Results of the Dover sole (Microstomus pacificus) biomass survey conducted off the west coast of Vancouver Island, February 13-27, 1995 / by J. Fargo and G.D. Workman.: Fs97-4/2340E-PDF

"At the request of fishery managers, a Dover sole biomass survey was conducted off the west coast of Vancouver Island (PMFC Area 3CD) in February 1995. Dover sole CPUE differed significantly by depth and location over the survey area. The highest catch-rates occurred at depths of 300-399 fa and catch-rates were higher in Area 3C than Area 3D. The overall mean catch-rate for Dover sole was significantly lower on this survey than it was on a similar survey conducted in 1981. However, the catch-rate data were not directly comparable between the two surveys due to differences in the fishing gear used. The estimate of exploitable biomass, adjusted for the difference in net used, did not differ appreciably between the two surveys. The biomass estimates provided herein provide a relative scale for comparison between the two surveys. Biological data collected were analyzed for differences in length and age composition between the 1995 survey and the 1981 survey and to estimate parameters for the length-maturity and length-weight relationships for this stock. There were significant declines in mean size and age for both sexes of Area 3C-D Dover sole between samples collected on the 1981 and 1995 surveys. Maturity data collected indicated that most of the males sampled (70%) were in spawning condition. Only 1% of the mature females were spawning while most (70%) were still in the ripening stages. The length at 50% maturity, L₅₀ , was 25.1 cm for males and 35.7 cm for females"--Abstract, page iii.

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