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Evaluating drivers of spatial variability in lingcod, Ophiodon elongatus, reproduction along the US West Coast

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Abstract

Examining variation in reproduction (estimates of maturity and adult skip spawning) over time and space provides vital information on stock structure for managing coast-wide species; however, it is equally important to identify the drivers of variability, i.e., fishing pressure, genetics, and oceanographic conditions. The 2021 lingcod, Ophiodon elongatus, stock assessments used separate population models, north and south of 40°10′ N, based on evidence of distinct population clusters and historical fishery trends. We collected 1035 lingcod ovaries along the US West Coast over seven years (2013–2019) to evaluate trends in reproduction and inform stock management decisions. We estimated biological (physiological maturity) and functional (potential spawners) length (L50) and age (A50) at 50% maturity across eight regions: coast-wide, between management areas (north and south of 40°10′ N), genetic stocks (north and south of 38°17′ N), and among important biogeographic regions including Cape Mendocino, California (north of 40°10′ N), the Central coast (40°10′–34°26′ N), and Pt. Conception, California (south of 34°26′ N). Regional biological L50 and A50 maturity estimates (43.36–52.75 cm and 1.66–2.88 years) were smaller than functional maturity (46.31–56.65 cm and 1.89–3.23 years). Overall, regional analyses showed a decline in size and age at 50% maturity with decreasing latitude, with females south of Pt. Conception reaching maturity at much smaller sizes and younger ages than their northern counterparts. These regional estimates of maturity add to the growing body of literature that seeks to determine the best spatial management plan for lingcod sub-populations.

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Data availability

The datasets and analysis generated for this study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Data collected by NOAA’s West Coast Groundfish Bottomtrawl and Southern California Bight shelf rockfish hook and line surveys can be accessed via: https://www.webapps.nwfsc.noaa.gov/data/map.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the vessel and scientific crews of the West Coast Groundfish Bottomtrawl and Southern California Bight shelf rockfish hook and line surveys, as well as the port samplers for Oregon and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, for all their help obtaining samples for this project. A special thank you to Peter Frey of the NWFSC for creating a map of sample collection. We would also like to thank Curt Whitmire and James Fellows for data quality control and support. Finally, we would like to thank Ian Taylor for his thoughtful comments while reviewing this manuscript.

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  1. Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Blvd East, Seattle, WA, 98112, USA

    Melissa A. Head & Aimee A. Keller

  2. Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Blvd East, Seattle, WA, 98112, USA

    Laurel S. Lam

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  1. Melissa A. Head
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Correspondence to Melissa A. Head.

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Fish sampled in our study were collected as part of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Fisheries surveys and through ongoing sampling and monitoring of commercial fish landings conducted by the Oregon and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW and WDFW). Therefore, fish were not collected solely for this project. Monitoring by NOAA surveys and state port samplers provide data for stock assessments used to manage marine fisheries. All permitting requirements were completed and a Scientific Research Permit was granted for both the WCGBT and H&L surveys. Prior to submitting to the journal, this manuscript was reviewed internally by a NWFSC employee and approved for submission in NOAA’s Research Publication Tracking System.

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Head, M.A., Keller, A.A. & Lam, L.S. Evaluating drivers of spatial variability in lingcod, Ophiodon elongatus, reproduction along the US West Coast. Environ Biol Fish 106, 2157–2176 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-023-01496-w

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