A report of the 36th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop : stock assessment of yellowtail flounder in the Cape Cod-Gulf of Maine area Stock assessment of yellowtail flounder in the Cape Cod-Gulf of Maine area

Cape Cod yellowtail flounder were previously assessed as a unit stock, but are now combined with those in the Gulf of Maine. The Cape Cod / Gulf of Maine stock is overfished and overfishing is occurring. Current fishing mortality is high (2001 F ages 3-4=0.75) and much greater than the proposed FMSY proxy (F40%MSP=0.17). Spawning stock biomass declined in the early 1990s, and began increasing in 1998 to 3,200 mt in 2001, but is much less than the proposed SSBMSY proxy (12,600 mt SSB). With the exception of the strong 1987 yearclass, recruitment has been relatively stable, but early indications suggest that the 2000 cohort is extremely low. The age structure of the stock is truncated in comparison to MSY conditions. by Steven X. Cadrin and Jeremy King. "February 2003." "Web version posted February 21, 2003." System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Includes bibliographical references (pages 9-11). 2003 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) NEFSC (Northeast Fisheries Science Center) Library Public Domain 1863