Unalaska, AK – Preliminary pollock survey data shows that pollock stock numbers are still low.

"You may have been hearing about fishing being not so good in the last couple of years. Well, that's actually very consistent with the analysis that we provided," said Alaska Fisheries Science Center biologist Jim Ianelli, who helps analyze the stock assessment data. "When the stock is at peak level as it was, we were thinking, around 2003, fishing should be relatively easy compared to now when the stock is at levels that we haven't seen since the early 80s. "

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration completed two pollock stock surveys this year: a bottom trawl survey and mid-water acoustic survey. The bottom trawl tends to detect older fish while the mid-water locates younger fish. Ianelli said they expected the bottom trawl survey to stay about the same, since the older fish populations don't grow. However, the survey did show more fish near the bottom. The mid-trawl survey showed a decrease in numbers. In the end, the numbers balanced out.

"One of the reasons that we suspect the acoustic survey came in a bit low was the colder conditions again this year. One thing we've seen is how the pollock have been closer to the bottom than in previous years on average," Ianelli said. "When you look at the acoustic survey it appears that they tend more towards the bottom. So it could be that one reason the population is occuring more in the bottom trawl survey than it has in the past relative to expectations is because of the environmental conditions being cold again this year."

Environmental conditions and other factors cause the pollock population to fluctuate. Ianelli said that pollock numbers do not follow an even cyclic pattern - five good years followed by five bad - but they do change. At the moment, the population is lower than it has been in almost 30 years.

"In the early 80s we saw recovery under actually much higher fishing levels than we're doing now. And so we expect that at the lower levels that we're seeing now that it will recover as well. And there's some indication of age one [fish populations] that were slightly above average."

The acoustic survey also showed a three-fold increase in the abundance of krill, which are a major food source for pollock. Ianelli said they don't have data going back far enough to completely explain the fluctuations in pollock populations. They do know that the pollock numbers were very low in the 1960s, before they were commercially fished.

Scientists are still analyzing all of the survey data and the information gathered by observers on fishing boats that tell fish size and age. Ianelli said they'll have a more complete analysis in November and will be able to discuss quota recommendations then.

Survey data also showed an increase in cod biomass and a decrease in flatfish biomass, but the flatfish decrease could be because the cold water caused the fish to hide in the mud and avoid the trawl gear.

Greenpeace, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Alaska Oceans Project released a 170-page briefing just when the preliminary pollock stock data made available. They argue that a single-species management approach, as is being taken with pollock, will have negative impacts on the entire ecosystem. They argue for more caution when managing the pollock stock because of pollock's importance as a food source for other animals.