CalCOFI Reports, Vol. 30, 1989 - California Cooperative Oceanic ...

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FISHERIES REVIEW: 1988
CalCOFl Rep.,Vol. 30,1989
REVIEW OF SOME CALIFORNIA FISHERIES FOR 1988
California Department of Fish and Game
Marine Resources Division
330 Golderi Shore, Suite 50
Long Beach, California 90802
Total landings of fishes, crustaceans, and mollusks
increased (10%) for the third year in a row,
following a decline from 1981 to 1985. Although still
below the average of the last 10 years, 1988 landings
considerably exceeded (33%) the 1983 low.
Pelagic wetfish landings continued the upward
trend that began in 1985, with a gain of 19% over
last year (table 1). The increase was due to a record
squid catch, which ranks as the highest annual total
in the history of the fishery, and exceeds the previous
(1981) high by nearly 60%. Landings of Pacific
and jack mackerel decreased, while the take of
anchovy and Pacific herring increased slightly. Recovery
of the Pacific sardine continued, although
slowly; landings rose substantially over last year.
A slight decrease in groundfish landings was
again noted, though it was probably due more to a
decrease in effort than availability. California halibut
landings also declined slightly, but still exceeded
the 10-year average. Similarly, the lobster
catch, though down from last year, was well above
the average for the past 20 years.
Pacific ocean shrimp landings improved greatly.
Dungeness crab landings also showed an increase,
though slight. Albacore landings declined, for the
third consecutive year, to the lowest annual total
since 1934.
The sportfish catch, which increased overall, reflected
an increase in rockfish and nearshore species,
and a decrease in pelagic species.
PACIFIC SARDINE
The California Department of Fish and Game
(CDFG) conducted sea surveys in July 1987 to determine
the spawning biomass of Pacific sardines
(Saudinops sugux). These surveys consisted of (1)
evaluating the spawning biomass relative to 20,000
short tons, based on the spawning area as determined
from the occurrence of sardine eggs (egg
production area method), and (2) estimating adult
reproductive parameters for use in an egg production
method (EPM) ofbiomass estimation. The observed
spawning area was about 1,850 nautical
miles' (n.mi.2). Eggs were found off the San Diego
TABLE 1
Landings of Pelagic Wetfishes in California (Short Tons)
Year
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1971
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988*
*Preliminary
Pacific
sardine
439
74
62
53
22 1
149
186
76
7
3
27
6
5
18
38
31
115
388
259
653
1,283
2,309
4,170
Northern
anchovy
31,140
34,805
15,538
67,639
96,243
41,853
69, 101
132,636
82,691
158,510
124,919
111,477
12,607
53,881
47,339
57,659
46,364
4,740
3,258
1,792
2, I05
1,595
1,618
Pacific
mackerel
2,315
583
1,567
1,179
311
78
54
28
67
114
328
5,975
12,540
30,471
32,645
42,913
31,275
35,882
46,53 1
38,150
45,503
45,890
44,510
Jack
mackerel
20,131
19,090
27,834
26,961
23,873
29,941
25,559
10,308
12,729
18,390
22,274
50,163
34,456
18,300
22,428
15,673
29.1 10
20,272
11,768
10,318
12,188
13,055
10,813
Pacific
herring
121
136
179
85
158
120
63
1,410
2,630
1,217
2,410
5,827
4,930
1,693
8,886
6,571
11,322
8,829
4,241
8,801
8,405
9,258
9,721
Market
squid
9,512
9,801
12,466
10,390
12,295
15,756
10,303
6,031
14,452
11,811
10,153
14,122
18,899
22,026
16,958
25,915
17,951
2,010
622
11,326
23,454
22,055
40,865
Total
63,958
64,489
57,646
106,307
133,101
90,897
105,266
150,489
112,576
190,075
160, 111
187,570
83,437
129,389
128,294
148,762
136,167
72,121
66,679
71,040
92,938
94,162
111,697
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