Over 80 species of groundfish are managed or monitored under a Federal WCG Fishery Management Plan that is administered by the Pacific Fishery Management Council . NOAA Fisheries groundfish assessment and management are concentrated in the Northeast Fisheries Science Center , Alaska Fisheries Science Center and the Southwest Fisheries Science Center's Santa Cruz Laboratory and are focused on species taken in the Oregon, Washington and northern California trawl fisheries.
Little attention is given to groundfish species in southern California.
When necessary, Fisheries Resources Division staff conducts joint stock assessments on such species with the California Department of Fish and Game . Past joint assessments include the blackgill rock fish and cowcod . Future assessments may include cabezon. We also support WCG assessments by providing time series data on rockfish abundance monitored by the CalCOFI program, and through research projects on rockfish genetics and marine ecological reserves .