2013 Assessment of Walleye Pollock in the Bogoslof Island Region
April 22, 2013
Alaska pollock are broadly distributed throughout the North Pacific with largest concentrations found in the Eastern Bering Sea. The Bogoslof region is noted for having distinct spawning aggregations that appear to be independent from pollock spawning in nearby regions.
Collectively, pollock found in the Donut Hole and in the Bogoslof region are considered a single stock, the Aleutian Basin stock. Currently, based on an agreement from a Central Bering Sea convention meeting, it is assumed that 60% of the Aleutian Basin pollock population spawns in the Bogoslof region. The actual distribution of Aleutian Basin pollock is unknown and likely varies depending on environmental conditions and the age-structure of the stock. The Bogoslof component of the Aleutian Basin stock is one of three management stocks of pollock recognized in the BSAI region. The other stocks include pollock found in the large area of the Eastern Bering Sea shelf region and those in the Aleutian Islands near-shore region (i.e., less than 1000m depth; Barbeaux et al. 2004). The Aleutian Islands, Eastern Bering Sea and Aleutian Basin stocks probably intermingle, but the exchange rate and magnitude are unknown. The degree to which the Bogoslof spawning component contributes to subsequent recruitment to the Aleutian Basin stock also is unknown. From an early life-history perspective, the opportunities for survival of eggs and larvae from the Bogoslof region seem smaller than for other areas (e.g., north of Unimak Island on the shelf). There is a high degree of synchronicity among strong year-classes from these three areas, which suggests either that the spawning source contributing to recruitment is shared or that conditions favorable for survival are shared. From a biological perspective, the degree to which these management units are reasonable definitions depends on the active exchange among these stocks. If they are biologically distinct and have different levels of productivity, then management should be adjusted accordingly. Bailey et al. (1999) present a thorough review of population structure of pollock throughout the north Pacific region. They note that adjacent stocks were not genetically distinct but that differentiation between samples collected on either side of the N. Pacific was evident.