White Seabass Stock Assessment

CAPAM Staff conducted the first modern Stock Assessment for white seabass (Atractoscion nobilis) in California. The white seabass is a nearshore finfish species found in the coastal waters of California (US) and Baja California, and to a much lesser extent, along the coast of Oregon and Washington. The species supports important California recreational and commercial fisheries, which are managed through State regulations. The work was conducted in collaboration with Staff from Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research (PIER) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). CAPAM Staff used the fisheries stock assessment modeling platform Stock Synthesis (SS) to assess the California population of white seabass. This project is led by Dr. Juan Valero and Lynn Waterhouse. The stock assessment was funded by Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research (PIER) with contributions from the George T. Pfleger Foundation and the Offield Family Foundation.

An independent peer-review of the stock assessment work took place in La Jolla during May 2 and 3, 2016. The review panel consisted of Dr. Ian Taylor (NWFSC - NOAA) and Dr. Jason Cope (NWFSC - NOAA). The review was open to the public with participants from California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research, California Sea Grant, Hubbs SeaWorld Research Institute, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego and from the fishing community.

Full versions of the final Stock Assessment Document and Reviewers report are available below, along with an expanded summary of the final Stock Assessment Report. For further information and inquires, please contact Dr. Juan Valero.

Expanded summary of the White Seabass 2016 Stock Assessment 

White Seabass 2016 Stock Assessment Full Report

White Seabass 2016 Stock Assessment Review Report