Summary of Major Changes There are no major changes to the stock assessment. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Input Data

• Main Authors: Jonathan Heifetz, Cara Rodgveller, Dean Courtney, Cindy Tribuzio, Kenneth Goldman
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: recommendation (mt; Bering Sea; Alaska
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.152.8280; http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/refm/docs/2007/BSAIshark.pdf

Incidental catch for sharks by species in the BSAI was updated for 2006 and 2007 with estimates provided by the NMFS Alaska Regional Office (AKRO- as of October 5, 2007). Bottom trawl survey biomass estimates were updated for the 2007 Eastern Bering Sea shelf. Assessment Methodology We recommend that sharks be placed in Tier 6 for ABC and OFL calculations. Last year both Tier 5 and Tier 6 computations were presented for BSAI sharks. The Tier 6 calculation was based on using 1997 – 2005 as the base period for incidental catches as an alternative to 1978 – 1995 period typically specified for Tier 6. The SSC recommended placement of sharks in Tier 6 with this alternative base period and fixing the final year at 2005. Thus the Tier 6 ABC and OFL remains identical to that presented last year. ABC and OFL Calculations ABC