10 20 30 40 50 60

TOTAL

 1 - 100 M

No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

8

4

0

4

8

No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

n = 299

10 20 30 40 50 60

 101 - 200 M

No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

8

4

0

4

8

No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

n = 1

10 20 30 40 50 60

 201 - 300 M

No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

8

4

0

4

8

No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

301 - 500 M

No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

8

4

0

4

8

n = 3

10 20 30 40 50 60

n = 9,882

10 20 30 40 50 60

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 11. -- Continued (northern rock sole).

55
Table 12. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for northern rock sole sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 25 26.92 18,507 1,470 35,544

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 21 22.21 12,805 0 26,893

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 43 16.53 22,618 3,771 41,465

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 29 13.24 14,288 1,780 26,796

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 33 6.57 8,141 3,469 12,814

Kodiak 1 - 100 Northern Kodiak Shallows 8 7 6.15 1,352 552 2,153

Shumagin 1 - 100 Fox Islands 19 18 5.96 4,963 1,471 8,454

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 15 5.00 3,967 1,153 6,780

Kodiak 1 - 100 Lower Cook Inlet 15 13 2.90 2,863 0 5,797

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 25 2.50 3,856 0 8,948

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 19 2.34 1,907 1,058 2,756

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 18 0.50 366 176 556

Kodiak 1 - 100 Kenai Peninsula 9 3 0.185 98 0 235

Shumagin 101 - 200 Sanak Gully 6 1 0.106 45 0 160

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 1 0.038 25 0 81

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 2 0.03 25 0 63

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 3 0.03 15 0 41

Shumagin 101 - 200 West Shumagin Gully 4 1 0.02 4 0 17

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 1 0.00 1 0 3

56
Rex sole (Glyptocephalus zachirus)

 The rex sole population was widely distributed throughout the survey area, occurring in 52 

of the 54 strata shallower than 700 m deep. No catches were recorded in the 701 to 1,000 m 

strata (Fig. 12 and Tables 13-14). Although large catches of rex sole were rare, rex sole were 

present in approximately 88% of the tows between 101 and 500 m (Table 13). The mean weight 

of rex sole was substantially greater in the three westernmost INPFC areas than in the Yakutat 

and Southeastern INPFC areas. The length frequency data did not exhibit a consistent length 

mode for either males or females in the different INPFC areas or depth ranges. A much higher 

fraction of large fish (greater than 40 cm FL) of both sexes occurred in the Shumagin, Chirikof, 

and Kodiak INPFC areas than in the Yakutat and Southeastern INPFC areas. A relatively 

distinct length mode around 32 cm FL occurred in the depth zones deeper than 100 m for both 

males and females in the Southeastern INPFC area. Females in the 301-500 m depth zone of this 

area, however, were slightly larger, with a mode of approximately 38 cm (Fig. 13). The sex ratio 

for rex sole was almost exactly even. 

57
Table 13. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with rex sole, mean CPUE, biomass, and mean 

weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by International 

North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 64 0.98 4,065 2,035 6,095 0.333

101 - 200 40 33 9.11 13,375 8,293 18,456 0.372

201 - 300 17 15 7.05 1,964 855 3,074 0.34

301 - 500 7 6 1.49 376 77 675 0.501

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 118 3.03 19,780 14,270 25,291 0.362

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 32 1.90 4,942 2,186 7,698 0.403

101 - 200 72 69 12.78 30,471 19,621 41,321 0.355

201 - 300 25 24 13.13 15,163 6,845 23,481 0.396

301 - 500 7 7 2.29 368 96 639 0.324

501 - 700 5 2 0.55 107 0 322 0.382

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 134 7.50 51,050 37,435 64,664 0.37

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 24 0.93 3,591 721 6,461 0.314

101 - 200 125 104 5.14 22,278 15,434 29,122 0.366

201 - 300 31 31 3.57 4,105 2,056 6,153 0.247

301 - 500 16 15 3.31 964 370 1,557 0.301

501 - 700 4 2 0.60 104 0 279 0.221

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 176 3.06 31,041 23,398 38,685 0.335

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 15 1.16 1,929 523 3,336 0.146

101 - 200 36 26 2.08 6,113 0 15,007 0.232

201 - 300 17 17 4.77 2,469 935 4,002 0.217

301 - 500 8 8 1.26 330 103 557 0.129

501 - 700 2 2 3.25 477 415 539 0.211

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 68 1.98 11,318 2,286 20,350 0.203

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 6 2.28 1,490 0 4,068 0.183

101 - 200 26 21 6.70 7,426 2,256 12,595 0.208

201 - 300 19 18 2.64 1,332 617 2,046 0.201

301 - 500 14 13 3.02 942 0 2,163 0.274

501 - 700 2 2 3.54 366 340 392 0.271

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 60 4.12 11,555 5,760 17,349 0.209

All areas 1 - 100 335 141 1.24 16,017 10,914 21,120 0.28

101 - 200 299 253 6.51 79,662 62,993 96,331 0.325

201 - 300 109 105 6.94 25,032 16,275 33,790 0.318

301 - 500 52 49 2.33 2,980 1,641 4,318 0.269

501 - 700 16 8 1.28 1,054 814 1,293 0.242

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 556 3.90 124,744 105,529 143,960 0.315

58
E

E E E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE E E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE E

E

EE

E

E

EE

E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 12. -- Distribution and relative abundance of a rex sole from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Rex Sole

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< 4.39

4.39 - 24.28

24.28 - 44.18

> 44.18 (max. = 103.41)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

59
E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E E

E

E

E

E

EE

E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE E

E

E

E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 12. -- Continued (rex sole).

Cordova

60
n = 936

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

8

4

0

4

8

SHUMAGIN

n = 893

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

CHIRIKOF

n = 721

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

KODIAK

 1 - 100 M

n = 1,586

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

8

4

0

4

8

n = 3,768

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 3,641

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

 101 - 200 M

n = 712

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

8

4

0

4

8

n = 1,158

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 1,131

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

 201 - 300 M

n = 51

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

8

4

0

4

8 n = 153

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 500

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

301 - 500 M

n = 3,285

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

8

4

0

4

8

n = 5,972

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 5,993

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 13. -- Size composition of rex sole from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl 

 survey, by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical 

 areas and depth intervals. 

61
n = 386

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

8

4

0

4

8

YAKUTAT

n = 209

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

SOUTHEASTERN

n = 3,422

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

TOTAL

 1 - 100 M

n = 620

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

8

4

0

4

8

n = 1,320

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 10,935

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

 101 - 200 M

n = 908

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

8

4

0

4

8

n = 614

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 4,523

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

 201 - 300 M

n = 291

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

8

4

0

4

8

n = 335

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 1,330

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

301 - 500 M

n = 2,205

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

8

4

0

4

8

n = 2,478

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 19,933

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 13. -- Continued (rex sole). 

62
Table 14. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for rex sole sorted by descending CPUE for 

the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Chirikof 201 - 300 Lower Shelikof Gully 17 16 13.51 13,534 5,432 21,637

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 19 13.39 14,864 6,213 23,515

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 23 12.61 6,319 2,735 9,903

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 27 12.01 9,288 3,481 15,095

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 10 11.01 4,619 770 8,468

Chirikof 201 - 300 Chirikof Slope 8 8 10.66 1,628 0 3,912

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 23 9.90 8,074 4,001 12,146

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 24 9.80 7,752 3,240 12,264

Shumagin 101 - 200 Sanak Gully 6 6 9.44 4,008 381 7,636

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 17 8.71 4,376 0 8,803

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kodiak Slope 7 7 8.69 1,409 127 2,691

Yakutat 101 - 200 Middleton Shelf 10 8 7.06 5,183 0 14,181

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 15 7.046 1,964 850 3,079

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Gullies 9 9 6.364 1,936 407 3,466

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 31 6.039 4,430 2,979 5,882

Shumagin 101 - 200 West Shumagin Gully 4 4 5.674 1,293 0 2,626

Southeastern 201 - 300 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 5 4 4.412 497 0 1,225

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 11 4.075 2,807 0 6,710

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Deep Gullies 7 7 3.80 891 0 2,152

Southeastern 501 - 700 Southeastern Slope 2 2 3.54 366 289 442

Kodiak 1 - 100 Kenai Peninsula 9 4 3.46 1,819 0 4,386

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 20 3.40 2,267 516 4,019

Kodiak 301 - 500 Kodiak Slope 16 15 3.31 964 367 1,561

Yakutat 501 - 700 Yakutat Slope 2 2 3.25 477 293 661

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 14 3.03 3,275 1,057 5,493

Kodiak 101 - 200 Barren Islands 18 13 2.61 2,870 282 5,458

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 8 2.50 532 200 865

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 19 2.36 2,850 1,772 3,929

Chirikof 301 - 500 Chirikof Slope 7 7 2.29 368 87 649

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 6 2.28 1,490 0 4,100

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 10 2.16 1,246 0 2,685

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 14 2.13 835 364 1,307

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 21 1.77 2,188 342 4,035

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 6 1.54 1,219 0 2,884

Shumagin 301 - 500 Shumagin Slope 7 6 1.49 376 67 686

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Slope 6 6 1.45 220 7 433

Kodiak 201 - 300 Upper Shelikof Gully 4 4 1.33 428 191 665

Yakutat 1 - 100 Middleton Shallows 8 7 1.31 882 0 2,236

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 30 1.07 1,460 669 2,251

Yakutat 1 - 100 Yakutat Shallows 11 8 1.05 1,047 314 1,780

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Gullies 2 2 0.99 110 0 786

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Slope 7 6 0.66 51 0 128

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 12 0.61 449 0 967

Yakutat 101 - 200 Fairweather Shelf 10 7 0.60 467 0 979

Kodiak 501 - 700 Kodiak Slope 4 2 0.60 104 0 304

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 11 0.58 402 0 804

Chirikof 501 - 700 Chirikof Slope 5 2 0.55 107 0 339

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakataga Shelf 9 5 0.43 227 0 570

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 7 0.34 526 0 1,176

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakutat Flats 7 6 0.26 236 0 702

Shumagin 1 - 100 Fox Islands 19 2 0.02 15 0 39

Kodiak 1 - 100 Northern Kodiak Shallows 8 3 0.00 1 0 2

63
Dover sole (Microstomus pacificus)

 Dover sole were distributed throughout the survey area and depth range and were caught in 

relatively modest numbers in 56 of the 59 survey strata (Fig. 14 and Tables 15-16). Although 

large catches of Dover sole were rare, they were present in approximately 85% of the tows at 

depths greater than 200 m (Table 15). The highest mean CPUEs were generally recorded at 

depths between 200 and 700 m primarily southwest of Kodiak Island and in the central part of 

the Gulf of Alaska between the Kenai Peninsula and Yakutat. The mean weight of Dover sole 

generally decreased from west to east. Although the smallest fish were in the shallowest depth 

zone, there was not a consistent trend of increasing fish size at deeper depths (Fig. 15 and Table 

15). Males were considerably more abundant in the survey area, especially at water depths 

between 301 and 500 m where they were predominant. Overall, males made up approximately 

59% of the population. 

64
Table 15. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with Dover sole, mean CPUE, biomass, and 

mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 15 0.04 154 44 265 0.265

101 - 200 40 13 0.39 565 172 959 0.518

201 - 300 17 9 0.31 88 11 164 0.715

301 - 500 7 4 2.16 548 0 1,188 1.286

501 - 700 3 3 18.51 3,712 0 14,044 0.984

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 44 0.78 5,067 0 15,453 0.845

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 11 0.71 1,843 0 5,021 0.86

101 - 200 72 56 2.73 6,523 4,100 8,945 0.744

201 - 300 25 21 4.79 5,527 3,009 8,046 0.91

301 - 500 7 6 8.21 1,316 0 3,057 0.822

501 - 700 5 5 4.01 782 369 1,196 0.802

701 - 1000 3 1 0.08 23 0 98 0.629

All depths 190 100 2.35 16,015 11,189 20,841 0.817

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 15 0.14 529 40 1,018 0.387

101 - 200 125 90 2.11 9,145 6,839 11,452 0.859

201 - 300 31 30 6.17 7,091 3,907 10,276 0.883

301 - 500 16 16 6.32 1,841 1,132 2,550 0.777

501 - 700 4 3 5.65 986 11 1,961 0.775

701 - 1000 4 1 0.61 212 0 802 1.124

All depths 280 155 1.95 19,805 15,810 23,801 0.829

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 9 2.23 3,720 0 9,363 0.51

101 - 200 36 25 3.02 8,867 2,430 15,303 0.767

201 - 300 17 17 15.99 8,266 4,208 12,325 0.965

301 - 500 8 8 10.72 2,816 513 5,118 0.812

501 - 700 2 2 14.77 2,169 212 4,127 0.652

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 61 4.52 25,838 16,663 35,013 0.755

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 3 0.44 288 0 731 0.342

101 - 200 26 17 1.25 1,386 551 2,221 0.458

201 - 300 19 18 5.37 2,713 1,406 4,020 0.447

301 - 500 14 13 8.91 2,779 1,038 4,520 0.744

501 - 700 2 2 19.11 1,975 541 3,409 0.787

701 - 1000 2 2 3.40 411 0 1,497 0.823

All depths 74 55 3.41 9,551 7,245 11,857 0.573

All areas 1 - 100 335 53 0.51 6,534 67 13,001 0.535

101 - 200 299 201 2.17 26,486 19,374 33,599 0.755

201 - 300 109 95 6.57 23,685 18,079 29,291 0.821

301 - 500 52 47 7.27 9,300 6,316 12,284 0.802

501 - 700 16 15 11.73 9,625 0 20,183 0.812

701 - 1000 12 4 0.56 646 0 1,456 0.891

All depths 823 415 2.38 76,277 63,268 89,286 0.76

65
E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E E

E

E

E E

EE

E E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE

EE E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE EE

E

E EE E

E

E

EE

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 14. -- Distribution and relative abundance of a Dover sole from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Dover Sole

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< 2.46

2.46 - 14.31

14.31 - 26.16

> 26.16 (max. = 54.84)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

66
E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E E

EE

E

E E

E

E

EE

E E

E

EE

E E

EE EE

E

E EE E

E

E

E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 14. -- Continued (Dover sole).

Cordova

67
n = 49

20 30 40 50 60 70

9

6

3

0

3

6

9

SHUMAGIN

n = 94

20 30 40 50 60 70

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

CHIRIKOF

n = 96

20 30 40 50 60 70

KODIAK

 1 - 100 M

n = 68

20 30 40 50 60 70

9

6

3

0

3

6

9 n = 646

20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 832

20 30 40 50 60 70

 101 - 200 M

n = 19

20 30 40 50 60 70

9

6

3

0

3

6

9 n = 292

20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 640

20 30 40 50 60 70

 201 - 300 M

n = 116

20 30 40 50 60 70

9

6

3

0

3

6

9 n = 171

20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 439

20 30 40 50 60 70

301 - 500 M

n = 252

20 30 40 50 60 70

9

6

3

0

3

6

9

n = 1,203

20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 2,007

20 30 40 50 60 70

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 15. -- Size composition of Dover sole from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl 

survey, by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical 

areas and depth intervals. 

68
n = 195

20 30 40 50 60 70

9

6

3

0

3

6

9

YAKUTAT

n = 31

20 30 40 50 60 70

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

SOUTHEASTERN

n = 506

20 30 40 50 60 70

TOTAL

 1 - 100 M

n = 347

20 30 40 50 60 70

9

6

3

0

3

6

9

n = 186

20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 2,079

20 30 40 50 60 70

 101 - 200 M

n = 622

20 30 40 50 60 70

9

6

3

0

3

6

9

n = 570

20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 2,143

20 30 40 50 60 70

 201 - 300 M

n = 409

20 30 40 50 60 70

9

6

3

0

3

6

9

n = 534

20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 1,669

20 30 40 50 60 70

301 - 500 M

n = 1,573

20 30 40 50 60 70

9

6

3

0

3

6

9

n = 1,321

20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 6,356

20 30 40 50 60 70

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 15. -- Continued (Dover sole). 

69
Table 16. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for Dover sole sorted by descending CPUE 

for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Gullies 9 9 19.53 5,942 2,250 9,634

Southeastern 501 - 700 Southeastern Slope 2 2 19.11 1,975 0 6,209

Shumagin 501 - 700 Shumagin Slope 3 3 18.51 3,712 0 17,683

Yakutat 501 - 700 Yakutat Slope 2 2 14.77 2,169 0 7,948

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Slope 6 6 12.21 1,857 296 3,418

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 8 10.93 2,324 0 4,651

Southeastern 201 - 300 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 5 5 10.41 1,171 294 2,048

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Deep Gullies 7 7 9.96 2,336 569 4,102

Yakutat 101 - 200 Middleton Shelf 10 8 9.21 6,762 347 13,176

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 19 8.97 5,974 2,863 9,086

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Gullies 2 2 8.66 959 0 9,321

Chirikof 301 - 500 Chirikof Slope 7 6 8.21 1,316 0 3,117

Kodiak 301 - 500 Kodiak Slope 16 16 6.324 1,841 1,129 2,554

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Slope 7 6 5.738 443 88 799

Kodiak 501 - 700 Kodiak Slope 4 3 5.651 986 0 2,104

Chirikof 201 - 300 Lower Shelikof Gully 17 14 5.305 5,315 2,789 7,841

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 23 5.249 4,060 2,185 5,936

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 29 4.446 3,262 1,857 4,666

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kodiak Slope 7 7 4.18 679 15 1,342

Chirikof 501 - 700 Chirikof Slope 5 5 4.01 782 336 1,229

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 13 3.93 1,542 399 2,685

Yakutat 1 - 100 Yakutat Shallows 11 6 3.57 3,547 0 9,254

Southeastern 701 - 1000 Southeastern Slope 2 2 3.40 411 0 3,619

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 10 2.19 918 185 1,652

Shumagin 301 - 500 Shumagin Slope 7 4 2.16 548 0 1,210

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakataga Shelf 9 6 2.04 1,074 0 2,206

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 14 1.89 2,094 512 3,675

Kodiak 101 - 200 Barren Islands 18 16 1.74 1,910 715 3,104

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 18 1.70 1,343 576 2,110

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 18 1.69 2,037 952 3,123

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 3 1.468 1,585 0 4,745

Chirikof 201 - 300 Chirikof Slope 8 7 1.391 213 46 379

Kodiak 201 - 300 Upper Shelikof Gully 4 4 1.367 438 0 1,306

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 9 1.181 594 0 1,255

Yakutat 101 - 200 Fairweather Shelf 10 7 0.814 629 0 1,718

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 19 0.74 369 174 564

Kodiak 1 - 100 Northern Kodiak Shallows 8 4 0.71 157 0 475

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 7 0.68 468 0 975

Kodiak 701 - 1000 Kodiak Slope 4 1 0.61 212 0 888

Kodiak 1 - 100 Kenai Peninsula 9 3 0.53 281 0 683

Shumagin 101 - 200 Sanak Gully 6 3 0.48 203 0 522

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakutat Flats 7 4 0.45 403 0 874

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 3 0.44 288 0 737

Shumagin 101 - 200 West Shumagin Gully 4 1 0.43 99 0 413

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 9 0.32 264 68 460

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 9 0.31 88 11 165

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 6 0.31 249 0 601

Yakutat 1 - 100 Middleton Shallows 8 3 0.258 173 0 434

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 6 0.113 65 0 142

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 6 0.079 54 0 125

Chirikof 701 - 1000 Chirikof Slope 3 1 0.076 23 0 124

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 5 0.055 68 0 145

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 3 0.02 27 0 69

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 2 0.02 26 0 65

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 2 0.01 9 0 23

Shumagin 1 - 100 Fox Islands 19 1 0.01 5 0 16

70
Yellowfin sole (Limanda aspera)

 Yellowfin sole were locally abundant in bays around Kodiak Island and the Alaska Peninsula 

near the Shumagin Islands, but were not widely distributed in the survey area. Yellowfin sole 

were only caught in near shore strata, all 10 of them in the shallowest depth zone (Fig. 16 and 

Tables 17-18). The highest mean CPUEs were noted in the Northern Kodiak Shallows and on 

the lower Alaska Peninsula (Table 18). These two strata accounted for approximately 69% of 

the survey area’s biomass estimate despite accounting for only 2.8% of the survey area. The sex 

ratio for yellowfin sole was approximately even, with females making up approximately 51% of 

the population. 

71
Table 17. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with yellowfin sole, mean CPUE, biomass, and 

mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 27 2.83 11,695 5,178 18,212 0.462

101 - 200 40 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 27 1.79 11,695 5,178 18,212 0.462

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 11 1.18 3,073 159 5,986 0.389

101 - 200 72 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 25 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 11 0.45 3,073 159 5,986 0.389

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 19 4.82 18,555 2,955 34,155 0.283

101 - 200 125 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 31 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 19 1.83 18,555 2,955 34,155 0.283

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 2 0.02 29 0 94 0.073

101 - 200 36 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 8 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 2 0.01 29 0 94 0.073

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 1 0.10 62 0 199 0.215

101 - 200 26 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 14 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 1 0.02 62 0 199 0.215

All areas 1 - 100 335 60 2.59 33,414 16,712 50,116 0.336

101 - 200 299 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 109 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 52 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 60 1.04 33,414 16,712 50,116 0.336

72
E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E E EE

EE

E

EE

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E E E E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E E

EE

E E

E

E

EE

E

E

E EE E

E

E E E

E E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E E

E

E E

EE E

E E

E E

E

E E

E EE

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E E

E

EE

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E E

E

EE E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

EE

E E

E E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E EE E E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E E

E

E

E

E E

EE E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EEE

E E

E

EE E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 16. -- Distribution and relative abundance of a yellowfin sole from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Yellowfin Sole

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< 1.41

1.41 - 25.11

25.11 - 48.81

> 48.81 (max. = 238.00)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

73
E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

EE

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E E E E

EE

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

EEE

EE

E E E E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E EE E

E E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E EE E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

EE E

E

E E E E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E EE

E E

E

E

E

E

E EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E E

E E

E

E

E EE E

E

E

E

EEE

E

EE

E

EE

E E E

E E

E E

E E

E

E EE

E

E E E

E E

E

EE

E

E

E E E E

E

E E E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

EE

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 16. -- Continued (yellowfin sole).

Cordova

74
Table 18. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for yellowfin sole sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Kodiak 1 - 100 Northern Kodiak Shallows 8 5 55.62 12,235 0 28,489

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 20 15.79 10,855 4,358 17,352

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 5 5.15 2,971 0 8,102

Kodiak 1 - 100 Lower Cook Inlet 15 9 3.39 3,349 1,029 5,669

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 8 2.35 1,863 0 3,829

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 3 1.12 1,209 0 3,464

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 3 0.47 583 0 1,447

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 4 0.19 257 0 601

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 1 0.10 62 0 201

Yakutat 1 - 100 Middleton Shallows 8 2 0.04 29 0 96

75
Other Flatfishes 

Alaska plaice (Pleuronectes quadrituberculatus)

 Approximately 81% of the estimated biomass of Alaska plaice in the survey area came from 

the shallowest depth zone of the Davidson Bank and the Upper and Lower Alaska Peninsula 

strata, which together make up only 8.9% of the total survey area (Tables 19-20). Moderate 

densities were also recorded in the shallowest depth zone of the Northern Kodiak Shallows 

stratum. No Alaska plaice were caught in the Yakutat or Southeastern INPFC areas. 

Starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus)

 Catches of starry flounder were almost exclusively confined to water depths less than 100 m

in all INPFC areas (Table 21). The highest densities were recorded in Lower Cook Inlet and in 

the Lower and Upper Alaska Peninsula strata (Table 22). 

English sole (Parophrys vetulus)

 Approximately 59% of the estimated biomass of English sole in the survey area came from 

three strata (Northern Kodiak Shallows, Southeastern Shallows, and Kenai Peninsula) in two of 

the five INPFC areas (Kodiak and Southeastern), which together make up only 4.4% of the 

survey area (Table 24). Densities ranged from small to modest everywhere English sole were 

caught, and almost the entire population was confined to depths less than 200 m (Table 23). 

Mean weight generally increased with depth. 

76
Butter sole (Isopsetta isolepis)

 Approximately 68% of the estimated biomass of butter sole in the survey area came from 

three strata: Albatross Shallows, Albatross Gullies, and Chirikof Bank (Table 26). Densities 

ranged from small to modest everywhere butter sole were caught, and approximately 80% of the 

population was confined to depths less than 100 m, with 100% at less than 200 m (Table 25). 

Catches of butter sole were recorded in all INPFC areas except Southeastern. 

77
Table 19. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with Alaska plaice, mean CPUE, biomass, and 

mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 22 1.30 5,387 1,942 8,832 1.183

101 - 200 40 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 22 0.83 5,387 1,942 8,832 1.183

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 10 0.58 1,507 358 2,656 1.796

101 - 200 72 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 25 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 10 0.22 1,507 358 2,656 1.796

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 12 0.23 894 253 1,536 1.158

101 - 200 125 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 31 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 12 0.09 894 253 1,536 1.158

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 36 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 8 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 0 --- --- --- --- ---

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 26 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 14 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All areas 1 - 100 335 44 0.60 7,788 4,148 11,427 1.263

101 - 200 299 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 109 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 52 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 44 0.24 7,788 4,148 11,427 1.263

78
Table 20. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for Alaska plaice sorted by descending CPUE 

for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 16 6.11 4,198 897 7,500

Kodiak 1 - 100 Northern Kodiak Shallows 8 5 1.74 382 0 784

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 4 1.24 988 0 2,007

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 4 0.81 1,101 0 2,265

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 6 0.48 519 0 1,101

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 4 0.35 204 0 455

Kodiak 1 - 100 Lower Cook Inlet 15 3 0.31 308 0 785

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 2 0.07 88 0 232

79
Table 21. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with starry flounder, mean CPUE, biomass, and 

mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 22 2.46 10,154 2,250 18,058 1.828

101 - 200 40 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 22 1.56 10,154 2,250 18,058 1.828

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 15 3.07 7,980 654 15,305 2.167

101 - 200 72 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 25 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 15 1.17 7,980 654 15,305 2.167

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 21 3.09 11,898 2,154 21,642 1.988

101 - 200 125 2 0.02 82 0 209 2.139

201 - 300 31 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 23 1.18 11,980 2,235 21,725 1.989

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 3 1.63 2,717 0 7,939 1.982

101 - 200 36 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 8 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 3 0.48 2,717 0 7,939 1.982

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 2 0.66 433 0 1,237 2.573

101 - 200 26 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 14 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 2 0.15 433 0 1,237 2.573

All areas 1 - 100 335 63 2.57 33,182 18,269 48,094 1.98

101 - 200 299 2 0.01 82 0 209 2.139

201 - 300 109 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 52 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 65 1.04 33,264 18,351 48,177 1.98

80
Table 22. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for starry flounder sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Kodiak 1 - 100 Lower Cook Inlet 15 11 10.26 10,147 441 19,852

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 14 8.86 6,088 352 11,825

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 8 8.80 6,984 0 14,290

Kodiak 1 - 100 Northern Kodiak Shallows 8 5 4.30 945 0 1,906

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 2 2.53 3,462 0 9,085

Yakutat 1 - 100 Yakutat Shallows 11 2 2.41 2,394 0 7,631

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 5 1.40 806 0 1,869

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 7 0.92 996 0 2,078

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 2 0.66 433 0 1,247

Yakutat 1 - 100 Middleton Shallows 8 1 0.48 323 0 1,088

Shumagin 1 - 100 Fox Islands 19 2 0.45 373 0 1,071

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 4 0.19 230 0 467

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 1 0.073 58 0 177

Kodiak 101 - 200 Barren Islands 18 1 0.022 24 0 75

81
Table 23. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with English sole, mean CPUE, biomass, and 

mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 20 0.21 851 125 1,578 0.499

101 - 200 40 1 0.04 52 0 158 1.113

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 21 0.14 903 170 1,637 0.515

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 14 0.31 797 0 1,930 0.63

101 - 200 72 3 0.02 45 0 108 0.427

201 - 300 25 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 17 0.12 842 0 1,977 0.615

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 15 2.00 7,695 0 15,500 0.511

101 - 200 125 6 0.06 260 0 683 1.043

201 - 300 31 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 21 0.78 7,955 137 15,773 0.52

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 10 2.41 4,013 0 8,339 0.282

101 - 200 36 1 0.01 29 0 94 1.085

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 8 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 11 0.71 4,042 0 8,369 0.284

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 8 6.40 4,192 0 9,449 0.402

101 - 200 26 5 0.66 726 18 1,435 0.519

201 - 300 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 14 1 0.03 10 0 34 0.74

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 14 1.76 4,928 0 10,239 0.416

All areas 1 - 100 335 67 1.36 17,548 7,812 27,283 0.411

101 - 200 299 16 0.09 1,113 292 1,933 0.609

201 - 300 109 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 52 1 0.01 10 0 34 0.74

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 84 0.58 18,671 8,900 28,442 0.419

82
Table 24. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for English sole sorted by descending CPUE 

for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Kodiak 1 - 100 Northern Kodiak Shallows 8 5 17.39 3,826 0 8,415

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 8 6.40 4,192 0 9,513

Kodiak 1 - 100 Kenai Peninsula 9 1 5.56 2,925 0 9,671

Yakutat 1 - 100 Middleton Shallows 8 4 4.30 2,889 0 7,179

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 8 1.62 936 0 1,965

Yakutat 1 - 100 Yakutat Shallows 11 6 1.13 1,124 0 3,017

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 11 0.70 751 0 1,882

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 3 0.70 479 0 1,043

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 2 0.59 248 0 739

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 11 0.33 411 0 851

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 2 0.27 210 0 631

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 5 0.24 333 0 909

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 4 0.156 107 0 243

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Slope 7 1 0.129 10 0 34

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 1 0.064 52 0 159

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 3 0.06 46 0 111

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 1 0.06 29 0 88

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 3 0.04 30 0 67

Yakutat 101 - 200 Middleton Shelf 10 1 0.04 29 0 95

Kodiak 101 - 200 Barren Islands 18 1 0.02 20 0 62

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 2 0.02 16 0 41

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 1 0.01 8 0 26

83
Table 25. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with butter sole, mean CPUE, biomass, and mean 

weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by International 

North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 23 0.22 902 300 1,505 0.448

101 - 200 40 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 23 0.14 902 300 1,505 0.448

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 26 1.49 3,881 1,901 5,861 0.342

101 - 200 72 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 25 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 26 0.57 3,881 1,901 5,861 0.342

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 29 1.54 5,945 821 11,070 0.334

101 - 200 125 6 0.72 3,137 0 7,967 0.477

201 - 300 31 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 35 0.89 9,083 2,135 16,030 0.372

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 5 0.92 1,539 0 3,665 0.163

101 - 200 36 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 8 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 5 0.27 1,539 0 3,665 0.163

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 26 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 14 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All areas 1 - 100 335 83 0.95 12,268 6,452 18,084 0.302

101 - 200 299 6 0.26 3,137 0 7,967 0.477

201 - 300 109 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 52 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 89 0.48 15,405 7,975 22,835 0.326

84
Table 26. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for butter sole sorted by descending CPUE 

for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 12 7.06 4,072 0 9,123

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 5 3.95 3,126 0 7,965

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 23 2.98 3,220 1,446 4,995

Kodiak 1 - 100 Lower Cook Inlet 15 9 1.57 1,552 535 2,569

Yakutat 1 - 100 Yakutat Shallows 11 3 1.40 1,394 0 3,534

Kodiak 1 - 100 Northern Kodiak Shallows 8 5 0.91 201 0 418

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 2 0.83 659 0 1,618

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 12 0.58 397 0 876

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 8 0.35 480 94 866

Yakutat 1 - 100 Middleton Shallows 8 2 0.22 144 0 391

Kodiak 1 - 100 Kenai Peninsula 9 2 0.14 73 0 188

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 1 0.03 48 0 146

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 3 0.02 25 0 53

Kodiak 101 - 200 Barren Islands 18 1 0.01 11 0 34

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 1 0.003 2 0 6

85
ROUNDFISHES 

Walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) 

 Walleye pollock was the fourth most abundant species caught in the 2009 survey (Table 2). 

Pollock were caught throughout the survey area in 50 of the 59 survey strata and at all depths 

less than 500 m (Fig. 17, Table 27). They were most abundant at depths less than 200 m, where 

93% of the estimated biomass occurred. They were caught in 74% of the tows less than 300 m 

deep, including 88% of the tows at depths between 201 and 300 m (Table 27). The highest 

densities occurred in bays around Kodiak Island and in scattered areas throughout the Shumagin 

and Chirikof INPFC areas, with particularly high CPUEs recorded in the Shumagin Outer Shelf 

(Table 28). Mean weight generally increased with depth to 500 m in three of the five INPFC 

areas (Shumagin, Yakutat, Southeastern), but there was no consistent trend in mean weight with 

depth in the Chirikof and Kodiak areas. A distinct length mode of young-of-the-year occurred 

around 10 cm at depths less than 100 m in the Shumagin and Chirikof INPFC areas and at depths 

between 201 and 300 m in the Chirikof and Kodiak INPFC areas. Other notable length modes 

occured for juveniles at approximately 20 cm in the Yakutat (depths less than 200 m) and 

Southeastern (depths less than 100 m) INPFC areas, and for females at 60 cm (depths between 

101 and 200 m) and males at approximately 58 cm (depths between 201 and 300 m) in the 

Shumagin INPFC area (Fig. 18). Females were considerably more abundant in the survey area 

and accounted for approximately 58% of the total estimated walleye pollock population. 

86
Table 27. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with walleye pollock, mean CPUE, biomass, and 

mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 83 14.43 59,563 36,088 83,039 1.056

101 - 200 40 36 103.05 151,249 0 304,075 1.587

201 - 300 17 13 7.68 2,140 668 3,612 1.629

301 - 500 7 1 0.58 146 0 490 1.54

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 133 32.67 213,098 58,396 367,799 1.392

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 50 32.30 84,102 18,659 149,545 0.402

101 - 200 72 65 54.75 130,571 30,229 230,912 0.904

201 - 300 25 24 18.67 21,560 4,930 38,190 0.504

301 - 500 7 1 0.17 27 0 90 1.543

501 - 700 5 1 0.12 24 0 84 1.59

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 141 34.72 236,283 116,860 355,707 0.596

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 58 20.38 78,495 12,324 144,665 0.519

101 - 200 125 89 24.90 107,911 40,222 175,599 1.078

201 - 300 31 24 10.67 12,262 5,736 18,788 0.475

301 - 500 16 2 0.14 40 0 116 1.155

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 173 19.58 198,707 105,783 291,631 0.717

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 14 4.15 6,919 3,307 10,531 0.199

101 - 200 36 26 4.04 11,866 2,878 20,853 0.202

201 - 300 17 16 10.56 5,459 1,247 9,672 0.735

301 - 500 8 5 1.18 309 15 603 0.955

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 61 4.29 24,553 14,348 34,758 0.242

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 11 17.35 11,360 0 30,247 0.136

101 - 200 26 22 12.46 13,808 5,545 22,072 0.522

201 - 300 19 19 11.25 5,686 1,922 9,449 0.726

301 - 500 14 3 0.48 149 0 346 1.315

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 55 11.06 31,003 10,372 51,634 0.263

All areas 1 - 100 335 216 18.63 240,439 144,829 336,049 0.449

101 - 200 299 238 33.96 415,404 224,176 606,631 0.977

201 - 300 109 96 13.07 47,107 28,543 65,670 0.553

301 - 500 52 12 0.52 671 213 1,129 1.149

501 - 700 16 1 0.03 24 0 84 1.59

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 563 21.99 703,644 489,098 918,190 0.673

87
E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

EE

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E E

E

E

E

E

EE

E E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 17. -- Distribution and relative abundance of a walleye pollock from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Walleye Pollock

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< 29.1

29.1 - 310.3

310.3 - 591.6

> 591.6 (max. = 2,745.5)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

88
E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E EE

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

EE E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

EE

EE

E E

E E

E

E E

E

E E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 17. -- Continued (walleye pollock).

Cordova

89
n = 4,635

20 40 60 80

8

4

0

4

8

SHUMAGIN

n = 3,462

20 40 60 80

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

CHIRIKOF

n = 3,466

20 40 60 80

KODIAK

 1 - 100 M

n = 2,580

20 40 60 80

8

4

0

4

8

n = 5,297

20 40 60 80

n = 3,669

20 40 60 80

 101 - 200 M

n = 206

20 40 60 80

8

4

0

4

8

n = 1,690

20 40 60 80

n = 1,097

20 40 60 80

 201 - 300 M

n = 5

20 40 60 80

8

4

0

4

8 n = 3

20 40 60 80

n = 5

20 40 60 80

301 - 500 M

n = 7,426

20 40 60 80

8

4

0

4

8

n = 10,452

20 40 60 80

n = 8,237

20 40 60 80

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 18. -- Size composition of walleye pollock from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom 

trawl survey, by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission 

statistical areas and depth intervals. 

90
n = 1,016

20 40 60 80

8

4

0

4

8

YAKUTAT

n = 337

20 40 60 80

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

SOUTHEASTERN

n = 13,244

20 40 60 80

TOTAL

 1 - 100 M

n = 983

20 40 60 80

8

4

0

4

8

n = 1,216

20 40 60 80

n = 13,745

20 40 60 80

 101 - 200 M

n = 522

20 40 60 80

8

4

0

4

8

n = 647

20 40 60 80

n = 4,162

20 40 60 80

 201 - 300 M

n = 26

20 40 60 80

8

4

0

4

8

n = 14

20 40 60 80

n = 53

20 40 60 80

301 - 500 M

n = 2,547

20 40 60 80

8

4

0

4

8

n = 2,214

20 40 60 80

n = 30,876

20 40 60 80

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 18. -- Continued (walleye pollock). 

91
Table 28. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for walleye pollock sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 27 180.52 147,194 0 300,209

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 27 126.00 97,453 0 197,175

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 21 118.38 68,260 2,827 133,694

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 17 85.40 67,567 3,601 131,533

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 15 52.29 41,526 0 98,315

Chirikof 201 - 300 Chirikof Slope 8 7 44.63 6,821 0 20,532

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 25 39.90 27,436 14,371 40,501

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 22 39.39 19,735 7,676 31,794

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 15 31.62 34,124 2,500 65,748

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kodiak Slope 7 6 29.45 4,778 0 11,132

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 29 18.44 25,232 5,791 44,673

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 11 17.35 11,360 0 30,479

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 16 16.964 8,526 0 21,428

Kodiak 101 - 200 Barren Islands 18 15 16.345 17,948 4,000 31,896

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 28 15.787 11,582 0 26,119

Kodiak 201 - 300 Upper Shelikof Gully 4 4 15.001 4,813 1,285 8,341

Kodiak 1 - 100 Northern Kodiak Shallows 8 7 14.871 3,271 0 10,542

Chirikof 201 - 300 Lower Shelikof Gully 17 17 14.713 14,740 3,221 26,258

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Gullies 9 9 14.16 4,308 62 8,553

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 11 13.97 5,864 982 10,745

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 14 12.928 5,077 1,355 8,799

Shumagin 101 - 200 West Shumagin Gully 4 3 12.813 2,919 0 7,988

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 16 12.052 13,383 3,806 22,960

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 20 11.575 8,453 0 24,964

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 11 11.534 7,945 836 15,053

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 13 7.68 2,140 661 3,619

Yakutat 101 - 200 Fairweather Shelf 10 8 7.21 5,571 0 12,765

Yakutat 101 - 200 Middleton Shelf 10 8 7.054 5,182 0 11,656

Yakutat 1 - 100 Yakutat Shallows 11 8 6.048 6,016 2,394 9,639

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 7 5.415 1,152 135 2,169

Southeastern 201 - 300 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 5 5 5.41 609 0 1,528

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 23 4.816 5,971 1,647 10,295

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 14 4.01 2,671 0 5,535

Kodiak 1 - 100 Kenai Peninsula 9 4 3.48 1,830 0 4,613

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 16 3.158 4,864 0 14,515

Shumagin 101 - 200 Sanak Gully 6 6 2.676 1,136 314 1,959

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 13 1.894 2,288 338 4,238

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Slope 6 4 1.548 235 0 492

Yakutat 1 - 100 Middleton Shallows 8 6 1.344 903 137 1,668

Shumagin 1 - 100 Fox Islands 19 6 1.11 925 0 2,463

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakutat Flats 7 6 0.88 799 0 1,936

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Gullies 2 1 0.668 74 0 1,014

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakataga Shelf 9 4 0.595 314 0 787

Shumagin 301 - 500 Shumagin Slope 7 1 0.575 146 0 502

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Deep Gullies 7 2 0.486 114 0 299

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Slope 7 1 0.457 35 0 122

Kodiak 1 - 100 Lower Cook Inlet 15 10 0.27 270 113 427

Chirikof 301 - 500 Chirikof Slope 7 1 0.17 27 0 93

Kodiak 301 - 500 Kodiak Slope 16 2 0.137 40 0 117

Chirikof 501 - 700 Chirikof Slope 5 1 0.12 24 0 89

92
Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) 

 Pacific cod was the second most abundant species caught in the 2009 survey, up from seventh 

most abundant in 2007 (Table 2). Cod were caught throughout the survey area in 42 of the 59 

survey strata at depths less than 300 m, although CPUEs were low at depths greater than 200 m 

(Fig. 19, Table 30). Approximately 87% of the survey-wide biomass was estimated to be 

shallower than 100 m, compared to 63% in 2007. Cod occurred in about 87% of the tows at this 

depth range. Ninety-eight percent of the total Pacific cod biomass was estimated to be in the 

central and western Gulf of Alaska with very low densities in the Yakutat and Southeastern 

INPFC areas (Table 29). The highest densities were recorded at Albatross Banks in the Kodiak 

INPFC area and at Shumagin Banks near the Shumagin Islands (Fig. 19). Mean weight 

generally increased with depth. A very distinct length mode occurred for young-of-the-year 

around 10 cm FL at depths less than 100 m in the Chirikof INPFC area (Fig. 20). The sex ratio 

of the Pacific cod population in the survey area was almost even, with females accounting for 

approximately 51% of the total estimated population. 

93
Table 29. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with Pacific cod, mean CPUE, biomass, and 

mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 126 45.38 187,365 105,383 269,346 1.273

101 - 200 40 38 7.60 11,156 8,380 13,932 1.724

201 - 300 17 7 1.69 471 86 856 1.891

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 171 30.51 198,992 116,964 281,020 1.293

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 70 43.09 112,182 66,044 158,321 0.562

101 - 200 72 64 9.92 23,670 13,515 33,824 1.709

201 - 300 25 14 3.72 4,296 1,153 7,440 2.287

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 148 20.59 140,148 92,834 187,462 0.65

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 81 89.35 344,131 0 794,220 2.06

101 - 200 125 100 11.99 51,936 21,429 82,444 1.754

201 - 300 31 8 2.84 3,261 0 6,998 2.707

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 189 39.35 399,329 0 850,442 2.018

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 9 4.46 7,423 1,897 12,948 2.604

101 - 200 36 8 0.99 2,895 256 5,534 3.492

201 - 300 17 1 0.69 359 0 1,187 2.403

301 - 500 8 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 18 1.87 10,677 4,694 16,659 2.789

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 7 2.25 1,475 251 2,699 1.262

101 - 200 26 13 1.39 1,543 578 2,508 1.494

201 - 300 19 10 0.91 458 163 752 1.867

301 - 500 14 1 0.10 30 0 102 2.782

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 31 1.25 3,506 1,961 5,051 1.427

All areas 1 - 100 335 293 50.57 652,576 192,832 1,112,320 1.26

101 - 200 299 223 7.46 91,200 59,449 122,950 1.761

201 - 300 109 40 2.45 8,845 4,138 13,552 2.374

301 - 500 52 1 0.02 30 0 102 2.782

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 557 23.52 752,651 291,766 1,213,536 1.312

94
E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 19. -- Distribution and relative abundance of a Pacific cod from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Pacific Cod

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< 27.27

27.27 - 449.89

449.89 - 872.52

> 872.52 (max. = 5,755.97)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

95
E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

EE

E

E

EE E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EEE

E

EE

E

E

E E E

E E

E E

E E

EE

E

E E E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E EE E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

EE

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 19. -- Continued (Pacific cod).

Cordova

96
n = 6,670

 20 40 60 80 100

20

10

 0

10

20

SHUMAGIN

n = 3,462

 20 40 60 80 100

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

CHIRIKOF

n = 3,837

 20 40 60 80 100

KODIAK

 1 - 100 M

n = 444

 20 40 60 80 100

20

10

 0

10

20

n = 973

 20 40 60 80 100

n = 1,791

 20 40 60 80 100

 101 - 200 M

n = 36

 20 40 60 80 100

20

10

 0

10

20 n = 86

 20 40 60 80 100

n = 64

 20 40 60 80 100

 201 - 300 M

No data

 20 40 60 80 100

20

10

 0

10

20

No data

 20 40 60 80 100

No data

 20 40 60 80 100

301 - 500 M

n = 7,150

 20 40 60 80 100

20

10

 0

10

20

n = 4,521

 20 40 60 80 100

n = 5,692

 20 40 60 80 100

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 20. -- Size composition of Pacific cod from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl 

survey, by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical 

areas and depth intervals. 

97
n = 79

 20 40 60 80 100

20

10

 0

10

20

YAKUTAT

n = 46

 20 40 60 80 100

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

SOUTHEASTERN

n = 14,105

 20 40 60 80 100

TOTAL

 1 - 100 M

n = 25

 20 40 60 80 100

20

10

 0

10

20

n = 62

 20 40 60 80 100

n = 3,295

 20 40 60 80 100

 101 - 200 M

n = 11

 20 40 60 80 100

20

10

 0

10

20

n = 23

 20 40 60 80 100

n = 220

 20 40 60 80 100

 201 - 300 M

No data

 20 40 60 80 100

20

10

 0

10

20

n = 1

 20 40 60 80 100

n = 1

 20 40 60 80 100

301 - 500 M

n = 115

 20 40 60 80 100

20

10

 0

10

20

n = 132

 20 40 60 80 100

n = 17,610

 20 40 60 80 100

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 20. -- Continued (Pacific cod). 

98
Table 30. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for Pacific cod sorted by descending CPUE 

for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 31 185.93 286,383 0 740,107

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 34 81.49 101,041 22,455 179,627

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 25 58.26 33,594 9,531 57,656

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 23 56.62 28,455 0 58,348

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 23 50.53 36,894 8,038 65,750

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 26 45.03 30,962 14,008 47,916

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 33 43.46 46,905 17,750 76,059

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 14 35.74 28,384 3,858 52,909

Kodiak 1 - 100 Northern Kodiak Shallows 8 7 28.05 6,169 0 12,789

Kodiak 1 - 100 Kenai Peninsula 9 6 25.88 13,615 0 33,795

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 47 25.57 34,979 22,281 47,677

Shumagin 1 - 100 Fox Islands 19 19 24.46 20,383 10,193 30,572

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 24 12.387 9,581 2,740 16,422

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 20 11.196 8,858 4,341 13,376

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 23 10.509 5,266 0 11,665

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 28 9.343 6,855 2,583 11,127

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 29 8.403 6,852 5,099 8,604

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 17 7.946 8,823 4,355 13,291

Shumagin 101 - 200 Sanak Gully 6 6 7.42 3,150 1,219 5,082

Yakutat 1 - 100 Yakutat Shallows 11 7 6.47 6,432 1,042 11,821

Kodiak 201 - 300 Upper Shelikof Gully 4 3 5.43 1,742 0 5,579

Kodiak 101 - 200 Barren Islands 18 18 5.21 5,717 2,891 8,544

Shumagin 101 - 200 West Shumagin Gully 4 3 5.07 1,154 0 3,425

Kodiak 1 - 100 Lower Cook Inlet 15 12 4.419 4,369 0 9,234

Chirikof 201 - 300 Lower Shelikof Gully 17 12 4.165 4,172 1,019 7,326

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 7 2.254 1,475 237 2,714

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 2 2.02 1,344 0 3,835

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 5 1.85 775 31 1,518

Yakutat 101 - 200 Fairweather Shelf 10 3 1.73 1,340 0 3,208

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 11 1.70 2,051 141 3,961

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 7 1.69 471 85 858

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 1 1.688 359 0 1,208

Yakutat 1 - 100 Middleton Shallows 8 2 1.476 991 0 2,789

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 8 1.116 769 63 1,474

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kodiak Slope 7 3 1.08 175 0 440

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 9 1.01 396 128 665

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakutat Flats 7 1 0.91 821 0 2,831

Chirikof 201 - 300 Chirikof Slope 8 2 0.81 124 0 316

Yakutat 101 - 200 Middleton Shelf 10 2 0.62 458 0 1,362

Southeastern 201 - 300 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 5 1 0.545 61 0 232

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakataga Shelf 9 2 0.522 275 0 696

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Deep Gullies 7 1 0.129 30 0 104

99
Atka mackerel (Pleurogrammus monopterygius) 

 Atka mackerel was the tenth most abundant species caught in the 2009 survey. 

Approximately 99.6% of the estimated Atka mackerel population was caught in the Shumagin 

INPFC area where local abundance was relatively high at Davidson Bank and in the Unimak 

Pass area (Fig. 21 and Tables 31- 32). Almost the entire population was confined to depths less 

than 200 m with about 97% in waters less than 100 m. Atka mackerel were caught in about 27% 

of tows at depths less than 200 m in the Shumagin INPFC area. No Atka mackerel were caught 

east of Prince William Sound. It appears that Atka mackerel segregated by depth with males 

relatively more common at depths less than 100 m and females relatively more common at 

depths between 101 and 200 m. Most of the fish captured were longer than 40 cm FL (Fig. 22). 

The sex ratio of the Atka mackerel population in the survey area was dominated by males, which 

accounted for approximately 57% of the total estimated population. 

100
Table 31. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with Atka mackerel, mean CPUE, biomass, and 

mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 36 31.80 131,306 0 359,402 1.264

101 - 200 40 9 2.56 3,753 0 10,361 1.375

201 - 300 17 3 0.11 30 0 68 1.109

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 48 20.71 135,089 0 363,279 1.267

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 7 0.02 65 6 124 0.573

101 - 200 72 7 0.07 159 0 319 1.339

201 - 300 25 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 14 0.03 224 55 393 0.965

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 7 0.01 53 1 105 0.459

101 - 200 125 12 0.05 210 76 345 1.302

201 - 300 31 2 0.03 31 0 76 1.492

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 21 0.03 294 144 444 0.99

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 36 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 1 0.03 16 0 54 1.2

301 - 500 8 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 1 < 0.01 16 0 54 1.2

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 26 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 14 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All areas 1 - 100 335 50 10.18 131,424 0 359,519 1.263

101 - 200 299 28 0.34 4,123 0 10,734 1.37

201 - 300 109 6 0.02 77 11 143 1.259

301 - 500 52 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 84 4.24 135,623 0 363,813 1.266

101
E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

EE EE

E

E E E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E

EE E

E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE E

E E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E E

E E

E

E E

E EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

EE

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E EE E

E

E E

EEE

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 21. -- Distribution and relative abundance of a Atka mackerel from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Atka Mackerel

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< 5.6

5.6 - 276.8

276.8 - 547.9

> 547.9 (max. = 3,859.1)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

102
E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E E E

E

EE

E

EE

EE

E

E E E E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

EEE

EE

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E EE E

E E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E EE

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E E

E

E

EE EE

E

E E E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

EE E EE

E E

E

E

E

E

E EE

E

E

E

EE

E E

E E

E

E

E

E EE E

E

E

E

EEE

E

EE

E

EE

E E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E E

E E

EE E

E E

E

EE

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E E

E E

E

E EE E

E

E

E

E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 21. -- Continued (Atka mackerel).

Cordova

103
n = 622

25 30 35 40 45 50

20

10

 0

10

20

SHUMAGIN

n = 9

25 30 35 40 45 50

MALES

FEMALES

CHIRIKOF

n = 8

25 30 35 40 45 50

KODIAK

 1 - 100 M

n = 143

25 30 35 40 45 50

20

10

 0

10

20 n = 15

25 30 35 40 45 50

n = 15

25 30 35 40 45 50

 101 - 200 M

n = 4

25 30 35 40 45 50

20

10

 0

10

20

No data

25 30 35 40 45 50

n = 2

25 30 35 40 45 50

 201 - 300 M

No data

25 30 35 40 45 50

20

10

 0

10

20

No data

25 30 35 40 45 50

No data

25 30 35 40 45 50

301 - 500 M

n = 769

25 30 35 40 45 50

20

10

 0

10

20 n = 24

25 30 35 40 45 50

n = 25

25 30 35 40 45 50

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 22. -- Size composition of Atka mackerel from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom 

trawl survey, by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission 

statistical areas and depth intervals. 

104
No data

25 30 35 40 45 50

20

10

 0

10

20

YAKUTAT

No data

25 30 35 40 45 50

MALES

FEMALES

SOUTHEASTERN

n = 639

25 30 35 40 45 50

TOTAL

 1 - 100 M

No data

25 30 35 40 45 50

20

10

 0

10

20

No data

25 30 35 40 45 50

n = 173

25 30 35 40 45 50

 101 - 200 M

n = 1

25 30 35 40 45 50

20

10

 0

10

20

No data

25 30 35 40 45 50

n = 7

25 30 35 40 45 50

 201 - 300 M

No data

25 30 35 40 45 50

20

10

 0

10

20

No data

25 30 35 40 45 50

No data

25 30 35 40 45 50

301 - 500 M

n = 1

25 30 35 40 45 50

20

10

 0

10

20

No data

25 30 35 40 45 50

n = 819

25 30 35 40 45 50

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 22. -- Continued (Atka mackerel). 

105
Table 32. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for Atka mackerel sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 17 93.25 127,576 0 355,653

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 8 4.56 3,715 0 10,332

Shumagin 1 - 100 Fox Islands 19 9 3.73 3,105 193 6,018

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 9 0.48 598 0 1,377

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 6 0.29 146 0 306

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 7 0.21 104 16 191

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 3 0.11 30 0 68

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kodiak Slope 7 1 0.09 15 0 52

Shumagin 101 - 200 Sanak Gully 6 1 0.09 39 0 137

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 6 0.08 61 2 120

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 1 0.08 16 0 55

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 2 0.05 61 0 150

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 1 0.041 28 0 86

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 5 0.03 47 0 98

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 2 0.03 22 0 54

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 1 0.03 23 0 71

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 1 0.024 16 0 49

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 1 0.016 13 0 39

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 2 0.01 6 0 15

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 1 0.00 3 0 10

106
Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria)

 Sablefish was the eighth most abundant species caught in the 2009 survey (Table 2). 

They were caught throughout the survey area in 53 of the 59 survey strata and at all depths. 

Sablefish occurred in 90% of tows in waters deeper than 200 m, including all tows deeper than 

500 m, and 90% of the estimated biomass was recorded at depths deeper than 200 m (Fig. 23, 

Table 33). CPUEs were consistently highest in the slope strata of all INPFC areas (Table 34). 

Mean weight generally increased with depth in all areas to 700 m and then remained relatively 

constant between 701 and 1,000 m (Table 33). A relatively distinct length mode for males 

occurred around 65 cm FL at depths between 301 and 500 m in the Chirikof, Kodiak, Yakutat, 

and Southeastern INPFC areas, and between 701 and 1,000 m in the Southeastern INPFC area 

(Fig. 24). No corresponding length mode occurred for females. Another distinct length mode 

occurred at approximately 40 cm FL for both males and females at depths less than 100 m in the 

Yakutat and Southeastern INPFC areas. Small fish (less than 50 cm FL) were almost exclusively 

confined to depths less than 300 m in all areas. The sex ratio of the sablefish population in the 

survey area was dominated by males, which accounted for approximately 64% of the total 

estimated population. 

107
Table 33. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with sablefish, mean CPUE, biomass, and mean 

weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by International 

North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 11 0.03 140 0 294 0.276

101 - 200 40 4 0.17 248 0 676 0.682

201 - 300 17 13 24.97 6,961 249 13,673 1.575

301 - 500 7 7 9.73 2,462 0 5,588 1.95

501 - 700 3 3 26.93 5,402 0 11,210 3.485

701 - 1000 2 2 10.69 2,071 0 6,455 4.289

All depths 196 40 2.65 17,283 8,728 25,838 2.013

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 5 0.03 71 0 144 0.312

101 - 200 72 15 0.33 787 250 1,325 1.551

201 - 300 25 22 8.98 10,372 5,442 15,302 2.487

301 - 500 7 7 41.96 6,729 2,293 11,166 2.722

501 - 700 5 5 80.22 15,669 7,993 23,346 3.403

701 - 1000 3 3 18.58 5,697 2,508 8,885 3.001

All depths 190 57 5.78 39,326 30,372 48,280 2.833

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 8 0.04 163 33 292 0.526

101 - 200 125 50 2.83 12,282 0 25,779 1.272

201 - 300 31 30 25.08 28,814 11,095 46,533 2.738

301 - 500 16 16 41.96 12,217 6,521 17,914 3.114

501 - 700 4 4 79.65 13,897 1,488 26,307 4.008

701 - 1000 4 4 42.55 14,865 0 30,774 4.064

All depths 280 112 8.10 82,239 55,287 109,190 2.608

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 8 0.11 181 44 318 0.467

101 - 200 36 24 1.72 5,052 0 10,533 0.545

201 - 300 17 16 6.75 3,490 1,057 5,923 2.359

301 - 500 8 7 30.71 8,070 0 17,278 2.978

501 - 700 2 2 114.90 16,882 7,471 26,292 3.468

701 - 1000 1 1 39.79 7,509 --- --- 3.529

All depths 83 58 7.20 41,184 30,066 52,301 1.976

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 3 0.99 649 0 1,480 0.539

101 - 200 26 12 0.83 916 316 1,517 0.719

201 - 300 19 12 3.05 1,542 385 2,698 2.613

301 - 500 14 12 19.34 6,029 386 11,672 2.954

501 - 700 2 2 19.81 2,047 1,318 2,777 3.166

701 - 1000 2 2 91.15 10,996 0 29,199 2.824

All depths 74 43 7.91 22,178 8,536 35,820 2.299

All areas 1 - 100 335 35 0.09 1,203 347 2,060 0.457

101 - 200 299 105 1.58 19,285 4,970 33,601 0.915

201 - 300 109 93 14.20 51,179 31,849 70,509 2.416

301 - 500 52 49 27.76 35,508 23,579 47,436 2.861

501 - 700 16 16 65.68 53,897 40,635 67,159 3.561

701 - 1000 12 12 35.49 41,137 22,459 59,815 3.411

All depths 823 310 6.32 202,209 169,508 234,911 2.393

108
E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E EE

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E EE

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

EE E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E E E

EE E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E EE E E

E

E EE

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

EE

E

E

EE

EE

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

EE

E

E

E EE E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 23. -- Distribution and relative abundance of a sablefish from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Sablefish

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< 6.35

6.35 - 48.41

48.41 - 90.48

> 90.48 (max. = 232.88)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

109
E

E

E E

E

EE

E E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E E E

E

E EE

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E E

E

E E E E

EE

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

EE

EE

E

EE

E

E

E EE E

E

E

E

E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 23. -- Continued (sablefish).

Cordova

110
n = 494

 40 60 80 100

9

6

3

0

3

6

9

SHUMAGIN

n = 271

 40 60 80 100

MALES

FEMALES

CHIRIKOF

n = 1,313

 40 60 80 100

KODIAK

 1 - 300 M

n = 84

 40 60 80 100

9

6

3

0

3

6

9 n = 285

 40 60 80 100

n = 540

 40 60 80 100

 301 - 500 M

n = 57

 40 60 80 100

9

6

3

0

3

6

9 n = 262

 40 60 80 100

n = 211

 40 60 80 100

 501 - 700 M

n = 12

 40 60 80 100

9

6

3

0

3

6

9 n = 50

 40 60 80 100

n = 108

 40 60 80 100

701 - 1000 M

n = 647

 40 60 80 100

9

6

3

0

3

6

9 n = 868

 40 60 80 100

n = 2,172

 40 60 80 100

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 24. -- Size composition of sablefish from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl 

survey, by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical 

areas and depth intervals. 

111
n = 395

 40 60 80 100

9

6

3

0

3

6

9

YAKUTAT

n = 181

 40 60 80 100

MALES

FEMALES

SOUTHEASTERN

n = 2,721

 40 60 80 100

TOTAL

 1 - 300 M

n = 224

 40 60 80 100

9

6

3

0

3

6

9

n = 188

 40 60 80 100

n = 1,321

 40 60 80 100

 301 - 500 M

n = 177

 40 60 80 100

9

6

3

0

3

6

9

n = 33

 40 60 80 100

n = 740

 40 60 80 100

 501 - 700 M

n = 29

 40 60 80 100

9

6

3

0

3

6

9

n = 179

 40 60 80 100

n = 378

 40 60 80 100

701 - 1000 M

n = 825

 40 60 80 100

9

6

3

0

3

6

9

n = 581

 40 60 80 100

n = 5,093

 40 60 80 100

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 24. -- Continued (sablefish). 

112
Table 34. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for sablefish sorted by descending CPUE for 

the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Yakutat 501 - 700 Yakutat Slope 2 2 114.90 16,882 0 44,669

Southeastern 701 - 1000 Southeastern Slope 2 2 91.15 10,996 0 64,747

Chirikof 501 - 700 Chirikof Slope 5 5 80.22 15,669 7,381 23,958

Kodiak 501 - 700 Kodiak Slope 4 4 79.65 13,897 0 28,122

Kodiak 701 - 1000 Kodiak Slope 4 4 42.55 14,865 0 33,100

Kodiak 301 - 500 Kodiak Slope 16 16 41.96 12,217 6,491 17,943

Chirikof 301 - 500 Chirikof Slope 7 7 41.96 6,729 2,139 11,320

Yakutat 701 - 1000 Yakutat Slope 1 1 39.79 7,509

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 20 34.80 23,175 5,895 40,455

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Slope 6 5 32.72 4,975 0 13,564

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Gullies 2 2 27.95 3,095 0 30,890

Shumagin 501 - 700 Shumagin Slope 3 3 26.93 5,402 0 13,256

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 13 24.969 6,961 217 13,705

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kodiak Slope 7 6 23.433 3,802 0 8,561

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Deep Gullies 7 7 22.275 5,222 0 10,973

Southeastern 501 - 700 Southeastern Slope 2 2 19.81 2,047 0 4,201

Chirikof 701 - 1000 Chirikof Slope 3 3 18.583 5,697 1,385 10,009

Shumagin 701 - 1000 Shumagin Slope 2 2 10.69 2,071 0 15,016

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Slope 7 5 10.44 807 0 1,811

Shumagin 301 - 500 Shumagin Slope 7 7 9.73 2,462 0 5,696

Chirikof 201 - 300 Lower Shelikof Gully 17 15 9.42 9,432 4,603 14,261

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Gullies 9 9 8.62 2,624 189 5,058

Southeastern 201 - 300 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 5 4 7.78 875 0 1,990

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 10 6.23 7,528 0 20,718

Chirikof 201 - 300 Chirikof Slope 8 7 6.16 941 0 2,172

Kodiak 201 - 300 Upper Shelikof Gully 4 4 5.73 1,837 0 4,354

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 7 4.07 866 381 1,351

Yakutat 101 - 200 Fairweather Shelf 10 5 3.59 2,771 0 8,113

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 21 3.23 2,368 599 4,138

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 4 2.84 1,427 0 3,792

Yakutat 101 - 200 Middleton Shelf 10 7 1.992 1,463 0 3,378

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 8 1.696 666 0 1,486

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 6 1.524 640 78 1,202

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 3 0.991 649 0 1,490

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakataga Shelf 9 7 0.875 462 158 766

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 8 0.69 546 0 1,100

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 4 0.51 254 0 533

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 6 0.40 277 0 584

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakutat Flats 7 5 0.39 356 38 674

Kodiak 101 - 200 Barren Islands 18 7 0.38 412 64 761

Kodiak 1 - 100 Northern Kodiak Shallows 8 3 0.31 68 0 154

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 8 0.30 229 14 443

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 3 0.29 233 0 660

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 3 0.28 305 0 721

Yakutat 1 - 100 Middleton Shallows 8 4 0.17 116 0 251

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 10 0.17 119 0 268

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 4 0.10 56 0 118

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 4 0.085 67 0 140

Kodiak 1 - 100 Kenai Peninsula 9 1 0.075 39 0 130

Yakutat 1 - 100 Yakutat Shallows 11 4 0.065 65 4 126

Shumagin 101 - 200 West Shumagin Gully 4 1 0.065 15 0 62

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 1 0.015 21 0 64

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 1 0.00 4 0 11

113
Giant grenadier (Albatrossia pectoralis) 

 Giant grenadier was the third most abundant species caught in the 2009 survey (Table 2). 

They were caught throughout the survey area, although almost exclusively in slope strata at 

depths exceeding 300 m (Fig. 25, Tables 35-36). Approximately 97% of the biomass was found 

in the Shumagin, Chirikof, and Kodiak INPFC areas with most of the remainder in the Yakutat 

INPFC area. Giant grenadier occurred in 73% of tows in waters deeper than 300 m, including 27 

out of 28 tows deeper than 500 m, and over 99% of the estimated biomass was recorded at 

depths deeper than 300 m (Table 35). Mean CPUEs were very high in most of the strata where 

giant grenadier occurred. Mean weight generally declined with depth to 700 m as the smaller 

males made up a larger fraction of the total population at deeper depths (Fig. 26, Table 35). A 

relatively distinct length mode occurred around 25-30 cm (snout to anal fin insertion) at all 

depths and INPFC areas (except for Southeastern) for females, whereas males exhibited no 

discernable length mode. The sex ratio of the giant grenadier population in the survey area was 

dominated by females which comprised approximately 86% of the total estimated population. 

114
Table 35. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with giant grenadier, mean CPUE, biomass, and 

mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 40 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 2 5.81 1,620 0 4,807 3.314

301 - 500 7 7 140.83 35,646 12,741 58,551 3.173

501 - 700 3 3 373.48 74,905 0 176,865 2.505

701 - 1000 2 2 380.36 73,684 0 240,235 2.914

All depths 196 14 28.49 185,855 43,737 327,973 2.778

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 72 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 25 2 0.05 55 0 140 3.944

301 - 500 7 7 179.73 28,827 8,926 48,729 3.237

501 - 700 5 5 172.52 33,698 13,024 54,371 2.46

701 - 1000 3 3 112.16 34,384 0 77,535 2.745

All depths 190 17 14.25 96,964 47,354 146,574 2.759

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 125 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 31 4 0.62 711 0 1,792 3.667

301 - 500 16 13 100.46 29,252 10,925 47,580 3.036

501 - 700 4 4 291.35 50,836 0 111,257 2.405

701 - 1000 4 4 949.15 331,621 0 1,079,807 3.21

All depths 280 25 40.64 412,420 0 1,163,427 3.071

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 36 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 8 3 7.17 1,885 0 5,402 2.907

501 - 700 2 2 73.81 10,845 4,022 17,667 2.266

701 - 1000 1 1 35.63 6,725 --- --- 1.554

All depths 83 6 3.40 19,455 12,997 25,912 1.993

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 26 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 14 1 2.19 683 0 2,297 3.178

501 - 700 2 1 12.65 1,307 0 6,930 2.138

701 - 1000 2 2 13.56 1,636 0 3,428 1.84

All depths 74 4 1.29 3,625 0 7,878 2.114

All areas 1 - 100 335 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 299 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 109 8 0.66 2,386 0 5,691 3.425

301 - 500 52 31 75.28 96,294 63,509 129,078 3.143

501 - 700 16 15 209.09 171,590 69,741 273,440 2.447

701 - 1000 12 12 386.57 448,050 0 1,204,850 3.061

All depths 823 66 22.45 718,320 0 1,484,296 2.899

115
E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E EE

E

E

E E E

E E

EEE

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE E E

E

E

EE EE

E

E E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

EE

E E

E

E

EE

E

E

E EE E

E

E E E

E E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E E

E

E

E E E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E E

E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE E

E E

E

EE E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E EE

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

EE

E E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 25. -- Distribution and relative abundance of a giant grenadier from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Giant Grenadier

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< 14.98 

14.98 - 268.41

268.41 - 521.83

> 521.83 (max. = 3,257.91)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

116
E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE E

E

E

EE

E

E

E E E E

E

E

EE

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

EEE

EE

E E

E

E E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E EE E

E E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E EE E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

EE

E

E E E E

E E E

E

E

EE EE

E

E E E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

EE E EE

E E

E

E

E

E EE

E

E EE

E

E E

E

E

E EE E

E

E

E

EEE

E

EE

E

EE

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E E E E

EE

E E

E

E

E

EE

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 25. -- Continued (giant grenadier).

Cordova

117
n = 82

20 30 40 50

20

10

 0

10

20

SHUMAGIN

n = 2

20 30 40 50

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

CHIRIKOF

n = 19

20 30 40 50

KODIAK

 1 - 300 M

n = 482

20 30 40 50

20

10

 0

10

20 n = 405

20 30 40 50

n = 744

20 30 40 50

 301 - 500 M

n = 262

20 30 40 50

20

10

 0

10

20 n = 402

20 30 40 50

n = 283

20 30 40 50

 501 - 700 M

n = 209

20 30 40 50

20

10

 0

10

20 n = 192

20 30 40 50

n = 296

20 30 40 50

701 - 1000 M

n = 1,035

20 30 40 50

20

10

 0

10

20

n = 1,001

20 30 40 50

n = 1,342

20 30 40 50

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 26. -- Size composition of giant grenadier from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom 

trawl survey, by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission 

statistical areas and depth intervals. 

118
No data

20 30 40 50

20

10

 0

10

20

YAKUTAT

No data

20 30 40 50

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

SOUTHEASTERN

n = 105

20 30 40 50

TOTAL

 1 - 300 M

n = 47

20 30 40 50

20

10

 0

10

20

n = 17

20 30 40 50

n = 1,695

20 30 40 50

 301 - 500 M

n = 174

20 30 40 50

20

10

 0

10

20

n = 30

20 30 40 50

n = 1,151

20 30 40 50

 501 - 700 M

n = 59

20 30 40 50

20

10

 0

10

20

n = 41

20 30 40 50

n = 797

20 30 40 50

701 - 1000 M

n = 280

20 30 40 50

20

10

 0

10

20

n = 88

20 30 40 50

n = 3,746

20 30 40 50

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 26. -- Continued (giant grenadier). 

119
Table 36. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for giant grenadier sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Kodiak 701 - 1000 Kodiak Slope 4 4 949.15 331,621 0 1,189,232

Shumagin 701 - 1000 Shumagin Slope 2 2 380.36 73,684 0 565,480

Shumagin 501 - 700 Shumagin Slope 3 3 373.48 74,905 0 212,785

Kodiak 501 - 700 Kodiak Slope 4 4 291.35 50,836 0 120,093

Chirikof 301 - 500 Chirikof Slope 7 7 179.73 28,827 8,236 49,419

Chirikof 501 - 700 Chirikof Slope 5 5 172.52 33,698 11,376 56,019

Shumagin 301 - 500 Shumagin Slope 7 7 140.83 35,646 11,947 59,345

Chirikof 701 - 1000 Chirikof Slope 3 3 112.16 34,384 0 92,737

Kodiak 301 - 500 Kodiak Slope 16 13 100.46 29,252 10,830 47,675

Yakutat 501 - 700 Yakutat Slope 2 2 73.81 10,845 0 30,989

Yakutat 701 - 1000 Yakutat Slope 1 1 35.63 6,725

Southeastern 701 - 1000 Southeastern Slope 2 2 13.56 1,636 0 6,929

Southeastern 501 - 700 Southeastern Slope 2 1 12.645 1,307 0 17,911

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Gullies 2 1 9.167 1,015 0 13,912

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 2 5.81 1,620 0 4,823

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Slope 6 2 5.723 870 0 2,820

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kodiak Slope 7 3 3.551 576 0 1,732

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Deep Gullies 7 1 2.912 683 0 2,353

Kodiak 201 - 300 Upper Shelikof Gully 4 1 0.42 134 0 562

Chirikof 201 - 300 Chirikof Slope 8 2 0.36 55 0 142

120
ROCKFISHES 

Pacific ocean perch (Sebastes alutus) 

 Pacific ocean perch was the fifth most abundant species caught in the 2009 survey, and was 

by far the most abundant and widely distributed rockfish species encountered in the survey 

(Table 2). They were caught throughout the survey area, in 51 of the 59 survey strata at all 

depths to 500 m, with the highest concentrations on the Chirikof slope and outer shelf (Fig. 27, 

Table 38). The CPUEs were by far highest in the 201-300 m depth range in all INPFC areas 

except the Chirikof area, where the densities were somewhat higher in the 101-200 m depth 

range (Table 37). Approximately 96% of the estimated population biomass was recorded in the 

101-300 m depth range and over 99% in the 101-500 m range. Mean weight generally increased 

with depth to 700 m. The proportion of fish smaller than 30 cm was extremely small at depths 

greater than 200 m in the Shumagin, Chirikof, and Kodiak INPC areas and at depths greater than 

300 m in the Yakutat and Southeastern INPFC areas (Fig. 28, Table 37). The sex ratio of the 

Pacific ocean perch population in the survey area was relatively close to even with males 

accounting for approximately 54% of the total estimated population. 

121
Table 37. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with Pacific ocean perch, mean CPUE, biomass, 

and mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 30 0.98 4,041 0 11,913 0.173

101 - 200 40 18 12.77 18,739 0 44,730 0.421

201 - 300 17 16 31.47 8,772 4,619 12,925 0.616

301 - 500 7 3 0.38 96 0 242 0.615

501 - 700 3 1 0.13 27 0 111 0.861

701 - 1000 2 1 0.33 64 0 341 0.547

All depths 196 69 4.87 31,739 4,340 59,138 0.385

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 16 0.09 247 85 408 0.151

101 - 200 72 41 60.61 144,554 26,931 262,176 0.652

201 - 300 25 11 56.15 64,836 0 206,448 0.672

301 - 500 7 4 0.75 120 0 295 0.641

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 72 30.82 209,756 38,062 381,451 0.656

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 10 0.04 143 0 332 0.213

101 - 200 125 91 43.69 189,296 74,180 304,411 0.588

201 - 300 31 27 50.20 57,681 16,551 98,811 0.67

301 - 500 16 8 1.93 563 0 1,149 0.637

501 - 700 4 1 0.31 54 0 205 0.716

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 137 24.41 247,737 126,843 368,631 0.604

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 5 0.01 10 1 18 0.047

101 - 200 36 30 3.74 10,983 3,388 18,577 0.137

201 - 300 17 17 148.42 76,734 0 195,809 0.459

301 - 500 8 7 35.76 9,397 0 20,751 0.689

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 1 0.34 64 --- --- 0.872

All depths 83 60 16.99 97,188 0 215,209 0.372

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 4 0.03 19 0 41 0.082

101 - 200 26 18 24.22 26,850 0 56,627 0.6

201 - 300 19 17 47.31 23,901 9,916 37,886 0.583

301 - 500 14 10 39.28 12,243 5,597 18,889 0.771

501 - 700 2 1 0.16 17 0 88 0.88

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 50 22.48 63,029 30,256 95,802 0.619

All areas 1 - 100 335 65 0.35 4,459 0 12,336 0.171

101 - 200 299 198 31.92 390,420 225,072 555,769 0.548

201 - 300 109 88 64.34 231,925 56,951 406,899 0.573

301 - 500 52 32 17.53 22,419 9,570 35,267 0.729

501 - 700 16 3 0.12 98 0 246 0.776

701 - 1000 12 2 0.11 128 0 405 0.672

All depths 823 388 20.29 649,449 413,928 884,970 0.553

122
E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

EE

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

EE E

E

E

EE E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

EE

E E E

E

EE

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

EE EE

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E EE

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 27. -- Distribution and relative abundance of a Pacific ocean perch from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Pacific Ocean Perch

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< 33.89

33.89 - 414.34

414.34 - 794.79

> 794.79 (max. = 3,233.74)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

123
E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

EE EE

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E E E E

EE

E

E E E

E

E EE

E

E E

E

E

E EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 27. -- Continued (Pacific ocean perch).

Cordova

124
n = 298

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

10

 5

 0

 5

10

SHUMAGIN

n = 137

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

CHIRIKOF

n = 39

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

KODIAK

 1 - 100 M

n = 1,235

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

10

 5

 0

 5

10

n = 2,557

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 7,718

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

 101 - 200 M

n = 1,362

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

10

 5

 0

 5

10 n = 747

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 2,300

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

 201 - 300 M

n = 14

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

10

 5

 0

 5

10 n = 21

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 127

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

301 - 500 M

n = 2,909

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

10

 5

 0

 5

10

n = 3,462

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 10,184

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 28. -- Size composition of Pacific ocean perch from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska 

bottom trawl survey, by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission 

statistical areas and depth intervals. 

125
n = 6

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

10

 5

 0

 5

10

YAKUTAT

n = 9

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

SOUTHEASTERN

n = 1,204

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

TOTAL

 1 - 100 M

n = 1,501

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

10

 5

 0

 5

10

n = 1,166

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 14,177

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

 101 - 200 M

n = 1,593

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

10

 5

 0

 5

10

n = 1,773

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 7,775

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

 201 - 300 M

n = 492

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

10

 5

 0

 5

10

n = 1,000

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 1,654

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

301 - 500 M

n = 3,592

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

10

 5

 0

 5

10

n = 3,948

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 24,095

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 28. -- Continued (Pacific ocean perch). 

126
Table 38. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for Pacific ocean perch sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Chirikof 201 - 300 Chirikof Slope 8 7 421.29 64,387 0 209,620

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 24 264.50 132,534 15,219 249,850

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Gullies 9 9 188.65 57,400 0 177,436

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Slope 7 7 157.63 12,179 5,303 19,055

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kodiak Slope 7 7 156.23 25,350 0 62,077

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 21 124.30 62,470 0 125,470

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 10 91.64 72,502 0 167,414

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 8 90.89 19,335 791 37,878

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 35 64.91 47,622 26,179 69,065

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 9 62.74 26,329 0 56,466

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Slope 6 5 61.12 9,294 0 21,224

Southeastern 201 - 300 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 5 5 59.91 6,742 3,237 10,246

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 20 48.549 32,331 4,649 60,013

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 12 43.695 17,160 3,343 30,976

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 16 31.465 8,772 4,600 12,945

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 14 22.874 18,651 0 44,679

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 14 15.468 11,964 0 27,258

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakataga Shelf 9 8 7.728 4,078 0 10,008

Yakutat 101 - 200 Fairweather Shelf 10 8 5.78 4,470 0 10,014

Shumagin 1 - 100 Fox Islands 19 7 4.56 3,796 0 11,696

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 16 3.15 3,802 610 6,994

Kodiak 101 - 200 Barren Islands 18 9 2.64 2,901 0 6,976

Kodiak 301 - 500 Kodiak Slope 16 8 1.93 563 0 1,152

Yakutat 101 - 200 Middleton Shelf 10 9 1.75 1,283 0 2,749

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakutat Flats 7 5 1.28 1,153 0 2,631

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Gullies 2 2 0.93 103 45 161

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 9 0.76 521 0 1,076

Chirikof 301 - 500 Chirikof Slope 7 4 0.75 120 0 302

Chirikof 201 - 300 Lower Shelikof Gully 17 4 0.449 450 0 956

Shumagin 101 - 200 West Shumagin Gully 4 3 0.386 88 0 361

Shumagin 301 - 500 Shumagin Slope 7 3 0.377 96 0 247

Yakutat 701 - 1000 Yakutat Slope 1 1 0.34 64

Shumagin 701 - 1000 Shumagin Slope 2 1 0.33 64 0 883

Kodiak 501 - 700 Kodiak Slope 4 1 0.31 54 0 228

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Deep Gullies 7 3 0.27 64 0 148

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 10 0.25 184 42 326

Southeastern 501 - 700 Southeastern Slope 2 1 0.16 17 0 228

Shumagin 501 - 700 Shumagin Slope 3 1 0.13 27 0 140

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 8 0.10 132 0 264

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 10 0.08 105 5 204

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 6 0.07 109 0 297

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 4 0.05 54 0 137

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 3 0.05 55 0 160

Kodiak 1 - 100 Kenai Peninsula 9 2 0.038 20 0 53

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 4 0.029 19 0 42

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 2 0.024 14 0 35

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 5 0.01 9 0 18

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 2 0.01 9 0 23

Yakutat 1 - 100 Middleton Shallows 8 2 0.01 4 0 11

Yakutat 1 - 100 Yakutat Shallows 11 3 0.01 5 0 12

Shumagin 101 - 200 Sanak Gully 6 1 0.00 1 0 2

127
Northern rockfish (Sebastes polyspinis)

 Northern rockfish was the second most abundant rockfish species caught in the 2009 survey 

(Table 2). They were found primarily in the western and central Gulf of Alaska with about 91% 

of the estimated biomass in the Shumagin and Kodiak INPFC areas and almost all of the 

remainder in the Chirikof area (Fig. 29, Table 39). They were almost exclusively found in 

waters shallower than 200 m, with less than 1% deeper than 200 m (Table 39). The highest 

CPUEs of northern rockfish by far were in the 101-200 m depth range on the Shumagin Outer 

Shelf (Table 40). The length distribution of northern rockfish caught during the survey was 

confined to a relatively narrow range between approximately 30 and 45 cm in all areas and depth 

ranges with a mode around 40 cm for both sexes in the three westernmost INPFC areas (Fig. 30). 

 Males were considerably more abundant in the survey area and accounted for approximately 

57% of the total estimated northern rockfish population. 

128
Table 39. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with northern rockfish, mean CPUE, biomass, 

and mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 15 4.25 17,542 0 38,519 0.995

101 - 200 40 17 18.45 27,075 0 63,801 0.962

201 - 300 17 7 0.24 67 12 121 0.669

301 - 500 7 1 0.04 10 0 34 0.681

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 40 6.85 44,693 3,161 86,224 0.974

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 11 2.48 6,468 0 13,904 1

101 - 200 72 25 0.97 2,303 636 3,969 0.892

201 - 300 25 6 0.06 72 9 134 0.67

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 42 1.30 8,842 1,230 16,455 0.966

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 6 4.33 16,671 0 49,819 1.104

101 - 200 125 36 4.50 19,486 0 42,248 0.898

201 - 300 31 3 0.11 130 0 321 0.642

301 - 500 16 1 0.02 4 0 14 0.609

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 46 3.58 36,291 0 75,726 0.981

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 1 0.01 25 0 83 0.784

101 - 200 36 1 0.01 20 0 66 0.702

201 - 300 17 2 0.05 25 0 69 0.642

301 - 500 8 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 4 0.01 70 0 150 0.705

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 26 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 14 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All areas 1 - 100 335 33 3.15 40,705 1,179 80,232 1.038

101 - 200 299 79 4.00 48,883 6,303 91,463 0.932

201 - 300 109 18 0.08 293 86 500 0.655

301 - 500 52 2 0.01 15 0 40 0.658

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 132 2.81 89,896 32,121 147,671 0.976

129
E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E EE

E

E E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E E

E

EE E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E E

E

E

E E E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

EE

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

EE

E

E

E EE E

E

E E

EEE

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 29. -- Distribution and relative abundance of a northern rockfish from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Northern Rockfish

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< 3.55

3.55 - 66.94

66.94 - 130.34

> 130.34 (max. = 496.54)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

130
E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E E

E E

E E E E

EE

E

E E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

EEE

EE

E E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E E

E E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E EE E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

EEE

E

EE

E

E E E

E E

E

E E

E

E EE

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E EE

E

E E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E EE

E E

E

E

E

E

E EE

E

E

E

EE

E E

E E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E E

EE

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E E

E

EE

E

E

E EE E

E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 29. -- Continued (northern rockfish).

Cordova

131
n = 576

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

14

 7

 0

 7

14

SHUMAGIN

n = 293

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

CHIRIKOF

n = 208

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

KODIAK

 1 - 100 M

n = 376

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

14

 7

 0

 7

14 n = 336

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

n = 1,009

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

 101 - 200 M

n = 15

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

14

 7

 0

 7

14 n = 11

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

n = 18

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

 201 - 300 M

n = 1

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

14

 7

 0

 7

14

No data

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

n = 1

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

301 - 500 M

n = 968

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

14

 7

 0

 7

14 n = 640

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

n = 1,236

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 30. -- Size composition of northern rockfish from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska 

bottom trawl survey, by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission 

statistical areas and depth intervals. 

132
n = 1

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

14

 7

 0

 7

14

YAKUTAT

No data

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

SOUTHEASTERN

n = 1,087

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

TOTAL

 1 - 100 M

n = 1

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

14

 7

 0

 7

14

No data

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

n = 1,722

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

 101 - 200 M

n = 3

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

14

 7

 0

 7

14

No data

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

n = 47

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

 201 - 300 M

No data

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

14

 7

 0

 7

14

No data

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

n = 2

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

301 - 500 M

n = 5

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

14

 7

 0

 7

14

No data

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

n = 2,849

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 30. -- Continued (northern rockfish). 

133
Table 40. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for northern rockfish sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 16 32.99 26,898 0 63,676

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 4 10.79 16,624 0 50,117

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 12 10.04 5,046 0 13,733

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 5 9.60 11,908 0 32,347

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 1 8.04 9,707 0 30,102

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 18 5.36 3,929 0 9,366

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 20 4.21 2,111 453 3,770

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 6 4.20 3,069 0 8,067

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 5 3.15 3,399 0 9,170

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 8 2.75 3,760 0 7,829

Shumagin 1 - 100 Fox Islands 19 1 2.25 1,871 0 5,801

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 5 1.02 804 0 2,384

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kodiak Slope 7 2 0.566 92 0 297

Shumagin 101 - 200 Sanak Gully 6 1 0.416 177 0 631

Chirikof 201 - 300 Chirikof Slope 8 4 0.276 42 0 94

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 5 0.247 191 0 449

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 7 0.238 67 12 121

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 2 0.08 46 0 139

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Gullies 9 1 0.06 19 0 62

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 1 0.06 38 0 118

Shumagin 301 - 500 Shumagin Slope 7 1 0.04 10 0 35

Yakutat 1 - 100 Middleton Shallows 8 1 0.04 25 0 84

Chirikof 201 - 300 Lower Shelikof Gully 17 2 0.03 29 0 72

Yakutat 101 - 200 Middleton Shelf 10 1 0.03 20 0 67

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 1 0.03 6 0 20

Kodiak 301 - 500 Kodiak Slope 16 1 0.02 4 0 14

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 1 0.01 3 0 10

134
Rougheye rockfish (Sebastes aleutianus)

 Rougheye rockfish were found throughout the survey area primarily on the upper continental 

slope and in the deeper gullies in the 201-500 m depth range, where approximately 78% of its 

biomass was estimated to be (Fig. 31, Tables 41-42). The highest CPUEs were generally 

recorded in the 301-500 m range where rougheye rockfish were caught in approximately 75% of 

the tows (Table 41). Fish size generally increased with depth to 700 m (Fig. 32, Table 41). The 

only relatively distinct length mode occurred at around 48 cm FL for both males and females 

captured between 301 and 500 m in the Kodiak and Southeastern INPFC areas. The sex ratio of 

the rougheye rockfish population in the survey area was very close to even with males making 

up approximately 51% of the total estimated population. 

135
Table 41. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with rougheye rockfish, mean CPUE, biomass, 

and mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 40 3 0.03 50 0 120 0.763

201 - 300 17 8 0.73 204 0 498 1.001

301 - 500 7 4 2.00 506 0 1,400 1.909

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 15 0.12 760 0 1,692 1.422

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 1 --- 13 0 41 0.69

101 - 200 72 12 0.17 411 81 742 0.746

201 - 300 25 15 0.51 595 219 970 0.99

301 - 500 7 4 2.36 378 0 916 1.523

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 32 0.21 1,397 725 2,068 0.984

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 4 0.04 162 0 381 0.63

101 - 200 125 33 0.79 3,419 1,319 5,518 0.531

201 - 300 31 24 4.66 5,355 1,663 9,047 0.716

301 - 500 16 13 35.89 10,451 0 22,057 1.723

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 74 1.91 19,387 7,570 31,205 0.958

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 3 0.07 114 0 325 0.08

101 - 200 36 23 0.90 2,631 0 5,324 0.303

201 - 300 17 14 2.08 1,077 274 1,879 0.642

301 - 500 8 6 2.46 646 0 1,466 1.148

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 46 0.78 4,468 1,588 7,347 0.362

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 2 0.20 128 0 381 0.295

101 - 200 26 4 0.11 122 0 269 0.196

201 - 300 19 6 8.96 4,526 0 13,742 1.484

301 - 500 14 12 5.04 1,572 518 2,626 1.44

501 - 700 2 1 0.32 33 0 177 1.77

701 - 1000 2 1 0.28 34 0 178 1.591

All depths 74 26 2.29 6,415 0 15,725 1.224

All areas 1 - 100 335 10 0.03 418 42 794 0.195

101 - 200 299 75 0.54 6,633 3,367 9,899 0.405

201 - 300 109 67 3.26 11,756 3,429 20,084 0.904

301 - 500 52 39 10.60 13,553 1,896 25,209 1.646

501 - 700 16 1 0.04 33 0 177 1.77

701 - 1000 12 1 0.03 34 0 178 1.591

All depths 823 193 1.01 32,427 18,385 46,468 0.815

136
E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E EE

E

E

E E E

E

E E

EEE

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E EE E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

EE

E E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E E E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

EE

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE E E

E

E

EE EE

E

E

E

E E E

E

E E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE E

EE E

E E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E E

E

E E

EE E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E E E E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 31. -- Distribution and relative abundance of a rougheye rockfish from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Rougheye Rockfish

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< 1.61

1.61 - 27.74

27.74 - 53.86

> 53.86 (max. = 273.44)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

137
E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E EE E E

E E

EE E

E E

E

E EE E E

E

E

E

E

E EEE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

EE

E

E E E

E

EE

EE E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E EE E

E

E E

E

E

EE

E EE E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE

E

E

E E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 31. -- Continued (rougheye rockfish).

Cordova

138
No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

8

4

0

4

8

SHUMAGIN

n = 1

10 20 30 40 50 60

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

CHIRIKOF

n = 28

10 20 30 40 50 60

KODIAK

 1 - 100 M

n = 5

10 20 30 40 50 60

8

4

0

4

8 n = 34

10 20 30 40 50 60

n = 341

10 20 30 40 50 60

 101 - 200 M

n = 34

10 20 30 40 50 60

8

4

0

4

8 n = 39

10 20 30 40 50 60

n = 616

10 20 30 40 50 60

 201 - 300 M

n = 15

10 20 30 40 50 60

8

4

0

4

8 n = 28

10 20 30 40 50 60

n = 472

10 20 30 40 50 60

301 - 500 M

n = 54

10 20 30 40 50 60

8

4

0

4

8 n = 102

10 20 30 40 50 60

n = 1,457

10 20 30 40 50 60

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 32. -- Size composition of rougheye rockfish from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska 

 bottom trawl survey, by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission 

 statistical areas and depth intervals. 

139
n = 45

10 20 30 40 50 60

8

4

0

4

8

YAKUTAT

n = 17

10 20 30 40 50 60

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

SOUTHEASTERN

n = 109

10 20 30 40 50 60

TOTAL

 1 - 100 M

n = 306

10 20 30 40 50 60

8

4

0

4

8

n = 34

10 20 30 40 50 60

n = 720

10 20 30 40 50 60

 101 - 200 M

n = 138

10 20 30 40 50 60

8

4

0

4

8

n = 168

10 20 30 40 50 60

n = 995

10 20 30 40 50 60

 201 - 300 M

n = 51

10 20 30 40 50 60

8

4

0

4

8

n = 214

10 20 30 40 50 60

n = 780

10 20 30 40 50 60

301 - 500 M

n = 540

10 20 30 40 50 60

8

4

0

4

8

n = 433

10 20 30 40 50 60

n = 2,586

10 20 30 40 50 60

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 32. -- Continued (rougheye rockfish). 

140
Table 42. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for rougheye rockfish sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Southeastern 201 - 300 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 5 3 38.79 4,365 0 14,312

Kodiak 301 - 500 Kodiak Slope 16 13 35.89 10,451 0 22,117

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Slope 7 6 14.62 1,130 0 2,271

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kodiak Slope 7 6 8.34 1,353 0 3,195

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 16 5.86 3,905 533 7,277

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Slope 6 5 4.21 640 0 1,501

Yakutat 101 - 200 Middleton Shelf 10 10 3.17 2,328 0 5,052

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Gullies 9 7 2.77 843 43 1,643

Chirikof 301 - 500 Chirikof Slope 7 4 2.36 378 0 935

Shumagin 301 - 500 Shumagin Slope 7 4 2.00 506 0 1,431

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Deep Gullies 7 6 1.89 443 64 821

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 11 1.61 1,950 155 3,745

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 12 1.514 1,198 97 2,299

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 7 1.098 234 4 463

Chirikof 201 - 300 Chirikof Slope 8 6 0.826 126 0 266

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 8 0.732 204 0 499

Chirikof 201 - 300 Lower Shelikof Gully 17 9 0.467 468 112 825

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 3 0.41 161 0 385

Southeastern 501 - 700 Southeastern Slope 2 1 0.32 33 0 458

Kodiak 201 - 300 Upper Shelikof Gully 4 2 0.31 98 0 357

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 7 0.29 225 0 502

Southeastern 701 - 1000 Southeastern Slope 2 1 0.28 34 0 459

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakataga Shelf 9 7 0.26 135 0 274

Kodiak 101 - 200 Barren Islands 18 3 0.20 221 0 539

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 2 0.20 115 0 327

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 2 0.20 128 0 384

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 4 0.18 122 0 270

Yakutat 1 - 100 Middleton Shallows 8 3 0.17 114 0 330

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 4 0.16 177 0 371

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakutat Flats 7 3 0.13 117 0 308

Yakutat 101 - 200 Fairweather Shelf 10 3 0.065 51 0 153

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 2 0.06 49 0 119

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Gullies 2 1 0.056 6 0 86

Kodiak 1 - 100 Kenai Peninsula 9 1 0.05 27 0 88

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 6 0.04 32 3 61

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 1 0.04 19 0 57

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 1 0.02 10 0 29

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 1 0.02 13 0 41

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 1 0.01 20 0 61

Shumagin 101 - 200 West Shumagin Gully 4 1 0.01 1 0 5

141
Blackspotted rockfish (Sebastes melanostictus) 

 Blackspotted rockfish were found throughout the survey area primarily on the upper 

continental slope and in the deeper gullies in the 201-500 m depth range, where approximately 

97% of their biomass was estimated to be (Fig. 33, Tables 43-44). The highest CPUEs by far 

were recorded in the 301-500 m range in all INPFC areas where blackspotted rockfish were 

caught in approximately 73% of the tows (Table 43). Fish size generally increased with depth 

(Fig. 34, Table 43). The length mode for both males and females captured between 301 and 

500 m was approximately 45 cm FL in all INPFC areas except Yakutat where it was difficult to 

discern a mode due to small sample size. The sex ratio of the blackspotted rockfish population 

in the survey area was almost exactly even.

142
Table 43. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with blackspotted rockfish, mean CPUE, 

biomass, and mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, 

by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 1 <.01 6 0 19 0.592

101 - 200 40 6 0.25 374 0 792 0.416

201 - 300 17 12 2.18 607 73 1,140 0.778

301 - 500 7 5 3.84 972 0 2,191 1.33

501 - 700 3 1 0.23 46 0 193 1.5

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 25 0.31 2,005 694 3,316 0.818

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 72 5 0.03 72 1 143 0.906

201 - 300 25 7 0.27 310 66 554 1.126

301 - 500 7 4 7.66 1,229 0 2,934 1.39

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 16 0.24 1,611 19 3,203 1.3

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 125 7 0.03 112 6 218 0.297

201 - 300 31 15 2.30 2,645 582 4,708 0.829

301 - 500 16 13 26.81 7,807 179 15,435 1.374

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 35 1.04 10,564 2,891 18,237 1.142

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 36 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 5 0.53 273 0 716 0.434

301 - 500 8 5 1.00 263 0 583 1.346

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 10 0.09 536 25 1,047 0.651

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 26 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 19 6 1.38 699 0 1,696 0.731

301 - 500 14 11 8.78 2,737 0 7,702 1.425

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 17 1.23 3,436 0 7,994 1.195

All areas 1 - 100 335 1 --- 6 0 19 0.592

101 - 200 299 18 0.05 558 125 990 0.411

201 - 300 109 45 1.26 4,533 2,184 6,882 0.778

301 - 500 52 38 10.17 13,009 4,146 21,872 1.382

501 - 700 16 1 0.06 46 0 193 1.5

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 103 0.57 18,152 9,131 27,172 1.091

143
E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE

E

E EE

E

E E

E

E EE

E

E

E

E

E

EE

EE

E E

E

E

E

E

E E EE

E

E E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E E

E

E

EE EE

E

EE

EE

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E EE

E

E

E

E

E E E EE

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

EE E E E

E

E

E E

EE E

E E

E

E

E E

EE

E E

E

E E E

E

E E

E E E

E E

E

E

E E EE

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

EE

E E

E

EE EEE

E

EE

E E E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E E E

E

E

E E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 33. -- Distribution and relative abundance of a blackspotted rockfish from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Blackspotted Rockfish

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< 1.14

1.14 - 21.91

21.91 - 42.69

> 42.69 (max. = 194.62)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

144
E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE EE

E

EE

EE

E

EE E

EE E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE E

E

E

E

E EEE

E

E

E

E

E E

E EE E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE

E E

E

EE EE

E

E

EE

E E E

E

E E E E

E

E

EE

E

E E

E E EE

E

EE E

E E

E E

E E E

EE

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E E EE

E

E E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

EE

E E E

E

E E

E

E E

E E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E E

E

E E

EE

EEE

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 33. -- Continued (blackspotted rockfish).

Cordova

145
n = 1

10 20 30 40 50 60

9

6

3

0

3

6

9

SHUMAGIN

No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

CHIRIKOF

No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

KODIAK

 1 - 100 M

n = 75

10 20 30 40 50 60

9

6

3

0

3

6

9 n = 6

10 20 30 40 50 60

n = 17

10 20 30 40 50 60

 101 - 200 M

n = 127

10 20 30 40 50 60

9

6

3

0

3

6

9 n = 25

10 20 30 40 50 60

n = 260

10 20 30 40 50 60

 201 - 300 M

n = 44

10 20 30 40 50 60

9

6

3

0

3

6

9 n = 96

10 20 30 40 50 60

n = 583

10 20 30 40 50 60

301 - 500 M

n = 247

10 20 30 40 50 60

9

6

3

0

3

6

9 n = 127

10 20 30 40 50 60

n = 860

10 20 30 40 50 60

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 34. -- Size composition of blackspotted rockfish from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska 

 bottom trawl survey, by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission 

 statistical areas and depth intervals. 

146
No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

9

6

3

0

3

6

9

YAKUTAT

No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

SOUTHEASTERN

n = 19

10 20 30 40 50 60

TOTAL

 1 - 100 M

No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

9

6

3

0

3

6

9

No data

10 20 30 40 50 60

n = 98

10 20 30 40 50 60

 101 - 200 M

n = 58

10 20 30 40 50 60

9

6

3

0

3

6

9

n = 87

10 20 30 40 50 60

n = 557

10 20 30 40 50 60

 201 - 300 M

n = 19

10 20 30 40 50 60

9

6

3

0

3

6

9

n = 171

10 20 30 40 50 60

n = 913

10 20 30 40 50 60

301 - 500 M

n = 77

10 20 30 40 50 60

9

6

3

0

3

6

9

n = 258

10 20 30 40 50 60

n = 1,569

10 20 30 40 50 60

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 34. -- Continued (blackspotted rockfish). 

147
Table 44. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for blackspotted rockfish sorted by 

descending CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Slope 7 7 32.22 2,490 0 7,621

Kodiak 301 - 500 Kodiak Slope 16 13 26.81 7,807 139 15,475

Chirikof 301 - 500 Chirikof Slope 7 4 7.66 1,229 0 2,993

Shumagin 301 - 500 Shumagin Slope 7 5 3.84 972 0 2,233

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 10 3.54 2,359 303 4,415

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 12 2.18 607 70 1,143

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kodiak Slope 7 5 1.76 286 7 566

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 4 1.69 664 0 1,665

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Slope 6 4 1.50 229 0 564

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 4 1.12 238 0 695

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Deep Gullies 7 4 1.06 248 6 490

Chirikof 201 - 300 Chirikof Slope 8 4 0.89 135 0 291

Shumagin 101 - 200 West Shumagin Gully 4 2 0.493 112 0 399

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 4 0.321 262 0 638

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Gullies 2 1 0.316 35 0 479

Southeastern 201 - 300 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 5 2 0.309 35 0 128

Shumagin 501 - 700 Shumagin Slope 3 1 0.23 46 0 245

Chirikof 201 - 300 Lower Shelikof Gully 17 3 0.175 175 0 378

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Gullies 9 1 0.11 34 0 114

Kodiak 101 - 200 Barren Islands 18 2 0.05 59 0 145

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 3 0.04 30 0 67

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 1 0.03 16 0 48

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 2 0.02 29 0 84

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 1 0.02 26 0 79

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 1 0.02 17 0 52

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 1 0.01 6 0 19

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 2 0.01 7 0 17

148
Dusky rockfish (Sebastes variabilis)

 Dusky rockfish was the fourth most abundant rockfish species caught in the 2009 survey 

(Table 2). Dusky rockfish were found throughout the survey area, exclusively in water depths 

less than 300 m, with approximately 91% of its estimated biomass in the 101 to 200 m depth 

range (Fig. 35, Table 45). The highest CPUEs were recorded on the Kodiak Outer Shelf, 

Yakutat Flats and the Portlock Flats which, combined, accounted for over 58% of the estimated 

biomass even though these three strata constitute less than 7% of the survey area (Table 46). 

There was no general trend in size with depth although fish smaller than about 40 cm FL were 

confined almost exclusively to depths less than 100 m (Fig. 36). The sex ratio of the dusky 

rockfish population in the survey area was relatively even with males accounting for 

approximately 52% of the total estimated population. 

149
Table 45. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with dusky rockfish, mean CPUE, biomass, and 

mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 12 0.27 1,131 31 2,231 1.167

101 - 200 40 5 0.18 264 7 521 1.365

201 - 300 17 1 0.03 9 0 27 1.42

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 18 0.22 1,404 275 2,532 1.201

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 5 0.18 475 0 953 0.934

101 - 200 72 19 1.49 3,556 0 7,968 1.52

201 - 300 25 3 0.04 44 0 107 1.235

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 27 0.60 4,075 0 8,508 1.413

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 6 0.58 2,243 0 5,732 0.419

101 - 200 125 34 8.83 38,242 6,076 70,408 1.726

201 - 300 31 4 0.31 351 0 746 1.539

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 44 4.02 40,836 8,475 73,197 1.472

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 1 0.02 36 0 116 0.928

101 - 200 36 6 7.81 22,936 0 67,264 1.729

201 - 300 17 8 4.08 2,110 0 5,178 1.648

301 - 500 8 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 15 4.39 25,082 0 69,522 1.72

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 26 7 0.63 695 0 1,714 1.469

201 - 300 19 2 0.06 31 0 78 1.536

301 - 500 14 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 9 0.26 726 0 1,747 1.472

All areas 1 - 100 335 24 0.30 3,886 231 7,540 0.565

101 - 200 299 71 5.37 65,692 11,585 119,800 1.709

201 - 300 109 18 0.71 2,545 0 5,585 1.62

301 - 500 52 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 113 2.25 72,123 17,786 126,460 1.539

150
E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E E

EEE

EE

E

EE

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

EE EE

E

E E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

EE

E E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E E E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

EE E

E E

E

EE E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

EE

E E

E E

E

E

E E E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

EE

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E E

E E

E

E E

E EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

EE

E E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 35. -- Distribution and relative abundance of a dusky rockfish from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Dusky Rockfish

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< 2.50

2.50 - 51.43

51.43 - 100.36

> 100.36 (max. = 544.72)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

151
E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

EE

E

E

E E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E E

EE

E

E E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E EE E

E E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E E E

E E

E E

E E

E

E EE

E

E E

E

E

EE E

E E E

E

E

E

E

EE EE

E

E E E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E EE

E E

E

E

E

E EE

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E EE EEE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

EE

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 35. -- Continued (dusky rockfish).

Cordova

152
n = 72

20 30 40 50

14

 7

 0

 7

14

SHUMAGIN

n = 42

20 30 40 50

MALES

FEMALES

CHIRIKOF

n = 218

20 30 40 50

KODIAK

 1 - 100 M

n = 17

20 30 40 50

14

 7

 0

 7

14 n = 222

20 30 40 50

n = 1,089

20 30 40 50

 101 - 200 M

n = 1

20 30 40 50

14

 7

 0

 7

14 n = 5

20 30 40 50

n = 18

20 30 40 50

 201 - 300 M

No data

20 30 40 50

14

 7

 0

 7

14

No data

20 30 40 50

No data

20 30 40 50

301 - 500 M

n = 90

20 30 40 50

14

 7

 0

 7

14 n = 269

20 30 40 50

n = 1,325

20 30 40 50

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 36. -- Size composition of dusky rockfish from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom 

 trawl survey, by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission 

 statistical areas and depth intervals. 

153
n = 1

20 30 40 50

14

 7

 0

 7

14

YAKUTAT

No data

20 30 40 50

MALES

FEMALES

SOUTHEASTERN

n = 338

20 30 40 50

TOTAL

 1 - 100 M

n = 191

20 30 40 50

14

 7

 0

 7

14

n = 30

20 30 40 50

n = 1,549

20 30 40 50

 101 - 200 M

n = 116

20 30 40 50

14

 7

 0

 7

14

n = 2

20 30 40 50

n = 142

20 30 40 50

 201 - 300 M

No data

20 30 40 50

14

 7

 0

 7

14

No data

20 30 40 50

No data

20 30 40 50

301 - 500 M

n = 308

20 30 40 50

14

 7

 0

 7

14

n = 32

20 30 40 50

n = 2,024

20 30 40 50

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 36. -- Continued (dusky rockfish). 

154
Table 46. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for dusky rockfish sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 12 22.41 11,261 0 32,059

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakutat Flats 7 3 20.87 18,850 0 63,741

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 16 16.19 11,881 0 27,137

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 3 11.15 13,471 0 33,123

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 6 9.41 2,001 0 5,142

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakataga Shelf 9 3 7.74 4,085 0 12,947

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 7 3.69 2,854 0 7,210

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 2 2.96 1,708 0 5,126

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 3 2.06 1,630 0 4,881

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 4 1.48 622 0 1,650

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 12 1.40 702 0 1,508

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kodiak Slope 7 1 0.47 77 0 265

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 4 0.438 599 0 1,538

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 3 0.411 274 0 638

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 4 0.383 413 0 879

Kodiak 1 - 100 Northern Kodiak Shallows 8 1 0.36 79 0 266

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Gullies 9 2 0.36 110 0 282

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 5 0.338 419 0 995

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 5 0.32 264 7 521

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 2 0.30 456 0 1,365

Chirikof 201 - 300 Chirikof Slope 8 3 0.29 44 0 108

Shumagin 1 - 100 Fox Islands 19 3 0.14 113 0 290

Southeastern 201 - 300 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 5 1 0.13 15 0 57

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 3 0.11 73 0 159

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 1 0.09 62 0 190

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 1 0.04 16 0 51

Yakutat 1 - 100 Yakutat Shallows 11 1 0.04 36 0 117

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 1 0.03 9 0 27

Kodiak 1 - 100 Lower Cook Inlet 15 1 0.001 1 0 2

155
Dark rockfish (Sebastes ciliatus)

 Dark rockfish were rarely caught over the course of the survey (Fig. 37, Table 47). Modest 

CPUEs were recorded along the Alaska Peninsula and near Kodiak Island at depths less than 

 200 m, but only two catches were recorded in the Yakutat and Southeastern INPFC areas. 

Seventy-eight percent of the estimated biomass was found in the Shumagin Outer Shelf, Lower 

Alaska Peninsula, and Shumagin Bank strata, which combined account for less than 9% of the 

survey area (Table 48). This estimate was based on only 5 hauls out of the 91 conducted in these 

three strata. A relatively distinct length mode for females occurred at 37 cm in the 101-200 m 

depth zone in the Shumagin INPFC area. The small amount of length data make it difficult to 

discern a clear mode in the length distribution in the other INPFC areas and depth zones. 

156
Table 47. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with dark rockfish, mean CPUE, biomass, and 

mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 9 0.32 1,321 0 2,750 1.367

101 - 200 40 1 0.85 1,251 0 3,807 0.92

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 10 0.39 2,572 0 5,484 1.105

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 1 0.01 38 0 117 1.163

101 - 200 72 1 0.01 35 0 109 1.512

201 - 300 25 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 2 0.01 74 0 180 1.308

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 3 0.01 39 0 90 0.88

101 - 200 125 2 0.01 37 0 94 1.078

201 - 300 31 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 5 0.01 76 1 152 0.967

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 1 0.13 211 0 676 2.163

101 - 200 36 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 8 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 1 0.04 211 0 676 2.163

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 26 1 0.02 25 0 81 1.673

201 - 300 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 14 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 1 0.01 25 0 81 1.673

All areas 1 - 100 335 14 0.12 1,609 116 3,102 1.41

101 - 200 299 5 0.11 1,349 0 3,907 0.941

201 - 300 109 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 52 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 19 0.09 2,958 42 5,875 1.149

157
E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E E E

E

E

E E

EEE

E E

E

EE

E

E

E EE E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E E

EE

E E

E

E

EE

E

E

E EE E

E

E E E

E E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E E

E

E E

EE E

E E

E E

E

E E EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

EE

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE E

E E

E

EE E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

EE

E E

E E

E

E

E E E

E

EE E

E

E

E

EE

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E EE E E

E

E

EE EE

E

E E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

EE

E E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E E E E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 37. -- Distribution and relative abundance of a dark rockfish from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Dark Rockfish

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< 0.12

0.12 - 3.77

3.77 - 7.43

> 7.43 (max. = 46.04)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

158
E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E EE E

E

E

EE

E

E

E E E

E E E

EE

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E E E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

EEE

EE

E E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E EE E

E E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E EE E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E EE

E E

E

E

E

E

E EE

E

E

E

EE

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE E

E

E

E

EEE

E

EE

E

EE

E E E

E E

E E

E E

E

E EE

E

E E E

E E

E

EE

E

E

E E E E

E

E E E

E

E

EE EE

E

E E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE E

E E

EE

EE

E

E E

E

E

EE E

E E

E

E E

EE

E E E

E

E

E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 37. -- Continued (dark rockfish).

Cordova

159
Table 48. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for dark rockfish sorted by descending CPUE 

for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 1 1.54 1,251 0 3,810

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 1 0.85 584 0 1,788

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 3 0.39 479 0 1,272

Yakutat 1 - 100 Yakutat Shallows 11 1 0.21 211 0 682

Shumagin 1 - 100 Fox Islands 19 2 0.16 134 0 348

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 3 0.09 124 0 311

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 1 0.06 25 0 82

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 1 0.05 38 0 117

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 1 0.03 35 0 110

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 1 0.03 25 0 77

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 1 0.02 12 0 37

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 2 0.02 35 0 86

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 1 0.007 4 0 13

160
Sharpchin rockfish (Sebastes zacentrus)

 Sharpchin rockfish was rarely captured west of Kodiak Island (Fig. 38). Over 99% of its 

biomass estimate occurred in the Kodiak, Yakutat, and Southeastern INPFC areas (Table 49). 

The highest CPUEs by far were recorded in the Baranof-Chichagof Shelf and Yakutat slope 

strata, which accounted for approximately 75% of the total biomass estimate even though they 

make up only about 2% of the survey area (Table 50). Sharpchin rockfish were almost 

exclusively confined to depths between 101 and 300 m where over 99% of the estimated biomass 

was located (Table 49). The size composition of females was substantially broader than that of 

males throughout the survey area (Fig. 39). The sex ratio of the sharpchin rockfish population in 

the survey area was close to even with males accounting for approximately 52% of the estimated 

population. 

161
Table 49. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with sharpchin rockfish, mean CPUE, biomass, 

and mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 40 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 1 0.05 15 0 46 0.625

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 1 --- 15 0 46 0.625

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 72 1 < 0.01 4 0 12 0.511

201 - 300 25 1 0.01 8 0 25 0.356

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 2 --- 12 0 30 0.397

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 125 11 0.15 637 75 1,198 0.266

201 - 300 31 1 0.01 6 0 19 0.221

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 12 0.06 643 81 1,204 0.265

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 36 3 0.01 34 0 84 0.171

201 - 300 17 4 5.28 2,729 0 6,903 0.326

301 - 500 8 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 7 0.48 2,763 0 6,938 0.322

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 26 13 6.21 6,880 0 15,491 0.269

201 - 300 19 9 4.29 2,169 148 4,190 0.231

301 - 500 14 4 0.04 11 0 22 0.198

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 26 3.23 9,061 289 17,832 0.259

All areas 1 - 100 335 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 299 28 0.62 7,555 0 16,187 0.268

201 - 300 109 16 1.37 4,927 594 9,259 0.276

301 - 500 52 4 0.01 11 0 22 0.198

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 48 0.39 12,493 3,006 21,979 0.271

162
E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE

E

E EE

E

E E

E

E

E EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

EE

E E

E

E

E

E

E E EE

E

E E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E E

E

E

EE EE

E

EE

EE

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE

E E

E

E

E

E E E EE

E E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E E

E

EE

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

EE E E E

E

E E

E E

EE E

E E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E E

E

E E E

E

E E

E E E

E E

E

E E

E E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

EE

EE E E E

EE EEE

E

EE

E E E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E E E

E

E

E E

E

EE

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 38. -- Distribution and relative abundance of a sharpchin rockfish from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Sharpchin Rockfish

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< 0.47

0.47 - 10.11

10.11 - 19.74

> 19.74 (max. = 95.42)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

163
E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE EE

E

EE

EE

E

EE E

EE E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

EE E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E EE E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE

EE E E E

EE EE

E

E

EE

E E E

E

E E E

E EE

E

E E

E E E

E

E E EE

E

EE E

E E

E E

E E E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E E EE

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

EE

E E E

E

E

EE

EE

E E

E

E E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E E

EE

EEE

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 38. -- Continued (sharpchin rockfish).

Cordova

164
No data

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

12

 8

 4

 0

 4

 8

12

SHUMAGIN

No data

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

CHIRIKOF

No data

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

KODIAK

 1 - 100 M

No data

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

12

 8

 4

 0

 4

 8

12 n = 1

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

n = 234

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

 101 - 200 M

n = 4

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

12

 8

 4

 0

 4

 8

12 n = 3

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

n = 2

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

 201 - 300 M

No data

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

12

 8

 4

 0

 4

 8

12

No data

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

No data

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

301 - 500 M

n = 4

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

12

 8

 4

 0

 4

 8

12 n = 4

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

n = 236

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 39. -- Size composition of sharpchin rockfish from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska 

 bottom trawl survey, by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission 

 statistical areas and depth intervals. 

165
No data

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

12

 8

 4

 0

 4

 8

12

YAKUTAT

No data

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

SOUTHEASTERN

No data

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

TOTAL

 1 - 100 M

n = 5

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

12

 8

 4

 0

 4

 8

12

n = 654

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

n = 894

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

 101 - 200 M

n = 387

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

12

 8

 4

 0

 4

 8

12

n = 585

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

n = 981

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

 201 - 300 M

No data

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

12

 8

 4

 0

 4

 8

12

n = 10

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

n = 10

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

301 - 500 M

n = 392

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

12

 8

 4

 0

 4

 8

12

n = 1,249

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

n = 1,885

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 39. -- Continued (sharpchin rockfish). 

166
Table 50. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for sharpchin rockfish sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 5 15.79 6,627 0 15,336

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 4 12.83 2,729 0 7,010

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 6 4.38 1,719 0 3,666

Southeastern 201 - 300 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 5 3 4.00 450 0 1,268

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 4 0.50 365 0 827

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 8 0.37 253 0 609

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 4 0.17 209 0 524

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 3 0.13 63 0 152

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Slope 7 3 0.10 8 0 17

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 1 0.05 15 0 46

Chirikof 201 - 300 Chirikof Slope 8 1 0.05 8 0 26

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakutat Flats 7 2 0.03 29 0 80

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Deep Gullies 7 1 0.013 3 0 11

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakataga Shelf 9 1 0.009 5 0 15

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 1 0.009 6 0 19

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 1 0.008 4 0 12

167
Shortraker rockfish (Sebastes borealis)

 Shortraker rockfish were found throughout the survey area, although almost exclusively on 

the continental slope in the 200 to 700 m depth range (Fig. 40, Table 51). The highest CPUEs 

were consistently recorded in the 301 and 500 m depth range, which accounted for 

approximately 75% of the total biomass (Table 51). In this depth range, shortraker rockfish were 

caught in about 87% of the tows. Shortraker rockfish were considerably more densely populated 

in the central and eastern Gulf of Alaska than in the western Gulf of Alaska. Approximately 

60% of the estimated biomass was found in the Kodiak and Yakutat INPFC areas. The highest 

concentrations of shortraker rockfish were in the Southeastern Slope stratum, although 

considerably larger abundances were recorded in four bigger strata (Table 52). Mean weight and 

length generally increased from west to east (Fig. 41, Table 51). The sex ratio of the shortraker 

rockfish population in the survey area was almost exactly even. 

168
Table 51. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with shortraker rockfish, mean CPUE, biomass, 

and mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 40 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 4 2.71 757 0 1,732 2.613

301 - 500 7 6 31.82 8,053 0 23,923 2.336

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 10 1.35 8,810 0 24,718 2.357

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 72 4 0.10 228 0 506 2.341

201 - 300 25 4 0.95 1,102 0 3,124 4.234

301 - 500 7 6 11.71 1,879 0 5,004 2.132

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 14 0.47 3,209 0 6,623 2.59

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 1 0.01 38 0 115 2.204

101 - 200 125 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 31 10 3.57 4,100 1,354 6,847 4.03

301 - 500 16 15 31.66 9,217 1,213 17,222 3.359

501 - 700 4 2 1.06 185 0 482 2.276

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 28 1.33 13,541 5,237 21,845 3.508

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 36 1 0.30 878 0 2,954 5.5

201 - 300 17 9 11.40 5,894 0 11,925 2.615

301 - 500 8 8 21.86 5,746 0 11,737 3.883

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 18 2.19 12,518 4,604 20,432 3.215

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 26 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 19 4 1.54 777 0 1,603 6.21

301 - 500 14 10 16.53 5,154 2,353 7,954 5.862

501 - 700 2 2 1.72 178 0 439 2.981

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 16 2.18 6,109 3,266 8,951 5.742

All areas 1 - 100 335 1 < 0.01 38 0 115 2.204

101 - 200 299 5 0.09 1,106 0 3,207 4.303

201 - 300 109 31 3.50 12,630 5,799 19,461 3.2

301 - 500 52 45 23.49 30,048 11,537 48,560 3.186

501 - 700 16 4 0.44 363 47 679 2.574

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 86 1.38 44,185 25,332 63,039 3.203

169
E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E EE

E

E

E E E

E E

EEE

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE E E

E

E

EE EE

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE E

E

E E

E

E

EE

E

E

E EE E

E

E E E

E E E

E E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E E

E

E

E E E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE E

E E

E

EE E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

EE

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

EE E

E E

E

E

E E

E EE

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

EE

E E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 40. -- Distribution and relative abundance of a shortraker rockfish from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Shortraker Rockfish

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< .1

0.1 - 0.9

0.9 - 1.8

> 1.8 (max. = 6.315)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

170
E E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE E

E

E

EE

E

E

E E E E

E

E

EE

E

E E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

EEE

EE

E E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E EE E

E E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E EE E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E E

E

E E

E

EE

E

E E E E

E

E E E

E

E

EE EE

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E EE

E E

E

E

E

E EE

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E EE E

E

E

EE

E

EE

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E E

E E

E E E E E

EE

E E

E

E

E

EE

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 40. -- Continued (shortraker rockfish).

Cordova

171
No data

 20 40 60 80 100

8

4

0

4

8

SHUMAGIN

No data

 20 40 60 80 100

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

CHIRIKOF

n = 1

 20 40 60 80 100

KODIAK

 1 - 100 M

No data

 20 40 60 80 100

8

4

0

4

8 n = 7

 20 40 60 80 100

No data

 20 40 60 80 100

 101 - 200 M

n = 48

 20 40 60 80 100

8

4

0

4

8 n = 39

 20 40 60 80 100

n = 106

 20 40 60 80 100

 201 - 300 M

n = 166

 20 40 60 80 100

8

4

0

4

8 n = 95

 20 40 60 80 100

n = 458

 20 40 60 80 100

301 - 500 M

n = 214

 20 40 60 80 100

8

4

0

4

8 n = 141

 20 40 60 80 100

n = 565

 20 40 60 80 100

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 41. -- Size composition of shortraker rockfish from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska 

 bottom trawl survey, by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission 

 statistical areas and depth intervals. 

172
No data

 20 40 60 80 100

8

4

0

4

8

YAKUTAT

No data

 20 40 60 80 100

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

SOUTHEASTERN

n = 40

 20 40 60 80 100

TOTAL

 1 - 100 M

n = 3

 20 40 60 80 100

8

4

0

4

8

No data

 20 40 60 80 100

n = 10

 20 40 60 80 100

 101 - 200 M

n = 164

 20 40 60 80 100

8

4

0

4

8

n = 12

 20 40 60 80 100

n = 369

 20 40 60 80 100

 201 - 300 M

n = 119

 20 40 60 80 100

8

4

0

4

8

n = 181

 20 40 60 80 100

n = 1,019

 20 40 60 80 100

301 - 500 M

n = 286

 20 40 60 80 100

8

4

0

4

8

n = 193

 20 40 60 80 100

n = 1,399

 20 40 60 80 100

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 41. -- Continued (shortraker rockfish). 

173
Table 52. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for shortraker rockfish sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Slope 7 7 50.54 3,905 1,418 6,391

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Slope 6 6 32.13 4,886 0 11,243

Shumagin 301 - 500 Shumagin Slope 7 6 31.82 8,053 0 24,474

Kodiak 301 - 500 Kodiak Slope 16 15 31.66 9,217 1,172 17,263

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kodiak Slope 7 5 18.61 3,020 67 5,972

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Gullies 9 7 18.44 5,609 0 11,738

Chirikof 301 - 500 Chirikof Slope 7 6 11.71 1,879 0 5,113

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Gullies 2 2 7.77 860 0 7,852

Chirikof 201 - 300 Chirikof Slope 8 4 7.21 1,102 0 3,176

Southeastern 201 - 300 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 5 3 5.45 613 0 1,581

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Deep Gullies 7 3 5.33 1,249 0 3,060

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 4 2.71 757 0 1,737

Southeastern 501 - 700 Southeastern Slope 2 2 1.719 178 0 949

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 5 1.623 1,081 0 2,240

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 2 1.339 285 0 781

Kodiak 501 - 700 Kodiak Slope 4 2 1.06 185 0 525

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakutat Flats 7 1 0.97 878 0 3,026

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 1 0.42 164 0 517

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 2 0.11 54 0 136

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 1 0.10 114 0 354

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 1 0.08 60 0 183

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 1 0.03 38 0 116

174
Shortspine thornyhead (Sebastolobus alascanus)

 Shortspine thornyhead was the third most abundant rockfish species caught in the 2009 

survey (Table 2). Shortspine thornyhead were found throughout the survey area at all depths 

deeper than 100 m, including all tows greater than 300 m (Fig. 42, Table 53). The highest 

CPUEs were generally recorded on the continental slope and deeper gullies in the 301 and 700 m 

depth range, which accounted for approximately 51% of its total biomass (Tables 53 and 54). 

Population length distributions were similar in all areas and at all depths, with both males and 

females exhibiting length modes between approximately 25 and 30 cm FL (Fig. 43). The sex 

ratio of the shortspine thornyhead population in the survey area was about even, with females 

making up approximately 51% of the total estimated population. 

175
Table 53. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with shortspine thornyhead, mean CPUE, 

biomass, and mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, 

by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 40 2 0.06 84 0 236 0.504

201 - 300 17 15 25.45 7,094 2,845 11,343 0.206

301 - 500 7 7 20.89 5,286 1,457 9,115 0.271

501 - 700 3 3 27.95 5,605 1,644 9,567 0.276

701 - 1000 2 2 3.71 719 0 2,418 0.357

All depths 196 29 2.88 18,789 12,704 24,874 0.246

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 72 6 0.03 63 3 124 0.266

201 - 300 25 13 1.77 2,039 659 3,420 0.315

301 - 500 7 7 16.18 2,595 1,392 3,797 0.315

501 - 700 5 5 12.77 2,494 120 4,868 0.339

701 - 1000 3 3 1.55 474 0 949 0.467

All depths 190 34 1.13 7,665 5,090 10,240 0.329

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 1 < 0.01 13 0 38 0.145

101 - 200 125 12 0.11 496 0 1,101 0.29

201 - 300 31 25 8.56 9,841 7,268 12,414 0.273

301 - 500 16 16 16.06 4,676 2,920 6,431 0.218

501 - 700 4 4 16.45 2,871 704 5,038 0.183

701 - 1000 4 4 8.57 2,995 0 6,449 0.398

All depths 280 62 2.06 20,891 16,326 25,456 0.253

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 1 0.04 67 0 220 0.7

101 - 200 36 20 0.66 1,948 651 3,245 0.193

201 - 300 17 17 7.49 3,872 2,811 4,933 0.242

301 - 500 8 8 12.53 3,293 2,290 4,296 0.222

501 - 700 2 2 23.09 3,393 1,404 5,381 0.241

701 - 1000 1 1 23.03 4,347 --- --- 0.4

All depths 83 49 2.96 16,920 14,819 19,021 0.257

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 1 0.01 6 0 20 0.25

101 - 200 26 7 0.37 410 154 666 0.169

201 - 300 19 18 7.22 3,648 2,208 5,087 0.184

301 - 500 14 14 21.06 6,566 5,105 8,026 0.212

501 - 700 2 2 33.17 3,428 0 6,979 0.42

701 - 1000 2 2 3.93 474 86 861 0.526

All depths 74 44 5.18 14,531 11,653 17,408 0.233

All areas 1 - 100 335 3 0.01 85 0 239 0.413

101 - 200 299 47 0.25 3,002 1,567 4,436 0.205

201 - 300 109 88 7.35 26,494 21,300 31,688 0.235

301 - 500 52 52 17.52 22,415 17,852 26,978 0.236

501 - 700 16 16 21.68 17,790 13,232 22,348 0.271

701 - 1000 12 12 7.77 9,009 5,623 12,395 0.404

All depths 823 218 2.46 78,795 70,445 87,146 0.254

176
E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EEE

E E

E

EE

E

E

E EE E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE E E

E

E

EE EE

E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

EE E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E E E

E

EE E

E

E

E E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E E

E E

E

EE

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E EE

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

EE

E E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

E E E E

E

E

E

E

E

EE E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E E

E

E

172°W 170°W 168°W 166°W 164°W 162°W 160°W 158°W 156°W 154°W 152°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Islands of

Four Mountains

Bering Sea

Dutch Harbor

Sand Point Alaska Peninsula

Kodiak Island

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 42. -- Distribution and relative abundance of a shortspine thornyhead from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. Relative abundance is 

 categorized as no catch, sample CPUE less than the mean CPUE, between the mean CPUE and two standard deviations above 

 the mean, between two and four standard deviations above the mean, and greater than four standard deviations above the mean.

2009 Gulf of Alaska

Bottom Trawl Survey

Shortspine Thornyhead

CPUE (kg/ha)

E No Catch

< 3.18

3.18 - 21.90

21.90 - 40.61

> 40.61 (max. = 123.75)

100, 200, 1000 m isobaths

177
E E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E

E EE E

E E

E

EE

E

E E E

E

E

E E

E E E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

EE

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E E EE E

E

E

EE E E

E

EE E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E EE

E

E

E

E EE E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

EE

E E E

E E E

E

E

EE EE

E

E

EE E

E

E

EE

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E E

E E

E

E

E E

E

E

E

EE E

E E E E

EE

E

E E

E

E

E

E

E

EE

E

E E

EE

E E E

E

E

E

E

E

150°W 148°W 146°W 144°W 142°W 140°W 138°W 136°W 134°W 132°W 130°W

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Anchorage

Yakutat

Sitka

Dixon Entrance

Gulf of Alaska

Figure 42. -- Continued (shortspine thornyhead).

Cordova

178
n = 2,030

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

8

4

0

4

8

SHUMAGIN

n = 591

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

CHIRIKOF

n = 2,539

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

KODIAK

 1 - 300 M

n = 816

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

8

4

0

4

8 n = 590

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 1,907

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

 301 - 500 M

n = 322

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

8

4

0

4

8 n = 387

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 537

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

 501 - 700 M

n = 51

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

8

4

0

4

8 n = 27

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 192

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

701 - 1000 M

n = 3,219

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

8

4

0

4

8

n = 1,595

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 5,175

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 43. -- Size composition of shortspine thornyhead from the 2009 Gulf of Alaska 

 bottom trawl survey, by International North Pacific Fisheries Commission 

 statistical areas and depth intervals. 

179
n = 1,556

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

8

4

0

4

8

YAKUTAT

n = 1,575

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

MALES

FEMALES

UNSEXED

SOUTHEASTERN

n = 8,810

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

TOTAL

 1 - 300 M

n = 891

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

8

4

0

4

8

n = 1,636

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 5,840

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

 301 - 500 M

n = 346

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

8

4

0

4

8

n = 254

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 1,846

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

 501 - 700 M

n = 117

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

8

4

0

4

8

n = 41

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 428

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

701 - 1000 M

n = 2,910

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

8

4

0

4

8

n = 3,506

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

n = 16,405

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

ALL DEPTHS

LENGTH IN CM

PERCENT FREQUENCY WITHIN AREA AND DEPTH

Figure 43. -- Continued (shortspine thornyhead). 

180
Table 54. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for shortspine thornyhead sorted by 

descending CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Slope 7 7 49.73 3,842 2,477 5,208

Southeastern 501 - 700 Southeastern Slope 2 2 33.17 3,428 0 13,914

Shumagin 501 - 700 Shumagin Slope 3 3 27.95 5,605 248 10,963

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 15 25.45 7,094 2,824 11,363

Yakutat 501 - 700 Yakutat Slope 2 2 23.09 3,393 0 9,264

Yakutat 701 - 1000 Yakutat Slope 1 1 23.03 4,347

Shumagin 301 - 500 Shumagin Slope 7 7 20.89 5,286 1,325 9,248

Kodiak 501 - 700 Kodiak Slope 4 4 16.45 2,871 387 5,355

Southeastern 201 - 300 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 5 5 16.41 1,847 310 3,384

Chirikof 301 - 500 Chirikof Slope 7 7 16.18 2,595 1,351 3,838

Kodiak 301 - 500 Kodiak Slope 16 16 16.06 4,676 2,911 6,440

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Slope 6 6 15.09 2,294 1,298 3,290

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kodiak Slope 7 7 14.439 2,343 966 3,720

Chirikof 501 - 700 Chirikof Slope 5 5 12.767 2,494 0 5,057

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Deep Gullies 7 7 11.616 2,723 1,845 3,602

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 18 11.259 7,498 5,184 9,812

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Gullies 9 9 9.419 2,866 2,000 3,732

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Gullies 2 2 9.025 999 0 3,516

Kodiak 701 - 1000 Kodiak Slope 4 4 8.57 2,995 0 6,954

Chirikof 201 - 300 Chirikof Slope 8 7 8.10 1,238 488 1,988

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 8 4.73 1,006 233 1,780

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 13 4.59 1,801 919 2,683

Southeastern 701 - 1000 Southeastern Slope 2 2 3.93 474 0 1,618

Shumagin 701 - 1000 Shumagin Slope 2 2 3.71 719 0 5,736

Yakutat 101 - 200 Middleton Shelf 10 6 1.76 1,292 95 2,489

Chirikof 701 - 1000 Chirikof Slope 3 3 1.55 474 0 1,116

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 6 0.82 346 110 582

Chirikof 201 - 300 Lower Shelikof Gully 17 6 0.80 801 0 2,015

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakataga Shelf 9 8 0.46 244 0 509

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakutat Flats 7 5 0.39 349 0 1,059

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 6 0.31 368 0 934

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 2 0.15 107 0 324

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 2 0.10 84 0 236

Yakutat 1 - 100 Middleton Shallows 8 1 0.10 67 0 224

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 1 0.09 64 0 202

Yakutat 101 - 200 Fairweather Shelf 10 1 0.08 63 0 206

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 4 0.07 35 0 80

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 3 0.04 20 0 53

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 1 0.02 16 0 50

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 1 0.01 12 0 38

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 1 0.01 6 0 20

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 1 0.01 13 0 38

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 1 0.00 1 0 2

181
Other Rockfishes 

Redstripe rockfish (Sebastes proriger) 

 Redstripe rockfish were extremely rare outside the Southeastern INPFC area and were not 

captured in the Yakutat INPFC area (Table 55). Approximately 97% of the total survey area 

biomass was estimated to be in the Southeastern INPFC area, with most of the remainder in the 

Chirikof and Kodiak INPFC areas. Seven tows in the Baranof-Chichagof Shelf and Prince of 

Wales Slope/Gullies strata accounted for almost 91% of the total biomass estimate even though 

these strata represent only a little over 2% of the entire survey area (Table 56). 

 

Silvergray rockfish (Sebastes brevispinis) 

 Silvergray rockfish were rare outside the Yakutat and Southeastern INPFC areas and were not 

captured in the Shumagin INPFC area (Table 57). The highest mean CPUEs were recorded in 

the Prince of Wales Slope and Gullies and Prince of Wales Shelf strata, which accounted for 

51% of the total survey biomass estimate (Table 58). These two strata comprise just over 3% of 

the total survey area. Although silvergray rockfish are typically caught almost exclusively in the 

101 to 300 m depth range, one unusually large catch in less than 100 m in the Yakutat INPFC 

area resulted in the shallowest depth zone accounting for almost 35% of the survey biomass 

estimate. No fish were caught deeper than 500 m. Mean fish weight generally increased with 

depth. 

182
Harlequin rockfish (Sebastes variegatus) 

 Harlequin rockfish were caught infrequently and in modest numbers throughout the survey 

area, primarily in the 101 to 200 m depth range, which accounted for approximately 80% of its 

total biomass estimate (Table 59). The highest mean CPUEs were recorded in the BaranofChichagof Shelf and Yakutat Slope strata, which accounted for approximately 57% of the 

estimated biomass. These strata represent less than 2% of the total survey area (Table 60). 

Redbanded rockfish (Sebastes babcocki) 

 Redbanded rockfish were caught infrequently and in relatively modest numbers in the 

Shumagin, Chirikof, and the western part of the Kodiak INPFC areas (Table 61). Approximately 

68% of the total estimated biomass was in the Yakutat and Southeastern INPFC areas, with the 

highest mean CPUEs recorded in the 201 to 300 m depth range, which accounted for 

approximately 58% of its total biomass. Most of the remaining biomass was estimated to be in 

the 101 to 200 m depth range. No redbanded rockfish were caught deeper than 500 m. The 

highest mean CPUEs were noted in the Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies stratum, which accounted 

for about 33% of the total biomass (Table 62). 

Yelloweye rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus) 

 Yelloweye rockfish were caught very infrequently and in very modest numbers throughout 

the survey area (Table 63). No yelloweye rockfish were caught deeper than 300 m. The highest 

mean CPUEs were generally recorded in the 101 to 200 m depth range, which accounted for 

almost 79% of its total biomass. 

183
Rosethorn rockfish (Sebastes helvomaculatus) 

 Except for a single haul with an extremely low CPUE in the Kodiak INPFC area, rosethorn 

rockfish were caught only in the Yakutat and Southeastern INPFC areas (Table 65). Mean 

CPUEs were modest in all strata where rosethorn rockfish were caught, with the highest values 

recorded in the Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies, Yakutat Gullies, and Southeast Slope strata 

(Table 66). Rosethorn rockfish were captured almost exclusively in the 101 to 300 m depth 

range, which accounted for more than 95% of its estimated biomass. 

184
Table 55. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with redstripe rockfish, mean CPUE, biomass, 

and mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 40 1 < 0.01 1 0 4 0.102

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 1 < 0.01 1 0 4 0.102

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 72 2 0.01 26 0 64 0.633

201 - 300 25 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 2 < 0.01 26 0 64 0.633

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 125 1 0.01 22 0 68 0.919

201 - 300 31 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 1 < 0.01 22 0 68 0.919

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 36 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 8 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 0 --- --- --- --- ---

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 1 0.03 19 0 62 0.261

101 - 200 26 6 0.88 972 0 2,328 0.645

201 - 300 19 3 1.09 551 0 1,373 0.503

301 - 500 14 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 10 0.55 1,542 0 3,085 0.576

All areas 1 - 100 335 1 < 0.01 19 0 62 0.261

101 - 200 299 10 0.08 1,021 0 2,379 0.645

201 - 300 109 3 0.15 551 0 1,373 0.503

301 - 500 52 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 14 0.05 1,592 47 3,136 0.578

185
Table 56. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for redstripe rockfish sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 4 2.12 890 0 2,269

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 3 1.40 551 0 1,379

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 2 0.12 82 0 229

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 1 0.03 16 0 49

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 1 0.03 22 0 68

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 1 0.03 19 0 63

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 1 0.01 10 0 31

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 1 0.00 1 0 4

186
Table 57. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with silvergray rockfish, mean CPUE, biomass, 

and mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 40 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 0 --- --- --- --- ---

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 72 1 < 0.01 8 0 25 0.686

201 - 300 25 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 1 < 0.01 8 0 25 0.686

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 2 0.01 23 0 57 0.477

101 - 200 125 5 0.01 63 0 132 0.848

201 - 300 31 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 7 0.01 86 10 163 0.701

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 1 1.97 3,284 0 10,512 0.962

101 - 200 36 3 0.04 127 0 321 1.341

201 - 300 17 5 1.56 806 0 1,943 1.466

301 - 500 8 1 0.05 12 0 42 1.293

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 10 0.74 4,229 0 11,556 1.039

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 4 0.21 139 0 345 0.446

101 - 200 26 8 2.85 3,156 0 8,379 1.401

201 - 300 19 14 4.26 2,150 530 3,770 1.68

301 - 500 14 4 0.26 83 0 203 1.855

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 30 1.97 5,528 86 10,970 1.421

All areas 1 - 100 335 7 0.27 3,447 0 10,678 0.913

101 - 200 299 17 0.27 3,354 0 8,581 1.378

201 - 300 109 19 0.82 2,956 1,038 4,873 1.616

301 - 500 52 5 0.07 95 0 216 1.756

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 48 0.31 9,851 939 18,763 1.217

187
Table 58. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for silvergray rockfish sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 12 5.26 2,067 441 3,693

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 6 4.23 2,912 0 8,150

Yakutat 1 - 100 Yakutat Shallows 11 1 3.30 3,284 0 10,601

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 4 2.46 523 0 1,602

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Gullies 9 1 0.93 283 0 935

Southeastern 201 - 300 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 5 2 0.74 83 0 260

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 2 0.58 244 0 711

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Slope 7 3 0.46 36 0 87

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakataga Shelf 9 3 0.24 127 0 325

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 4 0.21 139 0 347

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Deep Gullies 7 1 0.20 47 0 161

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Slope 6 1 0.08 12 0 44

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 1 0.035 28 0 85

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 1 0.025 15 0 44

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 2 0.021 11 0 26

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 1 0.014 17 0 52

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 1 0.011 8 0 25

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 1 0.01 8 0 23

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 1 0.006 9 0 27

188
Table 59. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with harlequin rockfish, mean CPUE, biomass, 

and mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 40 2 0.03 41 0 104 0.503

201 - 300 17 1 0.01 3 0 10 0.506

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 3 0.01 44 0 107 0.503

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 1 < 0.01 6 0 19 0.535

101 - 200 72 7 0.03 65 0 138 0.364

201 - 300 25 1 < 0.01 3 0 8 0.348

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 9 0.01 74 0 148 0.374

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 2 < 0.01 10 0 24 0.117

101 - 200 125 14 0.17 742 0 1,582 0.232

201 - 300 31 2 0.01 15 0 36 0.61

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 18 0.08 766 0 1,607 0.232

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 36 3 0.08 243 0 582 0.289

201 - 300 17 4 0.92 474 0 1,154 0.326

301 - 500 8 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 7 0.13 716 1 1,431 0.313

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 26 6 0.96 1,063 0 3,308 0.191

201 - 300 19 5 0.04 22 2 43 0.18

301 - 500 14 1 < 0.01 1 0 2 0.1

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 12 0.39 1,086 0 3,331 0.191

All areas 1 - 100 335 3 < 0.01 16 0 35 0.17

101 - 200 299 32 0.18 2,154 0 4,485 0.218

201 - 300 109 13 0.14 516 0 1,198 0.32

301 - 500 52 1 < 0.01 1 0 2 0.1

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 49 0.08 2,686 274 5,099 0.232

189
Table 60. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for harlequin rockfish sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 4 2.50 1,049 0 3,321

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 4 2.23 474 0 1,172

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 6 0.59 433 0 1,223

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakataga Shelf 9 2 0.22 117 0 306

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 1 0.17 135 0 413

Southeastern 201 - 300 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 5 3 0.15 17 0 41

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakutat Flats 7 1 0.14 126 0 433

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 7 0.13 65 0 138

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 5 0.12 61 0 136

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 2 0.09 113 0 293

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 2 0.05 41 0 104

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 2 0.02 15 0 36

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 2 0.021 14 0 40

Chirikof 201 - 300 Chirikof Slope 8 1 0.016 3 0 9

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 2 0.013 5 0 13

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 1 0.01 3 0 10

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 1 0.01 6 0 19

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Slope 7 1 0.01 1 0 2

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 1 0.01 3 0 8

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 1 0.00 7 0 21

190
Table 61. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with redbanded rockfish, mean CPUE, biomass, 

and mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 40 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 5 0.12 34 0 83 0.683

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 5 0.01 34 0 83 0.683

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 72 7 0.09 209 0 440 1.304

201 - 300 25 6 0.38 435 0 1,083 1.747

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 13 0.09 643 0 1,329 1.574

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 125 11 0.21 893 0 1,795 1.418

201 - 300 31 13 0.41 472 0 1,138 0.93

301 - 500 16 3 0.04 13 0 28 0.658

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 27 0.14 1,377 271 2,483 1.191

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 36 6 0.21 626 0 1,534 1.056

201 - 300 17 13 1.02 527 251 804 0.489

301 - 500 8 4 0.36 95 0 209 0.734

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 23 0.22 1,249 303 2,194 0.694

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 26 7 0.23 250 0 575 0.665

201 - 300 19 13 4.45 2,247 724 3,770 1.005

301 - 500 14 10 2.06 642 0 1,353 1.056

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 30 1.12 3,139 1,496 4,783 0.975

All areas 1 - 100 335 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 299 31 0.16 1,978 636 3,319 1.124

201 - 300 109 50 1.03 3,715 2,002 5,427 0.902

301 - 500 52 17 0.59 750 30 1,470 0.991

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 98 0.20 6,442 4,215 8,669 0.971

191
Table 62. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for redbanded rockfish sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 9 5.34 2,098 573 3,623

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Slope 7 6 2.18 168 30 307

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Deep Gullies 7 4 2.02 474 0 1,196

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 8 1.80 383 105 661

Southeastern 201 - 300 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 5 4 1.33 149 0 364

Chirikof 201 - 300 Chirikof Slope 8 4 0.72 109 0 262

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Slope 6 4 0.62 95 0 215

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 8 0.59 392 0 1,057

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 5 0.57 416 0 1,189

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 6 0.56 235 0 562

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kodiak Slope 7 5 0.49 80 6 153

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Gullies 9 5 0.47 144 29 260

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakutat Flats 7 2 0.413 373 0 1,199

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 2 0.384 193 0 529

Chirikof 201 - 300 Lower Shelikof Gully 17 2 0.33 325 0 962

Yakutat 101 - 200 Fairweather Shelf 10 2 0.31 237 0 752

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 4 0.23 175 0 403

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 2 0.21 168 0 462

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 5 0.12 34 0 83

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 2 0.10 116 0 357

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 3 0.07 34 0 78

Kodiak 301 - 500 Kodiak Slope 16 3 0.04 13 0 28

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakataga Shelf 9 2 0.03 17 0 44

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 1 0.02 15 0 48

192
Table 63. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with yelloweye rockfish, mean CPUE, biomass, 

and mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 40 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 0 --- --- --- --- ---

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 1 0.01 19 0 57 1.698

101 - 200 72 1 < 0.01 9 0 27 1.155

201 - 300 25 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 2 < 0.01 27 0 70 1.475

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 1 0.02 80 0 242 4.022

101 - 200 125 9 0.15 669 148 1,191 3.678

201 - 300 31 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 10 0.07 750 208 1,291 3.712

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 1 0.16 264 0 846 3.76

101 - 200 36 1 0.05 151 0 488 5.741

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 8 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 2 0.07 416 0 1,061 4.3

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 26 7 0.45 500 108 893 2.746

201 - 300 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 14 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 7 0.18 500 108 893 2.746

All areas 1 - 100 335 3 0.03 363 0 961 3.588

101 - 200 299 18 0.11 1,330 623 2,037 3.34

201 - 300 109 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 52 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 21 0.05 1,693 782 2,604 3.39

193
Table 64. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for yelloweye rockfish sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 4 0.70 292 19 566

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 4 0.39 195 3 388

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 3 0.30 208 0 520

Yakutat 1 - 100 Yakutat Shallows 11 1 0.27 264 0 853

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 2 0.26 311 0 760

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 3 0.22 163 0 354

Yakutat 101 - 200 Fairweather Shelf 10 1 0.20 151 0 493

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 1 0.05 80 0 244

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 1 0.03 19 0 57

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 1 0.02 9 0 27

194
Table 65. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with rosethorn rockfish, mean CPUE, biomass, 

and mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 40 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 0 --- --- --- --- ---

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 72 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 25 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 0 --- --- --- --- ---

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 125 1 < 0.01 4 0 11 0.43

201 - 300 31 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 1 < 0.01 4 0 11 0.43

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 36 2 0.02 47 0 140 0.192

201 - 300 17 3 0.20 106 0 278 0.261

301 - 500 8 1 < 0.01 1 0 4 0.126

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 6 0.03 154 0 342 0.234

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 26 7 0.07 77 0 164 0.21

201 - 300 19 6 0.54 274 13 534 0.208

301 - 500 14 2 0.08 25 0 75 0.273

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 15 0.13 376 106 646 0.211

All areas 1 - 100 335 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 299 10 0.01 128 2 254 0.206

201 - 300 109 9 0.11 379 81 678 0.22

301 - 500 52 3 0.02 26 0 76 0.26

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 22 0.02 533 215 852 0.218

195
Table 66. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for rosethorn rockfish sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 6 0.70 274 11 536

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 2 0.48 101 0 277

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Slope 7 2 0.32 25 0 77

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 3 0.08 32 0 73

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 4 0.07 46 0 125

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakutat Flats 7 2 0.05 47 0 143

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Gullies 9 1 0.02 5 0 16

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Slope 6 1 0.01 1 0 4

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 1 0.01 4 0 11

196
SKATES 

Alaska skate (Bathyraja parmifera) 

 Alaska skate were caught infrequently and in modest numbers in the three westernmost 

INPFC areas in only 10 out of the 59 survey strata (Tables 67 and 68). No Alaska skate were 

caught in the Yakutat and Southeastern INPFC areas. CPUEs were generally highest in the less 

than 100 m depth range, which accounted for approximately 82% of the estimated survey 

biomass. However, the highest CPUEs were recorded in the 201-300 m depth range of the 

Chirikof INPFC area. No fish were caught deeper than 300 m. 

Aleutian skate (Bathyraja aleutica) 

 Aleutian skate were caught in fewer than 10% of all survey hauls and in moderate numbers in 

the three westernmost INPFC areas (Table 69). Only four catches of Aleutian skates were 

recorded east of Prince William Sound. The highest mean CPUEs were recorded in the Upper 

and Lower Shelikof Gully strata, which accounted for approximately 38% of the total estimated 

biomass even though they comprise only 4% of the total survey area (Table 70). Aleutian skate 

were caught in all depths to 700 m, but the highest CPUEs were recorded in depths less than 

300 m. Mean fish weight generally decreased with depth. 

197
Bering skate (Bathyraja interrupta) 

 Bering skate were caught in modest numbers throghout the survey area (Table 71). The 

highest CPUEs were recorded in the Upper Shelikof Gully in the Kodiak INPFC area (Table 72). 

 Bering skate were caught in all depths to 500 m but the highest CPUEs were generally recorded 

in the 101 to 300 m depth range. No Bering skate were caught deeper than 500 m. 

Big skate (Raja binoculata) 

 Big skate were caught in modest numbers in approximately 9% of all survey hauls in all five 

of the INPFC areas (Table 73). The highest CPUEs were recorded in several of the shallowest 

strata of the survey area in waters less than 100 m (Table 74). Approximately 90% of the 

estimated biomass was located shallower than 100 m, with all of the remainder in waters 

between 101 and 200 m deep. 

Longnose skate (Raja rhina) 

 Longnose skate were caught in relatively modest numbers in approximately 21% of all survey 

hauls in all five of the INPFC areas (Table 75). Approximately 50% of the estimated biomass 

was located in the Kodiak INPFC area. Longnose skate were caught in all depths to 700 m, with 

the highest densities in the 101 to 300 m depth range. The highest CPUEs were recorded in the 

Yakutat Slope and Kenai Flats strata (Table 76). 

198
Table 67. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with Alaska skate, mean CPUE, biomass, and 

mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 9 0.42 1,728 4 3,453 5.161

101 - 200 40 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 9 0.26 1,728 4 3,453 5.161

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 1 0.04 104 0 317 8.758

101 - 200 72 1 0.04 94 0 292 4.009

201 - 300 25 2 0.29 332 0 1,030 6.687

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 4 0.08 530 0 1,276 6.235

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 3 0.11 424 0 976 7.918

101 - 200 125 1 0.02 67 0 204 5.721

201 - 300 31 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 4 0.05 491 0 1,059 7.525

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 36 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 8 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 0 --- --- --- --- ---

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 26 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 14 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All areas 1 - 100 335 13 0.17 2,257 456 4,057 5.637

101 - 200 299 2 0.01 161 0 399 4.577

201 - 300 109 2 0.09 332 0 1,030 6.687

301 - 500 52 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 17 0.09 2,750 817 4,682 5.667

199
Table 68. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for Alaska skate sorted by descending CPUE 

for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 7 1.22 1,668 0 3,390

Chirikof 201 - 300 Lower Shelikof Gully 17 1 0.33 331 0 1,033

Kodiak 1 - 100 Lower Cook Inlet 15 1 0.23 226 0 711

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 1 0.15 84 0 255

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 1 0.10 104 0 317

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 2 0.09 61 0 148

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 1 0.09 94 0 293

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 1 0.08 67 0 204

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 1 0.07 115 0 348

Chirikof 201 - 300 Chirikof Slope 8 1 0.00 0 0 2

200
Table 69. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with Aleutian skate, mean CPUE, biomass, and 

mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 12 0.43 1,756 714 2,798 9.384

101 - 200 40 6 0.77 1,123 0 2,454 8.129

201 - 300 17 3 0.55 155 0 369 4.675

301 - 500 7 1 0.07 17 0 57 1.338

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 22 0.47 3,051 1,418 4,683 8.222

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 5 0.65 1,696 0 3,723 11.562

101 - 200 72 14 1.09 2,595 601 4,589 7.799

201 - 300 25 13 4.5 5,201 1,766 8,637 6.59

301 - 500 7 2 1.32 212 0 683 5.069

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 34 1.43 9,704 5,327 14,081 7.405

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 6 0.48 1,837 190 3,485 12.927

101 - 200 125 6 0.47 2,029 0 4,501 9.319

201 - 300 31 5 1.87 2,150 0 5,634 8.694

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 1 0.03 5 0 20 0.349

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 18 0.59 6,021 2,142 9,901 9.676

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 36 1 0.04 106 0 345 4.4

201 - 300 17 1 0.01 6 0 18 0.536

301 - 500 8 1 0.6 157 0 542 11.169

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 3 0.05 269 0 678 5.532

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 26 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 14 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 1 0.25 26 0 137 1.271

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 1 0.01 26 0 137 1.271

All areas 1 - 100 335 23 0.41 5,289 2,565 8,013 11.113

101 - 200 299 27 0.48 5,852 2,481 9,224 8.213

201 - 300 109 22 2.08 7,511 3,230 11,793 6.955

301 - 500 52 4 0.3 386 0 935 5.631

501 - 700 16 2 0.04 31 0 145 0.877

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 78 0.6 19,070 13,122 25,018 8.037

201
Table 70. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for Aleutian skate sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Kodiak 201 - 300 Upper Shelikof Gully 4 2 6.22 1,995 0 5,979

Chirikof 201 - 300 Lower Shelikof Gully 17 12 5.19 5,201 1,749 8,652

Kodiak 1 - 100 Kenai Peninsula 9 3 2.44 1,281 0 2,929

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 11 2.42 1,868 97 3,640

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 2 1.66 1,320 0 3,312

Kodiak 101 - 200 Barren Islands 18 3 1.58 1,739 0 4,197

Chirikof 301 - 500 Chirikof Slope 7 2 1.32 212 0 699

Shumagin 101 - 200 Sanak Gully 6 1 1.20 511 0 1,824

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Slope 6 1 1.04 157 0 562

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kodiak Slope 7 2 0.84 136 0 350

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 5 0.75 612 0 1,245

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 2 0.75 374 0 1,049

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 5 0.728 903 76 1,729

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 3 0.554 155 0 370

Shumagin 1 - 100 Fox Islands 19 3 0.553 461 0 999

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 3 0.361 556 0 1,216

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 2 0.361 182 0 441

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 1 0.317 352 0 1,093

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 4 0.29 393 0 806

Southeastern 501 - 700 Southeastern Slope 2 1 0.25 26 0 355

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 2 0.24 254 0 627

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakataga Shelf 9 1 0.20 106 0 350

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 1 0.17 121 0 372

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 1 0.14 108 0 331

Shumagin 301 - 500 Shumagin Slope 7 1 0.07 17 0 59

Kodiak 501 - 700 Kodiak Slope 4 1 0.03 5 0 22

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 1 0.03 20 0 60

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 1 0.03 6 0 19

Chirikof 201 - 300 Chirikof Slope 8 1 0.004 1 0 2

202
Table 71. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with Bering skate, mean CPUE, biomass, and 

mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 7 0.05 217 32 401 2.044

101 - 200 40 5 0.05 66 0 146 1.003

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 12 0.04 283 83 483 1.644

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 10 0.30 776 0 1,680 3.294

101 - 200 72 14 0.23 553 268 838 1.705

201 - 300 25 7 0.30 343 110 575 1.212

301 - 500 7 1 0.05 8 0 28 0.894

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 32 0.25 1,680 715 2,645 1.972

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 5 0.06 240 2 477 2.176

101 - 200 125 26 0.21 920 490 1,349 1.497

201 - 300 31 9 0.46 530 185 875 1.518

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 40 0.17 1,690 1,126 2,253 1.574

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 36 2 0.09 252 0 636 1.236

201 - 300 17 2 0.05 26 0 68 1.024

301 - 500 8 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 4 0.05 278 0 665 1.212

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 1 0.03 23 0 72 0.899

101 - 200 26 2 0.03 39 0 95 1.204

201 - 300 19 2 0.02 8 0 20 0.393

301 - 500 14 6 0.40 126 9 242 1.356

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 11 0.07 195 70 319 1.149

All areas 1 - 100 335 23 0.10 1,255 311 2,200 2.632

101 - 200 299 49 0.15 1,829 1,203 2,456 1.474

201 - 300 109 20 0.25 907 531 1,283 1.339

301 - 500 52 7 0.10 134 19 249 1.313

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 99 0.13 4,126 2,943 5,308 1.652

203
Table 72. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for Bering skate sorted by descending CPUE 

for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Kodiak 201 - 300 Upper Shelikof Gully 4 3 1.14 367 0 759

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 1 0.58 421 0 1,291

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 11 0.52 401 167 635

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Deep Gullies 7 4 0.44 103 0 215

Kodiak 101 - 200 Barren Islands 18 7 0.42 457 105 809

Yakutat 101 - 200 Middleton Shelf 10 2 0.34 252 0 642

Chirikof 201 - 300 Lower Shelikof Gully 17 7 0.34 343 109 577

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Slope 7 2 0.30 23 0 66

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 6 0.25 163 20 307

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 3 0.22 173 0 393

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 5 0.20 160 16 305

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 9 0.18 130 22 239

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 6 0.17 183 0 366

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 5 0.143 172 0 368

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 3 0.137 152 0 326

Kodiak 1 - 100 Kenai Peninsula 9 1 0.123 65 0 214

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 3 0.101 138 0 306

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 2 0.09 52 0 126

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 1 0.08 17 0 59

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 4 0.08 65 0 145

Kodiak 1 - 100 Lower Cook Inlet 15 1 0.08 77 0 243

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 2 0.07 47 0 115

Chirikof 301 - 500 Chirikof Slope 7 1 0.05 8 0 29

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 1 0.05 20 0 64

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 1 0.03 23 0 73

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 1 0.03 46 0 140

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Gullies 9 1 0.03 9 0 30

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 1 0.03 19 0 59

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 2 0.03 32 0 79

Southeastern 201 - 300 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 5 1 0.02 3 0 10

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 1 0.013 5 0 16

Shumagin 101 - 200 West Shumagin Gully 4 1 0.004 1 0 4

204
Table 73. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with big skate, mean CPUE, biomass, and mean 

weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by International 

North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 15 0.87 3,594 1,328 5,859 14.431

101 - 200 40 4 2.08 3,058 0 7,489 24.772

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 19 1.02 6,652 1,756 11,547 17.858

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 20 4.76 12,391 3,267 21,515 15.003

101 - 200 72 2 0.06 144 0 387 4.161

201 - 300 25 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 22 1.84 12,535 3,408 21,662 14.567

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 19 3.57 13,746 6,143 21,349 15.064

101 - 200 125 1 0.09 410 0 1,253 35.12

201 - 300 31 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 20 1.39 14,156 6,504 21,808 15.317

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 12 6.03 10,044 2,772 17,315 5.98

101 - 200 36 1 0.24 712 0 2,299 24.591

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 8 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 13 1.88 10,756 3,326 18,186 6.296

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 26 1 0.23 251 0 785 14.058

201 - 300 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 14 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 1 0.09 251 0 785 14.058

All areas 1 - 100 335 66 3.08 39,774 26,109 53,440 10.847

101 - 200 299 9 0.37 4,575 0 9,298 21.127

201 - 300 109 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 52 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 75 1.39 44,349 30,041 58,658 11.42

205
Table 74. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for big skate sorted by descending CPUE for 

the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Kodiak 1 - 100 Lower Cook Inlet 15 9 10.09 9,972 2,921 17,022

Yakutat 1 - 100 Yakutat Shallows 11 8 8.01 7,965 1,044 14,887

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 5 7.69 6,110 0 13,451

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 12 5.28 5,695 0 11,420

Kodiak 1 - 100 Northern Kodiak Shallows 8 2 3.40 747 0 2,347

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 3 3.39 2,766 0 7,163

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 5 3.26 1,880 0 4,020

Yakutat 1 - 100 Middleton Shallows 8 4 3.10 2,079 0 5,287

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 7 1.04 1,286 207 2,364

Yakutat 101 - 200 Middleton Shelf 10 1 0.97 712 0 2,324

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 3 0.91 1,250 0 2,717

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 3 0.80 586 0 1,281

Shumagin 1 - 100 Fox Islands 19 1 0.792 660 0 2,047

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 3 0.745 1,147 0 2,775

Shumagin 101 - 200 Sanak Gully 6 1 0.688 292 0 1,043

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 4 0.58 399 0 821

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 1 0.518 410 0 1,255

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 1 0.364 251 0 788

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 1 0.10 112 0 346

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 1 0.04 32 0 99

206
Table 75. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with longnose skate, mean CPUE, biomass, and 

mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 2 0.08 324 0 790 11.891

101 - 200 40 2 0.55 811 0 2,612 8.096

201 - 300 17 1 0.15 43 0 133 7.193

301 - 500 7 1 0.15 37 0 123 2.503

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 6 0.19 1,214 0 2,997 8.205

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 10 0.63 1,634 508 2,759 9.63

101 - 200 72 21 1.54 3,676 2,062 5,289 9.05

201 - 300 25 9 1.79 2,063 489 3,637 6.699

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 40 1.08 7,373 4,905 9,840 8.342

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 23 1.08 4,146 2,254 6,037 10.06

101 - 200 125 45 2.74 11,883 7,790 15,977 9.822

201 - 300 31 11 1.82 2,088 790 3,385 9.079

301 - 500 16 1 0.05 15 0 45 2.006

501 - 700 4 1 0.17 30 0 114 1.987

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 81 1.79 18,161 13,523 22,799 9.689

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 5 1.44 2,397 17 4,777 9.732

101 - 200 36 12 1.67 4,910 2,066 7,753 8.225

201 - 300 17 8 2.53 1,308 544 2,071 9.509

301 - 500 8 1 0.40 105 0 361 5.599

501 - 700 2 1 0.18 27 0 142 0.975

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 27 1.53 8,746 5,077 12,414 8.516

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 1 0.35 231 0 739 0.765

101 - 200 26 4 0.33 371 0 777 4.335

201 - 300 19 4 0.68 343 0 803 5.7

301 - 500 14 6 0.31 98 1 195 1.905

501 - 700 2 1 1.13 116 0 617 5.708

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 16 0.41 1,159 358 1,959 2.231

All areas 1 - 100 335 41 0.68 8,731 5,503 11,959 7.546

101 - 200 299 84 1.77 21,650 16,313 26,987 9.026

201 - 300 109 33 1.62 5,844 3,691 7,997 7.881

301 - 500 52 9 0.20 254 0 511 2.758

501 - 700 16 3 0.21 173 0 565 2.748

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 170 1.15 36,652 30,100 43,205 8.232

207
Table 76. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for longnose skate sorted by descending 

CPUE for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 6 5.32 1,132 363 1,901

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 15 4.87 5,882 2,551 9,212

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakataga Shelf 9 4 3.02 1,592 0 3,487

Yakutat 101 - 200 Middleton Shelf 10 4 2.81 2,061 39 4,082

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 13 2.79 2,160 1,087 3,234

Kodiak 101 - 200 Barren Islands 18 7 2.73 2,993 921 5,066

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 9 2.45 1,628 638 2,618

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 14 2.14 1,568 738 2,397

Yakutat 1 - 100 Yakutat Shallows 11 4 2.10 2,093 0 4,430

Chirikof 201 - 300 Lower Shelikof Gully 17 9 2.06 2,063 482 3,645

Kodiak 1 - 100 Kenai Peninsula 9 3 1.99 1,045 0 2,382

Shumagin 101 - 200 Sanak Gully 6 1 1.72 732 0 2,614

Kodiak 1 - 100 Northern Kodiak Shallows 8 2 1.549 341 0 912

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 5 1.474 1,166 0 2,382

Southeastern 201 - 300 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 5 2 1.357 153 0 446

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 9 1.339 772 305 1,239

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 9 1.291 1,988 650 3,326

Kodiak 201 - 300 Upper Shelikof Gully 4 1 1.166 374 0 1,565

Southeastern 501 - 700 Southeastern Slope 2 1 1.13 116 0 1,595

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 5 1.06 533 18 1,048

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakutat Flats 7 2 1.04 940 0 2,426

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 3 0.89 982 0 2,113

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 5 0.74 795 46 1,543

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 2 0.71 562 0 1,378

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Slope 6 1 0.69 105 0 374

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Gullies 9 2 0.58 176 0 497

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 4 0.55 274 0 616

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kodiak Slope 7 1 0.53 85 0 294

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 2 0.48 190 0 599

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 3 0.46 315 0 708

Yakutat 1 - 100 Middleton Shallows 8 1 0.453 304 0 1,023

Yakutat 101 - 200 Fairweather Shelf 10 2 0.41 317 0 850

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 3 0.38 278 0 622

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Slope 7 3 0.363 28 0 63

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 1 0.353 231 0 745

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Deep Gullies 7 3 0.298 70 0 164

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 2 0.26 324 0 790

Yakutat 501 - 700 Yakutat Slope 2 1 0.18 27 0 367

Kodiak 501 - 700 Kodiak Slope 4 1 0.17 30 0 126

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 1 0.15 43 0 133

Shumagin 301 - 500 Shumagin Slope 7 1 0.15 37 0 126

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 1 0.13 56 0 179

Shumagin 101 - 200 Shumagin Outer Shelf 30 1 0.10 79 0 241

Kodiak 301 - 500 Kodiak Slope 16 1 0.05 15 0 46

208
MISCELLANEOUS SPECIES 

Capelin (Mallotus villosus) 

 Capelin were caught in modest numbers in approximately 25% of hauls less than 100 m deep 

and in about 12% of hauls in the 101 to 300 m depth range. No capelin were caught deeper than 

300 m (Table 77). The highest CPUEs were recorded in the Middleton Shallows and Upper 

Alaska Peninsula strata, which together accounted for approximately 35% of the estimated 

biomass (Table 78). 

Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) 

 Eulachon were caught in moderate numbers in approximately 30% of hauls less than 300 m 

deep but in less than 4% of hauls deeper than 300 m. No catches were recorded deeper than 

 500 m (Table 79). The biomass was primarily confined to the Chirikof and Kodiak INPFC 

areas, which accounted for approximately 85% of its biomass estimate. The highest CPUEs 

were recorded in the Barren Islands and Kenai Gullies strata, which accounted for approximately 

48% of the biomass estimate even though these strata represent less than 6% of the survey area 

(Table 80). 

Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) 

 Pacific hake were caught almost exclusively in the Yakutat and Southeastern INPFC areas, 

which accounted for over 99% of the estimated biomass (Table 81). The biomass estimate may 

have been unduly influenced by two unusually large catches at less than 100 m depth in the 

Southeastern Shallows stratum, which accounted for almost 84% of the survey biomass estimate 

(Table 82). No hake were caught deeper than 700 m. 

209
Table 77. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with capelin, mean CPUE, biomass, and mean 

weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by International 

North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 36 0.01 51 26 76 0.016

101 - 200 40 6 0.02 31 0 69 0.015

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 42 0.01 82 38 125 0.016

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 16 0.03 71 0 163 0.002

101 - 200 72 13 0.02 38 5 71 0.011

201 - 300 25 7 0.03 31 0 83 0.011

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 36 0.02 140 32 247 0.003

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 24 0.03 126 30 221 0.011

101 - 200 125 13 0.01 26 0 57 0.007

201 - 300 31 6 < 0.01 4 1 7 0.009

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 43 0.02 155 55 256 0.01

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 8 0.07 109 0 235 0.015

101 - 200 36 2 < 0.01 1 0 3 0.009

201 - 300 17 1 < 0.01 1 0 4 0.013

301 - 500 8 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 11 0.02 111 0 237 0.015

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 1 < 0.01 <1 0 1 0.013

101 - 200 26 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 14 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 1 < 0.01 <1 0 1 0.013

All areas 1 - 100 335 85 0.03 357 181 533 0.006

101 - 200 299 34 0.01 96 39 153 0.01

201 - 300 109 14 0.01 36 0 88 0.011

301 - 500 52 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 133 0.02 488 298 679 0.007

210
Table 78. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for capelin sorted by descending CPUE for 

the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Yakutat 1 - 100 Middleton Shallows 8 5 0.16 104 0 233

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 8 0.08 66 0 159

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 7 0.07 43 0 108

Shumagin 101 - 200 West Shumagin Gully 4 2 0.07 16 0 61

Kodiak 1 - 100 Kenai Peninsula 9 2 0.06 29 0 96

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 16 0.05 34 12 56

Shumagin 101 - 200 Sanak Gully 6 4 0.04 15 0 39

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 9 0.03 25 5 45

Kodiak 1 - 100 Lower Cook Inlet 15 6 0.03 30 0 64

Chirikof 201 - 300 Lower Shelikof Gully 17 7 0.03 31 0 83

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 4 0.02 14 0 42

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 9 0.02 24 1 48

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 5 0.014 11 0 25

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 3 0.012 14 0 41

Kodiak 201 - 300 Upper Shelikof Gully 4 4 0.01 3 0 7

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 11 0.009 11 0 23

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 7 0.005 5 0 10

Yakutat 1 - 100 Yakutat Shallows 11 3 0.005 5 0 12

Shumagin 1 - 100 Davidson Bank 47 8 0.00 6 0 11

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Gullies 9 1 0.00 1 0 4

Shumagin 1 - 100 Fox Islands 19 1 0.00 1 0 2

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakataga Shelf 9 1 0.00 1 0 2

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 2 0.00 1 0 2

Yakutat 101 - 200 Middleton Shelf 10 1 0.00 1 0 2

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 1 0.00 0 0 1

Kodiak 101 - 200 Barren Islands 18 1 0.00 0 0 1

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 2 0.00 0 0 1

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 1 0.00 0 0 0

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 1 0.00 0 0 0

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 1 0 0 0 1

211
Table 79. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with eulachon, mean CPUE, biomass, and mean 

weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by International 

North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 12 < 0.01 20 5 34 0.04

101 - 200 40 4 0.43 635 0 2,057 0.011

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 17 0.10 654 0 2,077 0.011

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 10 0.02 54 0 114 0.063

101 - 200 72 31 6.28 14,970 2,172 27,768 0.035

201 - 300 25 15 4.98 5,749 2,100 9,398 0.043

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 56 3.05 20,773 7,580 33,965 0.037

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 12 0.01 56 0 131 0.039

101 - 200 125 44 8.83 38,242 4,076 72,408 0.036

201 - 300 31 21 12.91 14,831 688 28,973 0.026

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 77 5.24 53,129 16,212 90,046 0.032

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 12 0.40 662 66 1,259 0.04

101 - 200 36 30 2.98 8,767 4,108 13,426 0.03

201 - 300 17 15 1.09 562 285 838 0.041

301 - 500 8 1 < 0.01 1 0 5 0.045

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 58 1.75 9,992 5,283 14,701 0.031

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 1 3.38 2,215 0 7,089 0.03

101 - 200 26 7 0.39 429 0 913 0.028

201 - 300 19 5 0.05 25 0 53 0.038

301 - 500 14 2 0.03 11 0 31 0.049

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 15 0.96 2,679 0 7,579 0.03

All areas 1 - 100 335 47 0.23 3,006 0 7,871 0.032

101 - 200 299 116 5.15 63,043 26,620 99,466 0.034

201 - 300 109 57 5.87 21,167 6,766 35,567 0.03

301 - 500 52 3 0.01 12 0 32 0.048

501 - 700 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 223 2.73 87,227 47,891 126,563 0.033

212
Table 80. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for eulachon sorted by descending CPUE for 

the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Kodiak 101 - 200 Barren Islands 18 9 28.81 31,639 0 65,806

Kodiak 201 - 300 Kenai Gullies 20 17 15.89 10,585 0 24,275

Kodiak 201 - 300 Upper Shelikof Gully 4 4 13.23 4,246 0 10,564

Chirikof 101 - 200 Shelikof Edge 27 22 12.57 9,719 2,442 16,995

Chirikof 201 - 300 Lower Shelikof Gully 17 15 5.74 5,749 2,083 9,416

Chirikof 101 - 200 East Shumagin Gully 19 8 4.73 5,251 0 16,009

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kenai Flats 19 11 4.37 5,281 1,097 9,466

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakutat Flats 7 5 3.69 3,335 0 7,668

Yakutat 101 - 200 Middleton Shelf 10 10 3.63 2,670 1,561 3,779

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 1 3.38 2,215 0 7,149

Shumagin 101 - 200 West Shumagin Gully 4 3 2.78 633 0 2,263

Yakutat 101 - 200 Fairweather Shelf 10 7 2.18 1,683 0 3,885

Yakutat 101 - 200 Yakataga Shelf 9 8 2.047 1,080 576 1,584

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Slope 8 7 1.39 296 100 491

Kodiak 101 - 200 Portlock Flats 35 9 1.163 853 0 1,833

Yakutat 201 - 300 Yakutat Gullies 9 8 0.874 266 36 496

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 6 0.622 429 0 916

Yakutat 1 - 100 Middleton Shallows 8 4 0.567 381 0 955

Kodiak 101 - 200 Albatross Gullies 26 10 0.55 436 0 945

Yakutat 1 - 100 Yakutat Shallows 11 8 0.28 281 0 592

Chirikof 1 - 100 Upper Alaska Peninsula 17 6 0.065 52 0 112

Kodiak 101 - 200 Kodiak Outer Shelf 27 5 0.065 33 0 86

Kodiak 1 - 100 Kenai Peninsula 9 1 0.063 33 0 109

Southeastern 201 - 300 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 5 1 0.053 6 0 22

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 4 0.049 19 0 45

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Deep Gullies 7 2 0.05 11 0 32

Kodiak 1 - 100 Lower Cook Inlet 15 4 0.02 18 0 39

Kodiak 1 - 100 Northern Kodiak Shallows 8 3 0.014 3 0 7

Shumagin 1 - 100 Shumagin Bank 35 8 0.011 13 1 26

Shumagin 1 - 100 Lower Alaska Peninsula 26 4 0.009 6 0 14

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Gullies 2 1 0.008 1 0 13

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Shallows 28 3 0.004 2 0 4

Shumagin 101 - 200 Sanak Gully 6 1 0.00 2 0 6

Chirikof 1 - 100 Chirikof Bank 37 3 0.00 2 0 4

Chirikof 1 - 100 Semidi Bank 24 1 0.001 1 0 2

Chirikof 101 - 200 Chirikof Outer Shelf 26 1 0.001 0 0 1

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 1 0.001 1 0 2

Shumagin 201 - 300 Shumagin Slope 17 1 0.001 0 0 1

Kodiak 1 - 100 Albatross Banks 40 1 0 0 0 1

213
Table 81. -- Number of survey hauls, number of hauls with Pacific hake, mean CPUE, biomass, and 

mean weight, based on the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey, by 

International North Pacific Fisheries Commission statistical areas and depth intervals. 

INPFC

 area Depth (m)

Number

 of 

hauls

Hauls

with 

catch

Mean 

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Estimated

biomass 

(t)

Lower 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Upper 95% 

biomass CI

(t)

Mean 

weight 

(kg)

Shumagin 1 - 100 127 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 40 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 196 0 --- --- --- --- ---

Chirikof 1 - 100 78 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 72 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 25 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 7 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 5 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 3 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 190 0 --- --- --- --- ---

Kodiak 1 - 100 100 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 125 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 31 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 16 0 --- --- --- --- ---

501 - 700 4 1 0.10 17 0 65 1.015

701 - 1000 4 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 280 1 < 0.01 17 0 65 1.015

Yakutat 1 - 100 19 0 --- --- --- --- ---

101 - 200 36 0 --- --- --- --- ---

201 - 300 17 0 --- --- --- --- ---

301 - 500 8 3 1.53 402 0 1,981 0.989

501 - 700 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

701 - 1000 1 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 83 3 0.07 402 0 1,981 0.989

Southeastern 1 - 100 11 2 61.59 40,319 0 129,045 1.841

101 - 200 26 3 0.19 209 0 456 1.018

201 - 300 19 13 7.61 3,843 735 6,951 0.939

301 - 500 14 13 10.48 3,268 472 6,063 0.902

501 - 700 2 2 0.77 80 76 84 1.019

701 - 1000 2 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 74 33 17.02 47,718 0 136,542 1.596

All areas 1 - 100 335 2 3.12 40,319 0 129,045 1.841

101 - 200 299 3 0.02 209 0 456 1.018

201 - 300 109 13 1.07 3,843 735 6,951 0.939

301 - 500 52 16 2.87 3,670 816 6,524 0.91

501 - 700 16 3 0.12 97 49 145 1.019

701 - 1000 12 0 --- --- --- --- ---

All depths 823 37 1.50 48,137 0 136,965 1.587

214
Table 82. -- Catch per unit of effort by stratum for Pacific hake sorted by descending CPUE 

for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

INPFC

area

Depth

range Stratum name

Number

of

hauls

Hauls

with

catch

CPUE

(kg/ha)

Biomass

(t)

Lower

CI

biomass

Upper

CI

biomass

Southeastern 1 - 100 Southeastern Shallows 11 2 61.59 40,319 0 130,133

Southeastern 201 - 300 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 5 5 15.71 1,768 0 4,063

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Deep Gullies 7 7 12.06 2,827 0 5,684

Southeastern 301 - 500 Southeastern Slope 7 6 5.71 441 0 894

Southeastern 201 - 300 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 14 8 5.28 2,075 0 4,709

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Gullies 2 1 3.31 366 0 5,019

Southeastern 501 - 700 Southeastern Slope 2 2 0.77 80 69 91

Yakutat 301 - 500 Yakutat Slope 6 2 0.23 36 0 94

Southeastern 101 - 200 Prince of Wales Shelf 15 2 0.21 147 0 365

Southeastern 101 - 200 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 11 1 0.15 62 0 199

Kodiak 501 - 700 Kodiak Slope 4 1 0.10 17 0 72

215

CITATIONS

Alverson, D.L., and W.T. Pereyra. 1969. Demersal fish explorations in the northeastern Pacific 

Ocean -- An evaluation of exploratory fishing methods and analytical approaches to 

stock size and yield forecasts. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 26:1985-2001. 

Berendzen, P.B. 1997. Phylogenetic analysis of the Order Pleuronectiformes using molecular 

and morphological evidence. Abstracts of the 1997 Annual Meeting of the American 

Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Seattle, Washington. 

Britt, L., and M.H. Martin. 2000. Data report: 1999 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. U.S. 

Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-AFSC-121, 249 p. 

Cochran, W.G. 1977. Sampling Techniques. 3rd ed. Wiley Series in Probability and 

Mathematical Statistics - Applied. John Wiley & Sons. N.Y., NY 428 p. 

Cooper, J., and F. Chapleau 1998. The monophyletic status of Pleuronectes (Pleuronectidae: 

Pleuronectiformes). Abstracts of the 1996 Annual Meeting of the American Society of 

Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Ivankov, V.N. 1996. Review of the book by G.U. Lindberg and V.V. Fedorov, The fishes of the 

Sea of Japan and adjacent parts of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Yellow Sea. Part 6. 

Teleostomi, Osteichthyes, Actinopterygii. XXXI. Pleuronectiformes—Family 

217
Psettodidae-CCI—Family Cynoglossidae. J.Ichthyol. 36(7):549-550. [Transl. By 

P.A. Aleinikov.] 

Martin, M.H., and D.M. Clausen. 1995. Data report: 1993 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-AFSC-59, 217 p. 

Munro, P.T., and R.Z. Hoff. 1995. Two demersal trawl surveys in the Gulf of Alaska: 

Implications of survey design and methods. U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. 

Memo. NMFS-AFSC-50, 139 p. 

Orr, J.W., and A.C. Matarese. 2000. Revision of the genus Lepidopsetta Gill, 1862 (Teleostei: 

Pleuronectidae) based on larval and adult morphology, with a description of a new 

species from the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. Fish. Bull., U.S. 98:539-582. 

Orr, J.W., and J.E. Blackburn. 2004. The dusky rockfishes (Teleostei: Scorpaeniformes) of the 

North Pacific Ocean: resurrection of Sebastes variabilis (Pallas, 1814) and a 

redescription of Sebastes ciliatus (Tilesius, 1813). Fish. Bull., U.S. 102:328-348. 

Orr, J.W., and S. Hawkins. 2008. Species of the rougheye rockfish complex: resurrection of 

Sebastes melanostictus (Matsubara, 1934) and a redescription of Sebastes aleutianus

(Jordan and Evermann, 1898) (Teleostei: Scorpaeniformes). Fish. Bull., U.S. 106:111-

134. 

218
Rass, T.S. 1996. On taxonomy of Pleuronectini (Pleuronectidae). J. Ichthyol. 36:546-548. 

Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott. 

1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. Fifth 

ed. Am. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. No. 20. 183 p. 

Stark, J.W., and D.M. Clausen. 1995. Data report: 1990 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-AFSC-49, 221 p. 

Stauffer, G. 2004. NOAA protocols for groundfish bottom trawl surveys of the Nation’s fishery 

resources. U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-65, 205 p. Available 

online at http://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/tm/tm65.pdf. 

von Szalay, P.G., M.E. Wilkins, and M.H. Martin. 2008. Data report: 2007 Gulf of Alaska 

bottom trawl survey. U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-AFSC-189, 

247 p. 

Wakabayashi, K., R.G. Bakkala, and M.S. Alton. 1985. Methods of the U.S.-Japan demersal 

trawl surveys, p. 7-29. In R. G. Bakkala and K. Wakabayashi (eds.), Results of 

cooperative U.S.-Japan groundfish investigations in the Bering Sea during MayAugust 1979. Int. North Pac. Fish. Comm. Bull. 44. 

219

APPENDIX A

Strata Specifications and Locations 

Appendix Table A-1 presents the survey strata definitions for the 2009 Gulf of 

Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey including depth range, stratum name, and the area in square 

nautical miles and square kilometers. Appendix Table A-2 presents the summary strata code 

definitions. Appendix Figures A-1 through A-5 are charts showing the locations and extent of 

the strata as defined. 

221
Appendix Table A-1. -- Survey strata used for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial survey 

 including depth, stratum code, name and area in square nautical 

 miles (nmi2) and square kilometers (km2). 

Depth range 

(m) 

Stratum 

code Stratum name 

Area 

(nmi2) 

Area 

 (km2) 

1 - 100 10 Fox Islands 2,430 8,333

11 Davidson Bank 3,989 13,681

12 Lower Alaska Peninsula 2,005 6,876

13 Shumagin Bank 3,615 12,399

20 Upper Alaska Peninsula 2,315 7,941

21 Semidi Bank 2,129 7,302

22 Chirikof Bank 3,147 10,792

30 Albatross Shallows 1,681 5,766

31 Albatross Banks 4,491 15,403

32 Lower Cook Inlet 2,883 9,887

33 Kenai Peninsula 1,534 5,260

35 Northern Kodiak Shallows 641 2,200

40 Yakutat Shallows 2,900 9,947

41 Middleton Shallows 1,958 6,714

50 Southeastern Shallows 1,909 6,546

991 Subtotal 37,628 129,047 

101 - 200 110 Sanak Gully 1,238 4,245

111 Shumagin Outer Shelf 2,377 8,154

112 West Shumagin Gully 664 2,278

120 East Shumagin Gully 3,238 11,104

121 Shelikof Edge 2,255 7,735

122 Chirikof Outer Shelf 1,461 5,011

130 Albatross Gullies 2,307 7,912

131 Portlock Flats 2,139 7,336

132 Barren Islands 3,202 10,981

133 Kenai Flats 3,521 12,077

134 Kodiak Outer Shelf 1,465 5,026

140 Middleton Shelf 2,142 7,346

141 Yakataga Shelf 1,539 5,277

142 Yakutat Flats 2,634 9,032

143 Fairweather Shelf 2,253 7,728

150 Baranof-Chichagof Shelf 1,224 4,196

151 Prince of Wales Shelf 2,008 6,888

992 Subtotal 35,668 122,324 

222
Appendix Table A-1. - Continued. 

Depth range 

(m) 

Stratum 

code Stratum name 

Area 

(nmi2) 

Area 

 (km2) 

201 - 300 210 Shumagin Slope 813 2,788

220 Lower Shelikof Gully 2,921 10,018 

221 Chirikof Slope 446 1,528 

230 Kenai Gullies 1,942 6,659

231 Kodiak Slope 473 1,623

232 Upper Shelikof Gully 935 3,208

240 Yakutat Gullies 887 3,043

241 Yakutat Slope 620 2,127

250 Baranof-Chichagof Slope 328 1,125

251 Prince of Wales Slope/Gullies 1,145 3,927

993 Subtotal 10,511 36,047 

301 - 500 310 Shumagin Slope 738 2,531

320 Chirikof Slope 468 1,604

330 Kodiak Slope 849 2,912

340 Yakutat Gullies 323 1,107

341 Yakutat Slope 443 1,521

350 Southeastern Deep Gullies 684 2,344

351 Southeastern Slope 225 773

994 Subtotal 3,730 12,792 

501 - 700 410 Shumagin Slope 585 2,006

420 Chirikof Slope 570 1,953 

430 Kodiak Slope 509 1,745 

440 Yakutat Slope 428 1,469 

450 Southeastern Slope 301 1,033 

995 Subtotal 2,393 8,206 

701 – 1,000 510 Shumagin Slope 565 1,937

520 Chirikof Slope 894 3,066 

530 Kodiak Slope 1,019 3,494 

540 Yakutat Slope 550 1,887 

550 Southeastern Slope 352 1,206 

996 Subtotal 3,380 11,590 

1 – 1,000 999 Grand Total 93,309 320,006 

223
Appendix Table A-2. -- Summary codes used for the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl 

 survey including depth range, International North Pacific Fisheries 

 Commission statistical areas and square area, and strata included in the 

 summary area. 

Summary 

code 

number 

 Depth 

 range 

 (m) 

 INPFC 

 area 

Area 

(nmi2) 

Area 

(km2) 

Strata 

 included 

911 1 - 100 Shumagin 12,039 41,289 10 -13 

912 101 - 200 4,280 14,677 110 - 112 

913 201 - 300 813 2,788 210 

914 301 - 500 738 2,531 310 

915 501 - 700 585 2,006 410 

916 701 – 1,000 565 1,937 510 

919 1 -1,000 19,020 65,228 

921 1 - 100 Chirikof 7,591 26,035 20-22 

922 101 - 200 6,954 23,850 120-122 

923 201 - 300 3,350 11,490 230, 231 

924 301 - 500 468 1,604 320 

925 501 - 700 570 1,953 420 

926 701 – 1,000 894 3,066 520 

929 1 -1,000 19,827 67,998 

931 1 - 100 Kodiak 11,230 38,516 30 - 33, 35 

932 101 - 200 12,634 43,332 130 - 134 

933 201 - 300 3,350 11,490 230 - 232 

934 301 - 500 849 2,912 330 

935 501 - 700 509 1,745 430 

936 701 – 1,000 1,019 3,494 530 

939 1 -1,000 29,591 101,489 

224
Summary 

code 

number 

Depth 

range 

(m) 

INPFC 

area 

Area 

(nmi2) 

Area 

(km2) 

Strata 

included 

941 1- 100 Yakutat 4,858 16,661 240, 241 

942 101 - 200 8,568 29,383 140 – 143 

943 201 - 300 1,507 5,170 240, 241 

944 301 - 500 766 2,628 340, 341 

945 501 - 700 428 1,469 440 

946 701 – 1,000 550 1,887 540 

949 1 -1,000 16,677 57,198 

951 1 - 100 Southeastern 1,909 6,546 50 

952 101 - 200 3,232 11,084 150, 151 

953 201 - 300 1,473 5,052 250, 251 

954 301 - 500 909 3,117 350, 351 

955 501 - 700 301 1,033 450 

956 701 – 1,000 352 1,206 550 

959 1 -1,000 8,176 28,039 

999 1 – 1,000 All Areas 93,309 320,006 

225
 This page intentionally left blank. 
APPENDIX B

Fish and Invertebrate Taxa Encountered 

 Appendix Tables B-1 and B-2 list fish and invertebrate taxa encountered and identified 

during the 2009 Gulf of Alaska biennial bottom trawl survey. Most common and scientific 

names are from Robins et al. (1991). Order of listings and common names used are for 

convenience and do not imply adherence to a particular phylogenetic system. 

227
Appendix Table B-1. -- Fish species encountered during the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey. 

Family Scientific name Common name 

Chimaeridae Hydrolagus colliei spotted ratfish 

Squalidae Squalus acanthias spiny dogfish 

Somniosus pacificus Pacific sleeper shark 

Rajidae Bathyraja abyssicola deepsea skate 

Raja binoculata big skate 

Bathyraja interrupta Bering skate 

Raja rhina longnose skate 

Bathyraja taranetzi mud skate 

Bathyraja trachura roughtail skate 

Bathyraja parmifera Alaska skate 

Bathyraja aleutica Aleutian skate 

Bathyraja lindbergi commander skate 

Bathyraja maculata whiteblotched skate 

Nemichthyidae Nemichthyidae snipe eel unident. 

Clupeidae Clupea pallasi Pacific herring 

Bathylagidae Bathylagus pacificus Pacific blacksmelt 

Leuroglossus schmidti northern smoothtongue 

Bathylagus ochotensis popeye blacksmelt 

Opisthoproctidae Macropinna microstoma barreleye 

Alepocephalidae Alepocephalus tenebrosus California slickhead 

Osmeridae Thaleichthys pacificus eulachon 

Mallotus villosus capelin 

Osmerus mordax rainbow smelt 

Spirinchus thaleichthys longfin smelt 

Salmonidae Oncorhynchus tshawytscha chinook salmon 

Oncorhynchus kisutch coho salmon 

Oncorhynchus gorbuscha pink salmon 

Oncorhynchus keta chum salmon 

Oncorhynchus nerka sockeye salmon 

Salvelinus malma Dolly Varden 

Gonostomatidae Sigmops gracilis slender fangjaw 

Stomiidae Stomiidae barbeled dragonfish 

Melanostomiidae Tactostoma macropus longfin dragonfish 

228
Chauliodontidae Chauliodus macouni Pacific viperfish 

Scopelarchidae Benthalbella dentata northern pearleye 

Paralepidae Paralepididae barracudina unident. 

Myctophidae Stenobrachius leucopsarus northern lampfish 

Stenobrachius nannochir garnet lampfish 

Diaphus theta California headlightfish 

Lampanyctus sp.

Nannobrachium ritteri broadfin lanternfish 

Lampanyctus jordani brokenline lampfish 

Protomyctophum thompsoni northern flashlightfish 

Macrouridae Coryphaenoides acrolepis Pacific grenadier 

Albatrossia pectoralis giant grenadier 

Coryphaenoides cinereus popeye grenadier 

Moridae Antimora microlepis Pacific flatnose 

Merluccidae Merluccius productus Pacific hake 

Gadidae Microgadus proximus Pacific tomcod 

Gadus macrocephalus Pacific cod 

Eleginus gracilis saffron cod 

Theragra chalcogramma walleye pollock 

Oneirodidae Oneirodes sp. 

Melamphaeidae Poromitra curilensis crested bigscale 

Melamphaes lugubris highsnout bigscale 

Gasterosteidae Gasterosteus aculeatus threespine stickleback 

Scorpaenidae Sebastolobus alascanus shortspine thornyhead 

Sebastolobus altivelis longspine thornyhead 

Sebastes aleutianus rougheye rockfish 

Sebastes melanostictus blackspotted rockfish 

Sebastes alutus Pacific ocean perch 

Sebastes aurora aurora rockfish 

Sebastes brevispinis silvergray rockfish 

Sebastes ciliatus dark rockfish 

Sebastes variabilis dusky rockfish 

Sebastes crameri darkblotched rockfish 

Sebastes diploproa splitnose rockfish 

Sebastes elongatus greenstriped rockfish 

229
Sebastes entomelas widow rockfish 

Sebastes flavidus yellowtail rockfish 

Sebastes helvomaculatus rosethorn rockfish 

Sebastes maliger quillback rockfish 

Sebastes melanops black rockfish 

Sebastes pinniger canary rockfish 

Sebastes polyspinis northern rockfish 

Sebastes proriger redstripe rockfish 

Sebastes ruberrimus yelloweye rockfish 

Sebastes babcocki redbanded rockfish 

Sebastes saxicola stripetail rockfish 

Sebastes variegatus harlequin rockfish 

Sebastes wilsoni pygmy rockfish 

Sebastes zacentrus sharpchin rockfish 

Sebastes borealis shortraker rockfish 

Sebastes reedi yellowmouth rockfish 

Anoplopomatidae Anoplopoma fimbria sablefish 

Hexagrammidae Ophiodon elongatus lingcod 

Pleurogrammus monopterygius Atka mackerel 

Hexagrammos stelleri whitespotted greenling 

Hexagrammos decagrammus kelp greenling 

Cottidae Thyriscus anoplus sponge sculpin 

Icelinus borealis northern sculpin 

Gymnocanthus pistilliger threaded sculpin 

Gymnocanthus galeatus armorhead sculpin 

Bolinia euryptera broadfin sculpin 

Malacocottus zonurus darkfin sculpin 

Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus red Irish lord 

Hemilepidotus jordani yellow Irish lord 

Triglops forficata scissortail sculpin 

Triglops scepticus spectacled sculpin 

Triglops pingeli ribbed sculpin 

Triglops macellus roughspine sculpin 

Myoxocephalus polyacanthocephalus great sculpin 

Myoxocephalus jaok plain sculpin 

230
Leptocottus armatus Pacific staghorn sculpin 

Dasycottus setiger spinyhead sculpin 

Psychrolutes paradoxus tadpole sculpin 

Rhamphocottus richardsoni grunt sculpin 

Hemitripterus bolini bigmouth sculpin 

Triglops xenostethus scalybreasted sculpin 

Icelus spiniger thorny sculpin 

Icelus euryops wide-eye sculpin 

Icelus spatula spatulate sculpin 

Rastrinus scutiger roughskin sculpin 

Agonidae Leptagonus frenatus sawback poacher 

Bathyagonus alascanus gray starsnout 

Bathyagonus infraspinatus spinycheek starsnout 

Bathyagonus pentacanthus bigeye poacher 

Bathyagonus nigripinnis blackfin poacher 

Podothecus accipenserinus sturgeon poacher 

Hypsagonus quadricornis fourhorn poacher 

Cyclopteridae Aptocyclus ventricosus smooth lumpsucker 

Lethotremus muticus docked snailfish 

Eumicrotremus birulai round lumpsucker 

Eumicrotremus orbis Pacific spiny lumpsucker 

Cyclopteropsis phrynoides toad lumpsucker 

Liparis dennyi marbled snailfish 

Liparis gibbus variegated snailfish 

Crystallichthys cyclospilus blotched snailfish 

Elassodiscus caudatus humpback snailfish 

Elassodiscus tremebundus blacklip snailfish 

Careproctus melanurus blacktail snailfish 

Careproctus cypselurus blackfin snailfish 

Careproctus furcellus emarginate snailfish 

Careproctus gilberti smalldisk snailfish 

Careproctus colletti Alaska snailfish 

Careproctus rastrinus salmon snailfish 

Paraliparis dactylosus red snailfish 

Careproctus comus comic snailfish 

231
Bathymasteridae Ronquilus jordani northern ronquil 

Bathymaster signatus searcher 

Zoarcidae Bothrocara brunneum twoline eelpout 

Bothrocara pusillum Alaska eelpout 

Lycenchelys crotalinus snakehead eelpout 

Lycodes cortezianus bigfin eelpout 

Lycodes palearis wattled eelpout 

Lycodes concolor ebony eelpout 

Lycodes polaris Canadian eelpout 

Lycodes diapterus black eelpout 

Lycodes brevipes shortfin eelpout 

Lycodes beringi Bering eelpout 

Lycodes pacificus blackbelly eelpout 

Stichaeidae Lumpenus maculatus daubed shanny 

Lumpenus fabricii slender eelblenny 

Lumpenus sagitta snake prickleback 

Lumpenella longirostris longsnout prickleback 

Chirolophis snyderi bearded warbonnet 

Chirolophis tarsodes 

Poroclinus rothrocki whitebarred prickleback 

Chirolophis nugator mosshead warbonnet 

Bryozoichthys lysimus nutcracker prickleback 

Cryptacanthodidae Cryptacanthodes giganteus giant wrymouth 

Anarhichadidae Anarrhichthys ocellatus wolf-eel 

Anarhichas orientalis Bering wolffish 

Zaproridae Zaprora silenus prowfish 

Trichodontidae Trichodon trichodon Pacific sandfish 

Ammodytidae Ammodytes hexapterus Pacific sand lance 

Bothidae Citharichthys sordidus Pacific sanddab 

Pleuronectidae Atheresthes stomias arrowtooth flounder 

Atheresthes evermanni Kamchatka flounder 

Hippoglossus stenolepis Pacific halibut 

Hippoglossoides elassodon flathead sole 

Lyopsetta exilis slender sole 

Eopsetta jordani petrale sole 

232
Parophrys vetulus English sole 

Microstomus pacificus Dover sole 

Embassichthys bathybius deepsea sole 

Glyptocephalus zachirus rex sole 

Limanda aspera yellowfin sole 

Platichthys stellatus starry flounder 

Psettichthys melanostictus sand sole 

Lepidopsetta polyxystra northern rock sole 

Lepidopsetta bilineata southern rock sole 

Isopsetta isolepis butter sole 

Pleuronichthys decurrens curlfin sole 

Pleuronectes quadrituberculatus Alaska plaice 

233
Appendix Table B-2. -- Invertebrate species encountered during the 2009 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl. 

Phylum Scientific name Common name 

Porifera Suberites ficus 

Suberites montinger peach sponge 

Suberites domuncula hermit sponge 

Aphrocallistes vastus clay pipe sponge 

 Phakellia sp. 

Mycale loveni tree sponge 

 Coelospaeridae ginseng sponge 

Geodia mesotriaena 

 Acanthascus sp. 

Halichondria panicea barrel sponge 

 Rhabdocalyptus sp. cloud sponge 

Mycale bellabellensis lampshade sponge 

Myxilla incrustans scallop sponge 

Myxilla brunnea soft brown sponge 

Phakellia beringensis hat sponge 

Plicatellopsis amphispicula firm finger sponge 

 Histodermella sp. A spud sponge 

Leucosolenia blanca yellow leafy sponge 

 Tethya sp. ball sponge 

 Hyalonema sp. fiberoptic sponge 

Halichondria cf. sitiens yellow green papillate sponge 

Yellow papillate sponge 

 Stylissa sp. drumstick sponge 

Neoesperiopsis rigida soft finger sponge 

Neoesperiopsis infundibula rough China hat sponge 

Neoesperiopsis digitata 

Esperiopsis flagrum 

 Inflatella sp. 1 orange papillate sponge 

 Stelletta sp. stone sponge 

Polymastia fluegeli Flugel's nippled spong 

Weberella bursa pale mammilated sponge 

 Vulcanella sp. 

Tentorum semisuberites two nipple sponge 

Craniella villosa 

234
 Cliona sp. A rough bread crumb sponge 

 Latrunculia sp. A green papillate sponge 

Stelodoryx alaskaensis Alaskan lobed sponge 

 Hexactinellida glass sponge unident. 

 Staurocalyptus sp. 

Geodinella robusta calcareous finger sponge 

Aulosaccus schulzei vase sponge 

Farrea beringiana Bering lace sponge 

Regadrella okinoseana lacy basket sponge 

Craniella cranium baseball sponge 

Craniella spinosa furry ball sponge 

Porifera Tetilla sp. 

Cnidaria Aglaophenia sp. 

 Abietinaria sp. 

Periphylla periphylla 

Chrysaora melanaster 

Phacellophora camtschatica egg yolk jelly 

 Aequorea sp. 

 Atolla sp. 

Aurelia labiata 

Chrysaora fuscescens sea nettle 

Cyanea capillata lion's mane 

 Gersemia sp. sea raspberry 

 Anthomastus sp. 

Primnoa pacifica 

Primnoa willeyi red tree coral 

Swiftia pacifica 

Swiftia simplex 

Paragorgia pacifica 

Paragorgia nodosa 

 Parastenella sp. A sugar coral 

 Virgularia sp. smoothstem seawhip 

 Stylatula sp. slender seawhips 

 Protoptilum sp. 

Halipteris willemoesi 

 Umbellula sp. 

Ptilosarcus gurneyi orange sea pen 

235
Anthoptilum grandiflorum 

Actinauge verrilli reticulate anemone 

Paractinostola faeculenta rough purple sea anemone 

 Actinoscyphia sp. 

 Corallimorphus sp. 

Metridium farcimen gigantic anemone 

Stomphia didemon cowardly anemone 

Stomphia coccinea swimming anemone 

Urticina crassicornis mottled anemone 

Bathyphelia australis hot dog sea anemone 

Oractis diomedeae grape anemone 

 Actiniidae unid. actinid sea anemones unid. 

Cribrinopsis fernaldi chevron-tentacled anemone 

Liponema brevicornis tentacle-shedding anemone 

 Actinostola sp. 

 Hormathiidae 

 Scleractinia unident. stony coral unident. 

Caryophyllia arnoldi 

 Stylaster sp. 

Stylaster campylecus 

 Plumarella sp. 

 Isidella sp. articulated bamboo coral 

 Thouarella sp. 

Fanellia compressa 

Fanellia fraseri 

Muriceides nigra 

 Amphilaphis sp. 

 Arthrogorgia sp. 

Ctenophora Ctenophora comb jelly unident. 

Annelida Eunice valens 

 Spinther sp. A 

Aphrodita negligens 

Euphrosine multibranchiata 

Travisia pupa 

 Nereidae 

Eunoe nodosa giant scale worm 

Eunoe depressa depressed scale worm

236
Serpula columbiana 

Notostombdella striped sea leech 

Platyhelminthes Platyhelminthes flatworm unident. 

Rhynchocoela Nemertea nemertean worm unident. 

Rhynchocoela Emplectonema sp. 

Sipuncula Sipuncula peanut worm unid. 

Echiura Echiura echiuroid worm unident. 

Arthropoda Rocinella angusta 

Neognathophausia gigas giant red mysid 

Neognathophausia ingens red mysid 

Balanus evermanni giant barnacle 

Balanus rostratus beaked barnacle 

Scalpellum columbiana 

Sergestes similis Pacific sergestid 

Pandalus danae dock shrimp 

Pandalus jordani ocean shrimp 

Pandalus eous Alaskan pink 

Pandalus tridens yellowleg pandalid 

Pandalus platyceros spot shrimp 

Pandalus goniurus humpy shrimp 

Pandalus hypsinotus coonstripe shrimp 

Pandalus stenolepis roughpatch shrimp 

Pandalopsis dispar sidestripe shrimp 

Pandalopsis ampla 

Eualus barbatus barbed eualid 

Eualus macrophthalmus bigeye eualid 

Eualus suckleyi shortscale eualid 

Lebbeus groenlandicus spiny lebbeid 

Crangon communis twospine crangon 

Crangon dalli ridged crangon 

Crangon septemspinosa sevenspine bay shrimp 

Argis alaskensis common argid 

Argis dentata Arctic argid 

Sclerocrangon boreas sculptured shrimp 

Argis levior Nelson's argid 

Argis ovifer split-eye argid 

Paracrangon echinata horned shrimp 

237
Pasiphaea pacifica Pacific glass shrimp 

Hymenodora frontalis Pacific ambereye 

Cancer branneri 

Cancer magister Dungeness crab 

Cancer oregonensis Oregon rock crab 

Oregonia bifurca 

Oregonia gracilis graceful decorator crab 

Chorilia longipes Longhorned decorator crab 

Chionoecetes tanneri grooved Tanner crab 

Chionoecetes bairdi Tanner crab 

Hyas lyratus Pacific lyre crab 

Telmessus cheiragonus helmet crab 

Pagurus brandti sponge hermit 

Pagurus townsendi Townsend hermit crab 

Pagurus aleuticus Aleutian hermit 

Labidochirus splendescens splendid hermit 

Pagurus confragosus knobbyhand hermit 

Pagurus cornutus 

Pagurus dalli whiteknee hermit 

Pagurus kennerlyi bluespine hermit 

Pagurus trigonocheirus fuzzy hermit crab 

Pagurus beringanus Bering hermit 

Pagurus ochotensis Alaskan hermit 

Pagurus rathbuni longfinger hermit 

Pagurus tanneri longhand hermit 

Elassochirus tenuimanus widehand hermit crab 

Pagurus capillatus hairy hermit crab 

Elassochirus cavimanus purple hermit 

Elassochirus gilli Pacific red hermit 

Lopholithodes foraminatus box crab 

Acantholithodes hispidus fuzzy crab 

Lithodes couesi scarlet king crab 

Lithodes aequispinus golden king crab 

Hapalogaster grebnitzkii 

Rhinolithodes wosnessenskii rhinoceros crab 

Paralithodes brevipes Kurile king crab 

Cryptolithodes typica 

238
Placetron wosnessenskii scaled crab 

Erimacrus isenbeckii horsehair crab 

Munida quadrispina pinchbug 

 Colossendeis sp. 

Mollusca Neomenia cf. yamamoti 

Lepidozona trifida 

Amicula vestita 

Tochuina tetraquetra giant orange tochui 

Dendronotus dalli Dall's dendronotid 

Tritonia festiva festive Tritonia 

Tritonia diomedea rosy tritonia 

Triopha catalinae sea-clown triopha 

Armina californica California armina 

Colga pacifica Pacific Colga 

Cadlina modesta 

Anisodoris nobilis Pacific sea lemon 

Anisodoris lentiginosa mottled pale sea-lemon 

Archidoris odhneri white night doris 

 Diaulula sp. A 

Cranopsis major great puncturella 

Scelitoboma bella 

Bulbus fragilis fragile moonsnail 

Cryptonatica Aleutian moonsnail 

Cryptonatica rusty moonsnail 

Nucella lamellosa frilled dogwinkle 

Euspira sp. pale moonsnail 

 Lamellaria sp. 

 Crepidula sp. slipper shell 

Japelion aleutica 

Pyrulofusus dexius 

Pyrulofusus deformis warped whelk 

Pyrulofusus harpa left-hand whelk 

Volutopsius fragilis fragile whelk 

Volutopsius filosus threaded whelk 

Volutopsius castaneus volute whelk 

Beringius kennicottii 

Neptunea amianta white neptune 

239
Neptunea pribiloffensis Pribilof whelk 

Neptunea borealis 

Neptunea lyrata lyre whelk 

Plicifusus griseus gray whelk 

Boreotrophon alaskanus Alaskan trophon 

Boreotrophon stuarti winged trophon 

Fusitriton oregonensis Oregon triton 

Bathybembix bairdii 

Cidarina cidaris 

Buccinum oedematum swollen whelk 

Buccinum plectrum sinuous whelk 

Buccinum scalariforme ladder whelk 

Buccinum cnismatum 

 Volutomitra sp. 

Arctomelon stearnsii Alaska volute 

Arctomelon borealis 

Arctomelon tamikoae 

Acharax johnsoni 

Modiolus modiolus northern horsemussel 

Chlamys rubida reddish scallop 

Patinopecten caurinus weathervane scallop 

Delectopecten vancouverensis Vancouver scallop 

Cyclopecten davidsoni salmon glass-scallop 

Hiatella arctica Arctic hiatella 

Yoldia thraciaeformis broad yoldia 

Yoldia hyperborea northern yoldia 

Empleconia vaginata vaginated limops 

Musculus niger black mussel 

Astarte compacta 

Astarte arctica 

 Cyclocardia sp. cf. borealis northern carditid 

Clinocardium ciliatum hairy cockle 

Clinocardium blandum strait cockle 

Humilaria kennerleyi Kennerleys venus 

Macoma calcarea chalky macoma 

Serripes groenlandicus Greenland cockle 

Serripes notabilis oblique smoothcockle 

240
Pododesmus macrochisma Alaska falsejingle 

Benthoctopus leioderma smoothskin octopus 

 Japatella sp. 

Opisthoteuthis californiana flapjack devilfish 

Octopus dofleini giant octopus 

Benthoctopus sp.

Rossia pacifica eastern Pacific bobtail 

 Gonatus sp. 

Berryteuthis magister magistrate armhook squid 

Gonatopsis borealis boreopacific armhook squid 

Moroteuthis robusta robust clubhook squid 

Chiroteuthis calyx 

Taonius pavo 

Octopoteuthis deletron 

Bryozoa Flustrellidra corniculata 

Alcyonidium pedunculatum 

Myriozoum subgracile 

Rhamphostomella costata ribbed bryozoan 

Hippodiplosia insculpta 

Microporina borealis 

 Dendrobeania sp. 

Brachiopoda Terebratalia transversa common brachiopod 

Terebratulina unguicula snakeshead brachiopod 

Laqueus californianus California lamp shell 

Laqueus vancouverensis Vancouver lampshell 

Echinodermata Evasterias retifera 

Evasterias troschelii mottled sea star 

Evasterias echinosoma giant sea star 

Orthasterias koehleri redbanded sea star 

Leptasterias hylodes Aleutian sea star 

Leptasterias coei 

Rathbunaster californicus 

Pycnopodia helianthoides sunflower sea star 

Stylasterias forreri long-rayed star 

Ampheraster marianus 

Tarsaster alaskanus 

Lethasterias nanimensis blackspined sea star 

241
Pedicellaster magister majestic sea star 

Pisaster brevispinus giant pink star 

Poraniopsis inflata thorny sea star 

Henricia aspera ridged blood star 

Henricia leviuscula blood sea star 

Henricia asthenactis 

Henricia longispina 

Henricia spiculifera spiny Henricia 

Odontohenricia fisheri 

Leptasterias katharinae 

Gephyreaster swifti Swift's sea star 

Pseudarchaster alascensis 

Hippasteria californica 

Hippasteria heathi 

Hippasteria spinosa spiny red sea star 

Pseudarchaster parelii scarlet sea star 

Mediaster tenellus 

Mediaster aequalis vermilion sea star 

Ceramaster japonicus red bat star 

Ceramaster patagonicus orange bat sea star 

Ceramaster stellatus 

Luidia foliolata sand sea star 

Dermasterias imbricata leather sea star 

Solaster endeca northern sun sea star 

Solaster dawsoni morning sun sea star 

Solaster stimpsoni striped sun sea star 

Crossaster borealis grooved sea star 

Crossaster papposus rose sea star 

Lophaster vexator crested star 

Pteraster tesselatus 

Pteraster jordani 

Pteraster militaris wrinkled star 

Pteraster marssipus 

Pteraster obscurus obscure sea star 

Diplopteraster multipes pincushion sea star 

Asterias amurensis purple-orange sea star 

Ctenodiscus crispatus common mud star 

242
Leptychaster anomalus 

Leptychaster arcticus North Pacific sea star 

Cladaster validus 

Dipsacaster borealis northern sea star 

Dipsacaster eximus 

Cheiraster dawsoni fragile sea star 

Nearchaster variabilis 

Nearchaster pedicellaris 

 Brisingidae brisingid sea star 

Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis green sea urchin 

Strongylocentrotus franciscanus red sea urchin 

Strongylocentrotus polyacanthus 

Strongylocentrotus purpuratus purple sea urchin 

Strongylocentrotus pallidus white sea urchin 

Allocentrotus fragilis orange-pink sea urchin 

Brisaster townsendi 

Brisaster latifrons heart urchin 

Echinarachnius parma parma sand dollar 

Dendraster excentricus 

Florometra acririma 

Florometra inexpectata 

Florometra serratissima featherstar crinoid 

Florometra asperrima common northern feather star 

Psathyrometra fragilis 

Gorgonocephalus eucnemis basketstar 

Asteronyx loveni serpent sea star 

Ophiura quadrispina four spined brittle star 

Ophiura sarsi notched brittlestar 

Stegophiura ponderosa 

Ophiacantha normani 

Ophiacantha cataleimmoida 

Ophiopholis longispina 

Ophiopholis aculeata ubiquitous brittle star 

Ophioscolex corynetes 

 Amphiodia sp. 

Parastichopus leukothele giant orange cucumber 

Parastichopus californicus California sea cucumber 

243
Pseudostichopus mollis sandy sea cucumber 

Molpadia intermedia sweet sea potato 

 Bathyplotes sp. 

Cucumaria fallax sea football 

Cucumaria frondosa 

Psolus phantapus 

Psolus squamatus whitescaled sea cucumber 

Psolus japonicus 

 Thylonidium sp. 

Pannychia moseleyi deep sea papillate cucumber 

Synallactes challengeri 

Chordata Thaliacea unident. salp unident. 

Styela rustica sea potato 

Halocynthia igaboja 

Halocynthia aurantium sea peach 

Cnemidocarpa finmarkiensis broad base tunicate 

Pyura haustor wrinkled tunicate 

Distaplia occidentalis 

Distaplia smithi 

Amaroucium soldatovi 

 Aplidium sp. A sea glob 

Trididemnum opacum 

Ascidia paratropa glassy tunicate 

Halocynthia hispidus hairy tunicate 

Chelysoma productum 

Molgula grifithsii sea grape 

244
APPENDIX C 

Weight-length relationships 

Appendix Table C-1. -- Length-weight parameters (a and b) for species where individual length and weight 

 data were collected. The number of individuals measured and weighed (n) is also 

provided. 

Species Sex a b n Species Sex a b n

Arrowtooth flounder Male 3.821E-06 3.131 448 Walleye pollock Male 4.149E-06 3.104 676

Female 4.141E-06 3.122 710 Female 4.658E-06 3.078 875

Both 3.869E-06 3.132 1160 Both 4.704E-06 3.079 1570

Atka mackerel Male 4.291E-07 3.584 168 Pacific ocean perch Male 8.128E-06 3.089 213

Female 4.451E-06 3.177 166 Female 7.409E-06 3.104 205

Both 1.578E-06 3.358 334 Both 7.486E-06 3.103 422

Blackspotted rockfish Male 5.543E-06 3.166 228 Rex sole Male 5.451E-07 3.417 221

Female 4.684E-06 3.195 192 Female 5.955E-07 3.407 275

Both 5.161E-06 3.178 420 Both 5.524E-07 3.417 496

Pacific cod Male 5.048E-06 3.116 267 Rougheye rockfish Male 8.619E-06 3.095 235

Female 4.925E-06 3.120 294 Female 7.562E-06 3.121 256

Both 4.937E-06 3.121 561 Both 7.616E-06 3.119 495

Dover sole Male 2.646E-06 3.214 231 Sablefish Male 1.691E-06 3.272 365

Female 2.550E-06 3.221 239 Female 1.960E-06 3.247 277

Both 2.554E-06 3.221 470 Both 1.776E-06 3.263 645

Dusky rockfish Male 9.436E-06 3.102 322 Sharpchin rockfish Male 4.290E-06 3.210 232

Female 8.028E-06 3.128 421 Female 3.866E-06 3.229 266

Both 8.724E-06 3.115 743 Both 4.044E-06 3.221 498

Flathead sole Male 1.878E-06 3.263 320 Shortraker rockfish Male 8.303E-06 3.105 141

Female 2.299E-06 3.229 372 Female 6.630E-06 3.143 140

Both 2.393E-06 3.221 704 Both 7.507E-06 3.122 281

Giant grenadier Male 3.221E-03 2.408 129 Southern rock sole Male 4.595E-06 3.164 220

Female 6.978E-04 2.697 218 Female 4.030E-06 3.193 292

Both 9.549E-04 2.639 347 Both 4.478E-06 3.172 513

Northern rockfish Male 8.954E-06 3.090 320 Shortspine thornyhead Male 4.160E-06 3.178 276

Female 9.277E-06 3.086 338 Female 2.480E-06 3.268 283

Both 8.977E-06 3.091 658 Both 3.294E-06 3.218 630

Northern rock sole Male 5.083E-06 3.136 224

Female 3.480E-06 3.207 290

Both 3.899E-06 3.186 514

245

RECENT TECHNICAL MEMORANDUMS

Copies of this and other NOAA Technical Memorandums are available from the

National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22167

(web site: www.ntis.gov). Paper and electronic (.pdf) copies vary in price. 

AFSC207 PUNT, A. E., and P. R. WADE. 2010. Population status of the eastern North Pacific stock of gray

whales in 2009, 43 p. NTIS number pending.

206 ALLEN, B. M., and R. P. ANGLISS. 2010. Alaska marine mammal stock assessments, 2009, 276 p.

NTIS number pending.

205 CAHALAN, J., J. MONDRAGON, and J. GASPER. 2010. Catch sampling and estimation in the

Federal groundfish fisheries off Alaska, 42 p. NTIS No. PB2010-105918.

204 LAUTH, R. R. 2010. Results of the 2009 eastern Bering Sea continental shelf bottom trawl survey of

groundfish and invertebrate resources, 228 p. NTIS number pending.

203 LAAKE, J., A. PUNT, R. HOBBS, M. FERGUSON, D. RUGH, and J. BREIWICK. 2009. Re-analysis of

gray whale southbound migration surveys 1967-2006, 55 p. NTIS No. PB2010-103939.

202 FOWLER, C. W., and L. HOBBS. 2009. Are we asking the right questions in science and

management?, 59 p. NTIS No. PB2010-105917.

201 CHILTON, E. A., C. E. ARMISTEAD, and R. J. FOY. 2009. The 2009 eastern Bering Sea continental

shelf bottom trawl survey: Results for commercial crab species, 101 p. NTIS No. PB2010-103938.

200 BOVENG, P. L., J. L. BENGTSON, T. W. BUCKLEY, M. F. CAMERON, S. P. DAHLE, B. P. KELLY,

B. A. MEGREY, J. E. OVERLAND, and N. J. WILLIAMSON. 2009. Status review of the spotted seal

(Phoca largha), 153 p. NTIS No. PB2010-101436.

199 CONNERS, M. E., J. CAHALAN, S. GAICHAS, W. A. KARP, T. LOOMIS, and J. WATSON. 2009.

Sampling for estimation of catch composition in Bering Sea trawl fisheries, 77 p. NTIS No. PB2010-

100895.

198 BARBEAUX, S. J., and D. FRASER. 2009. Aleutian Islands cooperative acoustic survey study for

2006, 90 p. NTIS No. PB2010-100894.

197 HOFF, G. R., and L. L. BRITT. 2009. Results of the 2008 eastern Bering Sea upper continental slope

survey of groundfish and invertebrate resources, 294 p. NTIS No. PB2010-100893.

196 BUCKLEY, T. W., A. GREIG, and J. L. BOLDT. 2009. Describing summer pelagic habitat over the

continental shelf in the eastern Bering Sea, 1982-2006, 49 p. NTIS No. PB2009-115399.

195 LAUTH, R. R., and E. ACUNA. 2009. Results of the 2008 eastern Bering Sea continental shelf bottom

trawl survey of groundfish and invertebrate resources, 219 p. NTIS No. PB2009-113760.

194 HONKALEHTO, T., D. JONES, A. MCCARTHY, D. MCKELVEY, M.GUTTORMSEN, 

K. WILLIAMS, and N. WILLIAMSON. 2009. Results of the echo integration-trawl survey of walleye

pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) on the U.S. and Russian Bering Sea shelf in June and July 2008, 

56 p. NTIS No. PB2009-110982.

193 ANGLISS, R. P., and B. M. ALLEN. 2009. Alaska marine mammal stock assessments, 2008, 

258 p. NTIS No. PB2009-109548.

192 FOWLER, C. W.,T. E. JEWELL and M. V. LEE. 2009. Harvesting young-of-the-year from large

mammal populations: An application of systemic management, 65 p. NTIS No. PB2009105146.