Commercial and Subsistence Fishes

Acoustic Survey, B58

Lead: Chris Wilson

We will estimate midwater walleye pollock (age 1+) abundance in the eastern Bering Sea through acoustic-trawl surveys conducted by NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center. Collection of observations of physical oceanography, fish prey fields, and marine mammal and seabirds for several other BSIERP projects will also take place during these summer cruises.

Surface Trawl Survey Acoustics

Lead: John K. Horne
Co-PIs: Ed Farley, Sandra Parker-Stetter

We will quantify forage fish (e.g., juvenile pollock, capelin, herring, and myctophids) distribution on the Bering Sea shelf, and examine how oceanography and climate forcing may influence forage fish distribution, abundance, and ultimately effect apex predator distribution and abundance. We will add acoustics and midwater trawling to document density distribution of forage species, and will map forage species distribution and compare distributions and abundances among survey years.

Pollock + Cod Distribution

Lead: Lorenzo Ciannelli
Co-PIs: Kevin Bailey, Steve Barbeaux, Ann Hollowed

We will conduct a retrospective analysis of ichthyoplankton catches of pollock, cod, and arrowtooth flounder and wintertime fisheries data to create species spawning distribution models.

Functional Foraging Response, B61

Leads: Kerin Aydin and Ed Farley

We will provide biological and physical data on the food habits of groundfish relative to predator and prey fields. We will use this information to evaluate whether competition for common prey or predator avoidance influences the spatial and temporal distribution of forage fish. Understanding these processes will provide the information needed to build computer models to assess the potential impact of climate change on forage fish movement and seasonal distribution.

Forage Distribution + Ocean Conditions

Lead: Anne Hollowed
Co-PIs: Kerim Aydin, Steve Barbeaux, Ned Cokelet, Alex DeRobertis, Stan Kotwicki, Patrick Ressler, Phyllis Stabeno, Chris Wilson

We will provide biological and physical data from a commercial fishing vessel, acoustic surveys and bottom trawl surveys. We will use this information to identify the processes influencing the spatial and temporal distribution of forage fish, their predators and competitors relative to ocean habitat conditions and to evaluate hypotheses regarding the potential impact of climate change on forage fish movement and seasonal distribution.

Surface Trawl Survey

Lead: Ed Farley

The Alaska Fisheries Science Center conducts annual surface (epi-pelagic) trawl surveys to monitor the condition of the eastern Bering Sea continental shelf epi-pelagic fish community. This survey is funded with in-kind money and will support BEST-BSIERP by providing biological and environmental survey data to other PIs in the program.

Bottom Trawl Survey

Lead: Robert Lauth

The Alaska Fisheries Science Center conducts annual bottom (benthic) trawl surveys to monitor the condition of the eastern Bering Sea continental shelf epi-benthos. This survey is funded with in-kind money and will support BEST-BSIERP by providing biological and environmental survey data to other PIs in the program.