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

The fixed station positions are divided among six North Pacific Fishery Management Council management areas: Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, Western Gulf of Alaska, Central Gulf of Alaska, West Yakutat, and East Yakutat/Southeast. Stations are placed 30-50 km apart, and gear is set from 150-1000 m at each slope station. Catches are pooled by management area and an abundance index is computed for use in stock assessment and fishery evaluation reports.

To View Data:
Summaries of the catch and abundance data are available by clicking the links or the maps below. The links lead directly to data query pages. Maps lead to interactive maps that aid in choosing stations and management areas for data queries.

• Data summarized by management area
• Data summarized by station

Click the map above for data summarized by management area	Click the map above for data summarized for each station

Links:
See the longline survey protocol for details on the survey methodology.
See the annual longline survey cruise reports for details on each cruise.
See the annual Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation reports for more information on population size.

Contact:
Cara Rodgveller
Auke Bay Laboratories
Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries

Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute
17109 Pt Lena Loop Rd
Juneau AK 99801
Cara.Rodgveller@noaa.gov