The Population Ecology Program provides information on the population status, distribution, trends, and productivity of West Coast groundfish through stock assessments we develop and other research we conduct. We also prepare rebuilding analyses for species that have been declared overfished. This allows us to compare rebuilding times under different scenarios. Our science is used by the Pacific Fishery Management Council to make decisions for managing these species, which are important to commercial and recreational fisheries. We also support the Cooperative Aging Project, which produces fish-age data that are used in assessments.

Aging Team

• Cooperative Aging Project (with Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission)
• Age-reading 20,000-30,000 otoliths per year, to support assessments, and research on maturity and growth.

Integrated Fisheries Stock Assessment Team

• Groundfish status, distribution, trends, and productivity.
• Interactions between groundfish, fisheries, and other elements of the ecosystem.
• Research to improve the methods used to monitor and model groundfish populations.