Stock assessment of Georges Bank haddock, 1931-2004

The Georges Bank haddock stock assessment is updated through 2004. Assessment results show that fishing mortality has remained below the overfishing threshold since 1995 and that spawning biomass has increased substantially in recent years, but still remains below 0.5 of BMSY. As such, the stock is currently overfished but is not experiencing overfishing. Recruitment has increased markedly in recent years, with two strong year classes (1998 and 2000) currently providing much of the fishery yield. The 2003 year class is one of the largest ever recorded and has the potential to rebuild the stock in a few years if fishing mortality remains low. Decreases in mean weight at age during 2001-2004 may be due to density-dependent growth or to changes in trophic interactions. Overall, the Georges Bank haddock stock is rapidly recovering from the severely depleted condition observed in the mid-1990s.