Preliminary Statistical Catch-at-Age Assessments of Georges Bank/Gulf of Maine White Hake

The Statistical Catch-at-Age assessments of the Georges Bank/Gulf of Maine white hake stock from GARM III are updated to include revised data, which also now extend for a further four years. With no change in methodology, an assessment based on these data results in lower spawning biomasses in absolute terms, likely in the main as a result of estimating a lesser doming effect in the commercial selectivity-at-age. As these data used are not yet fully finalised, only a preliminary investigation into refining the assessment methodology is carried out, where this involves development of a provisional new Reference case, computation of biological reference point values, and conducting a number of sensitivity tests. The aim is to advise and assist the final assessment process, and some further tests for running given finalised data are also suggested. The primary assessments run thus far suggest that the stock is currently not overfished and that overfishing is not occurring.