Publications

Published Date: 2005

On September 5, 2005, the, Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), completed the twenty-sixth annual longline survey of Alaska sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) resources of the upper continental slope (Figure 1). This survey was designed to continue the time series (1979-94) of the Gulf of Alaska portion of the Japan-U.S. cooperative longline survey that was discontinued after 1994. NMFS has surveyed the Gulf of Alaska annually since 1987, the eastern Aleutian Islands biennially since 1996, and the eastern Bering Sea biennially since 1997. The Gulf of Alaska and eastern Bering sea were sampled in 2005.

The Summer Chum Salmon Recovery Plan (the SRP) is ultimately intended to 22 fulfill that ESA requirement and allow the appropriate Federal authorities to use 23 the SRP in response to the ESA listing. Local and regional authorities within the 24 Hood Cana

Analysis of the implementation of a cost recovery fee program for the Amendment 80 Program, the groundfish and halibut/sablefish Community Development Quota Program, the American Fisheries Act Program, and Aleutian Islands Pollock Program.

Analysis of the proposed designation of critical habitat in waters of the North Pacific Ocean for the northern right whale under authority of the Endangered Species Act.

To establish a 2004 baseline of information for long-term monitoring associated with development of the Kensington Gold Mine near Juneau, Alaska, we measured hydrocarbon concentrations.

Distribution and habitat use are presented on the 50 most abundant fish species captured in shallow nearshore waters (< 20 m offshore and < 5 m deep relative to mean lower low water (MLLW) of southeastern Alaska. Fish were captured with a beach seine at 41 locations from 1998 to 2004. At each location, habitats sampled included sand or gravel beaches with no attached vegetation, cobble beaches with understory kelps (e.g., Laminaria saccharina), soft bottom (sand, silt, or mud) beaches with eelgrass (Zostera marina), and steep bedrock outcrops. A total of 538 seine hauls yielded 448,166 fish. Based on total catch, the three most abundant species were walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma), Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes hexapterus), and Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii). Mean catch per seine haul was greatest in eelgrass for 30 of the 50 most abundant species. Juveniles dominated the catch of all species captured. For example, mean size of walleye pollock, Pacific sand lance, and Pacific herring was less than 100 mm fork length. Distribution patterns were evident for many fish species; some are widely distributed throughout southeastern Alaska (crescent gunnel, Pholis laeta), whereas others are confined to southern waters (kelp perch, Brachyistius frenatus) or more outside coastal waters (black rockfish, Sebastes melanops). Shallow nearshore waters support a diverse and abundant community of fish, many of commercial importance. Information on distribution and habitat of nearshore fish assemblages will help resource managers identify and protect coastal areas at risk to human disturbance.

Forage fish are an important part of Alaska’s marine ecosystems and coastal areas. Forage fish are a critical food source for numerous ground-fish, marine mammals, and seabirds (Wespestad1; Allen and Smith, 1988; Paul et al., 1997; Yang and Nelson, 2000; Mecklenburg et al., 2002). Little is known, however, about the life history characteristics or habitat of many forage fish species in Alaska, including Pacific sandfish (Trichodon trichodon; Fig. 1). Only two articles have been published on the life history characteristics of Pacific sandfish in Alaska. Paul et al. (1997) investigated size-weight-age profiles, size at maturity, and fecundity of Pacific sandfish in the northern Gulf of Alaska, and Bailey et al. (1983) examined size and diet of juvenile (

This proposed action is an amendment to 50 CFR 6 79.22 regarding closures to groundfish fishing in waters off Cape Sari chef and in the Chiniak Gully Research Area. This proposed regulatory change would open the Cape SarichefResearch Restriction Arca in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSA!) to directed fishing for groundfish using trawl, pot, or hook-and-line gear from March 15, 2006, through March 31, 2006. Opening this area would allow vessels participating in ground fish fisheries to harvest their total allowable catch amounts without the operational constraints imposed by the closure. This proposed rule also would remove the regulations for the Cape Sari chef Research Restriction Area, as well as regulations for the Chiniak Gully Research Area because both research projects have ended.