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Decadal‐scale patterns in the relative year class success of sablefish ( Anoplopoma fimbria )
Author(s) -
King T,
Mcfarlane,
Beamish
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
fisheries oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.016
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1365-2419
pISSN - 1054-6006
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2419.2000.00122.x
Subject(s) - oceanography , scale (ratio) , productivity , geography , sea surface temperature , environmental science , abundance (ecology) , fishing , climatology , spatial ecology , fishery , geology , ecology , biology , cartography , economics , macroeconomics
Climate–ocean regimes in the north‐east Pacific translate into decadal‐scale patterns in the relative success of sablefish ( Anoplopoma fimbria ). By combining estimates of year class abundance determined from commercial catches and research surveys for adults and juveniles, we were able to construct an index of year class success. Year classes from 1960 to 1976 were generally below average, with little indication of good year class success. The 1977 year class was exceptionally large and year classes from 1978 to 1990 were generally above average. Year classes following 1990 were generally below average. The periods with above‐average year classes were generally characterized by intense Aleutian Lows, above‐average frequency of south‐westerly winds and warmer coastal sea surface temperatures off the west coast of Vancouver Island. Decadal‐scale patterns in the production of sablefish suggest stability in long‐term periods of similar recruitment but different mean levels of productivity across periods. However, rapid shifts between periods remain unpredictable and therefore complicate the incorporation of decadal‐scale dynamics in management.