Alaska Pacific Cod - Gulf of Alaska

MSC status

Certified as sustainable on the 22nd January 2010.

Summary

Species:  Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus)
Location:  Gulf of Alaska (GoA)
Fishing methods:  Trawl, Longline, Pot & Jig
Number of fisheries: 1

More about Cod

Pacific cod in the Gulf of Alaska are fast growing fish and reach an average length of 19 cm in 1 year. By 12 years they may exceed 89 cm. The stocks are generally exploited from age 3 onwards.

Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) is a transoceanic species, occurring at depths from shoreline to 500m. The southern limit of the species’ distribution is about 34˚N latitude, with a northern limit of about 63˚ N latitude. Pacific cod is distributed widely over the eastern Bering Sea (EBS) as well as in the Aleutian Islands (AI) area. The resource in these two areas (BSAI) is managed as a single unit. Tagging studies have demonstrated significant migration both within and between the EBS, AI, and Gulf of Alaska (GOA).

More about the fishing methods

Trawl: Vessels participating in this fishery are shore-based catcher vessels from 58 to 125 feet and ranging from 350 to 1,600 hp. The gear used includes many different types of bottom trawls, most typically having a headrope to footrope vertical distance rise of 2 to 5 fathoms. The offshore fishery is also prosecuted by non-pelagic bottom trawls. Vessels participating in this fishery are catcher-processors between 98 and 200 feet LOA, with 900 to 3,500 hp.

Longline: This fishery is prosecuted by catcher vessels (ranging from 30 to 60 feet in length) and a small number of freezer longliners (catcher-processors) from 58 to 125 feet long using stationary lines. Freezer longliners use 9 mm groundline employed with 10 to 14-inch gangions spaced 3 ½ feet apart, and No. 6 to 14 modified “J” or full circle hooks.

Pot: Pots used in a directed cod fishery are modified crab pots, which are constructed with a steel bar frame (1¼ inch-diameter) and covered with tarred nylon mesh netting (3½ inch stretched mesh). Pot sizes range from 6 to 8 foot diameter square, with the average vessel using 6 by 6 foot pots. Each pot has two or three tunnel openings on opposite sides, with plastic finger funnels to retain the fish. The tunnel eye cannot be greater than 9 inches in any one dimension. An escape panel of untreated cotton must be sewn into the mesh.

Jig: Vessels participating in this fishery include small (less than 60-foot) catcher vessels. This fishery is prosecuted with actively fished vertical lines onto which baited hooks are attached. Gear components include an 8 pound jig weight, a 400-pound test monofilament mainline, and long shank 10/0 J-hooks or 10/0 circle hooks that are looped directly onto the mainline.

Fishery tonnage

The total allowable catch for Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod over all gear types in 2010 is 59,563 mt.

Commercial market

Domestic, Asian and European consumers.

Actual eligibility date

The actual eligibility date for the Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod fishery is the 14th February 2009