You have encountered a data logger in one of our study sites. The objective of this research is to increase our understanding of juvenile Pacific cod habitat in coastal areas and their overwinter survival in the Gulf of Alaska.
NOAA is studying how ocean temperature affects the growth and health of young cod in the Gulf of Alaska from 2021 to 2025. We are counting young cod in nursery areas near the shore using underwater cameras and collecting some fish with beach seines to measure their size, age, and health in relation to ocean temperature and currents. The QR code that led you to this website is linked to a device at the bottom of the bay recording temperature and light levels at one of our study sites.
About This Research
The Pacific cod fishery is a major industry in Alaska and across the country, valued at $225.4 million in 2022. The number of cod can vary greatly depending on ocean temperatures: more fish are found when it's relatively cooler, and fewer when it's warmer. A heatwave from 2014 to 2016 in the Gulf of Alaska hurt the cod population, leading to lower catches allowed in 2018. By 2020, the cod population fell below a critical level, causing the fishery to close. It reopened in 2021 but hasn't fully recovered.
For young cod, the first year is tough—they need a lot of energy to grow and survive their first winter, when food is scarce. Many young fish don't make it, which affects how many adults there are. Knowing where and how these young cod grow up is crucial. We're studying how warm ocean temperatures affect their growth and fat storage. We're using data from a logger on the ocean floor to track temperatures and light levels in nursery areas around the Gulf of Alaska from 2021 to 2025. This will help us understand how ocean conditions impact cod survival and habitat needs.
