The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) manages the U.S. fishery as two stocks separated at Cape Mendocino, California (40^o30'N).

Assessments include "only the population between Cape Mendocino and 49^oN. lat.(Northern stock). The northern stock is divided into three assessment areas: Southern Vancouver from Cape Elizabeth (47^o 20'N) to approximately 49^oN, Northern Columbia from Cape Falcon (45^o 46'N) to Cape Elizabeth (47^o 20'N), and Eureka/South Columbia from Cape Mendocino (40^o 30'N) to Cape Falcon (45^o 46'N)."(Wallace and Lai, 2005)

Stock identification studies do not agree on stock structure. However the main studis of Wishard et al. (1980) and McGauley (1991), support a homogenous stock hypothesis.

This fishery was certified by the Marine Stewardship Council system in June 2014. Click here to link to the MSC fishery page and to learn more about the MSC fishery certification unit.