Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus)

• Life History
• Fishery
• Age Determination
• Lingcod Nesting
• Strait of Georgia Lingcod Program
• Publications

Lingcod are an important component of both the commercial and recreational groundfish fishery of British Columbia, Canada.

Stock Assessments

Stock Assessment Framework

In 2003, we created a stock assessment framework for lingcod in the Strait of Georgia (2003/062). The framework reviewed sources of historical lingcod data and recommended the development of fishery-independent sources of relative abundance data to monitor changes in the Strait of Georgia lingcod population. The framework also recommended research to augment lingcod assessment and management programs, in order to address specific management concerns.

Management Framework

The Stock Assessment Framework suggested that a management framework be developed in consultation with stakeholders. This Framework would identify benchmark abundance levels as reference points to measure recovery in abundance, and identify management action associated with those benchmarks. In response to that recommendation, the Lingcod Management Framework Committee was formed in 2004 and included federal and provincial fisheries agencies’ staff, along with representatives of the recreational fishery sector, the commercial fishery sector and conservation groups. For more information, please see the Management Framework page, or download the stock assessment research document for 2005 (2005/048).

Previous Stock Assessments

In 2001 data available from SCUBA surveys and creel surveys were reviewed and presented in a stock assessment research document for lingcod in the Strait of Georgia (2001/132).

The 2000 stock assessment (2000/164) reviewed the available catch and biological data from the commercial and recreational lingcod fisheries in British Columbia. Interpretation of stock condition was based on recent trends in catch statistics and limited age composition data from the commercial trawl fishery.

Research Documents

These stock assessment research documents are available from the Pacific Scientific Advice Review Committee (PSARC) or can be downloaded from the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) website (links below).

• 2005 Strait of Georgia Lingcod Management Framework (2005/048)
• 2003 Strait of Georgia Lingcod Stock Assessment Framework (2003/062)
• 2001 Strait of Georgia Lingcod Stock Assessment (2001/132)
• 2000 BC Lingcod Stock Assessment (2000/164)

Current Research

We are currently focusing research on Strait of Georgia lingcod, including studies on recreational recapture rate bias, larval dispersal, and nesting behaviour. More information on these and our stock monitoring program are available on the Strait of Georgia Lingcod Program page.

Looking for more information?

For more information about ongoing work on lingcod at the Pacific Biological Station, please contact Dr. Jackie King. For more information about groundfish fisheries management or the stock assessment review process in the Pacific Region, please visit the Groundfish Management Unit homepage and the PSARC homepage.

Lingcod program staff

Dr. Jackie King