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Franz MueterFranz Mueter is a Principal Investigator for trophic interactions and ecosystem modeling research as part of the Bering Sea Project.

See Statements of Work for Dr. Mueter's projects:

radio interview

microphoneClimate change may be hard on pollock

(6 April) In an interview with KUCB-Unalaska's Anne Hillman, Franz Mueter explains how combining walleye pollock survey data with climate change models predicts a dim future for pollock stocks in the Bering Sea. Mueter has just returned from a spring research cruise on the USCG POLAR SEA.

Listen to the interview

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It is humbling to think about whatever role the BEST/BSIERP project may play in the future health and sustainability of the massive fisheries supporting the economy of the region.

This is where the virtual world of our simulated fish populations meets the reality of the ups and downs of the fishery, which are keenly felt not just by individual fishers but by the entire community.

Visit to Unalaska

Biologist Franz Mueter reports from the Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference

I had an opportunity to travel to Unalaska / Dutch Harbor from March 24-27 to participate in the third Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference (WAISC).

The conference brought together researchers and students from Western Alaska, as well as many Unalaska locals, to discuss topics ranging from climate change and fisheries, over wildlife science and agriculture, to recycling, energy efficiency, and small-scale renewable energy.

Young scientists in action ... and sunny skies

View of Dutch Harbor from Mt. BallyhooIt was a delight visiting Unalaska during spring and seeing a number of young, rural Alaskans present their "homegrown" research projects to a receptive audience.

I have to admit, though, that I skipped the presentations on 'Integrated Pest Management' and 'Virus prevalence in Alaska Potatoes' for a jaunt up Mt. Ballyhoo under a bluebird sky. Firm snow extending all the way to sea level made the hiking easier than during summer and was a welcome change after a winter of little snow in Juneau. Above: Unalaska and Dutch Harbor from Mt. Ballyhoo.

Downtown Dutch HarborThe bird's eye view of the bustle of America's biggest fishing port provides a stark contrast to the precipitous backdrop of Unalaska's volcanic peaks. The coming and going of fishing vessels and the near constant stream of shipping containers from temporary storage to the loading dock provide but a glimpse of the millions of pounds of seafood that are landed and processed here on a daily basis. Right: Downtown Unalaska.

Later, I would get a chance to peek at the recently completed 80,000 sq ft cold storage facility that is 50' tall and can hold up to 20,000  tons of fish product at -25°C.

Real world fishery

It is humbling to think about the role the Bering Sea Project may play in the future health and sustainability of the massive fisheries supporting the economy of the region. This is where the virtual world of our simulated fish populations meets the reality of the ups and downs of the fishery, which are keenly felt not just by individual fishers but by the entire community. No wonder there was a great deal of interest among locals in the research being conducted by the BEST/BSIERP projects.

Climate overviews for the community and media

Drawing on previous research as well as the most recent BSIERP results, I presented separate overviews of climate variability in the Bering Sea and of some of the effects of climate variability on fish populations, with an emphasis on walleye pollock. The latter presentation was followed by a taped interview with Anne Hillman of KUCB, the local radio station. She attended much of the conference and reported on climate change and ocean acidification issues.

For obvious reasons, any studies dealing with walleye pollock or other fisheries in the Bering Sea is newsworthy in Unalaska. I chose my words carefully as I presented our current understanding that walleye pollock recruitment may decline in the future as we expect to see more years with unusual warm conditions such as those observed in 2002-2005.

A close connection to the land and sea

The conference once again brought home the close connection of western Alaska's people to the land and sea, the widely shared concerns over climate change and, more recently, ocean acidification, and the resilience of communities as they develop creative approaches to dealing with both the high costs of energy and the desire to reduce emissions. This creativity was apparent in presentations on hydrogen generators and hydraulic generator systems on fishing vessels, the installation of small-scale wind and photovoltaic systems, and practical energy efficiency measures for rural Alaska.

Museum of the AleutiansThanks to our host

Reid Brewer, local Marine Advisory Program agent and conference host, did a fantastic job of rounding out the program with a reception at the Museum of the Aleutians, birding opportunities with local experts, and several tour options. The museum featured an excellent photo exhibit of underwater photography "Marine Life of the Aleutian Islands" to which Reid contributed a number of photographs. The photos vividly bring to life an underwater world that few people ever get to experience owing to the remote nature of the Aleutians.

In the end, optimism

In spite of some alarming presentations about ocean acidification, I came away from the conference with a sense of optimism. Although the people of Western Alaska are often portrayed as victims of global trends that are shaping their future and creating uncertainty, I saw a strong sense of responsibility and an eagerness to work on local solutions to the global problems that all of us are facing.

There is tremendous talent and expertise in the communities of western Alaska and I spoke with several students that are earning advanced degrees through online courses (in some cases relying on dial-up connections!), while continuing to live and work in rural Alaska.  My hope is that future Bering Sea research initiatives will not have to work at integrating traditional ecological knowledge with western science, but will be able to draw on local experts that are steeped in both!