A Handy Field Guide To The Nearshore Marine Fish Of Alaska

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Introduction

This guide culminated from years of research on the importance of the nearshore marine environment to fishery resources in Alaska. We were continually astounded by the abundance and diversity of fish that use the nearshore, particularly the early life history stages of many species. The lack of a portable field guide, and the difficulty in identifying the young of some species in the field, prompted us to create this guide.

We hope A Handy Field Guide to the Nearshore Marine Fish of Alaska is a useful reference for all those interested in the coastal fish of Alaska.

Background

From 1998 to 2014, researchers with the Alaska Fisheries Science Center's Auke Bay Laboratories sampled fish with a beach seine in nearshore marine waters of Alaska.

Beach seining was used to identify Essential Fish Habitat for all life stages of managed species. Essential Fish Habitat is defined as those waters and substrate necessary for breeding, feeding, and growth to maturity.

Over the years we have taken thousands of photographs of all species and life stages represented in our catches. Correct identification of fish in the field is of paramount importance when evaluating the potential effects of shoreline development projects on fish habitat, and determining species-level impacts in the natural resource damage assessment process following a disaster (e.g., oil spill).

Please enjoy this reference guide for all people interested in the coastal fish of Alaska!