NE and NW Pacific biological stocks are identified (Clark and Hare 2006; Hauser et al. 2006; Galindo et al. 2010). Within each of the populations there are uncertainties in regard to the substructure. In the NW Pacific units are considered for assessment and management purposes: W Bering Sea and Karaginsky (Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation 2014).
 

Fishery profile in preparation

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A unique stock distributed from California to Bering Sea was considered for assessment by the US in consequence of a tagging study performed by Kaimmer and Geernaert (2004) but more recent research has been concluding the existing of a heterogeneous structure in the region (Hauser et al., 2007; Nielsen et al., 2010; Seitz et al., 2011).

According to Novikov (1963) there are two populations of Pacific halibut above Aleutian Islands, one on NW Bering Sea West to 180º W and the second one East to 180º W including Bristol Bay. In Russia, the W Bering Sea and Karaginsky stocks are assessed and managed separately.