An updated assessment for pollock in the eastern Bering Sea was put out this week, and shows a recommended allowable biological catch of 1.267 million tons in 2011, and 1.595 million tons in 2012. Scientists cited better-than-expected pollock biomass estimates from their at-sea surveys.
The total allowable catch in 2010 is 813,000 tons, same as the recommended allowable biological catch.
The 2011 assessment is in line with historical averages; since 1977, when the U.S. exclusive economic zone was declared, NMFS says the annual average eastern Bering Sea pollock catch has been about 1.2
