Pacific cod in the Gulf of Alaska, Pots and traps

Pacific cod in the Gulf of Alaska has been scored as very low risk. The recent values of both fishing mortality and spawning biomass are sufficiently within the safe limits of the relevant reference points to lead to the classification as very low risk.

This is because the most recent assessment indicates that the stock is not overfished, and that overfishing is not occurring. 

Management of the stock of Pacific cod in the Gulf of Alaska bank has been scored a very low risk. This is because there is appropriate scientific advice and there is a comprehensive set of management and control measures in place in order to protect the stock from over-exploitation. 

The bycatch in the pot fishery for Pacific cod in the Gulf of Alaska has been scored a low risk. By nature the gear has a only a low potential for catching unwanted bycatch species, and the available data in this case suggest that bycatches in the pot fishery for Pacific Cod in the Gulf of Alaska are minor.

The habitat impact of the pot fishery for Pacific cod in the Gulf of Alaska has been scored a low risk.As a static gear, pots have only limited potential to cause damage to benthic habitats. In this fishery, area closures are used to minimise the risk of damage to sensitive habitats.