Managing for sustainable salmon fisheries in the Kuskokwim River is challenging, due in part to the lack of stock-specific abundance and run-timing information. This data gap is most pronounced for fall chum salmon, which local residents have long recognized and utilized for subsistence. Fisheries managers, however, have only recently recognized their existence. This project will: 1) describe the distribution, morphology, and biology of adult fall chum salmon in comparison to summer chum salmon; 2) describe the run-timing of adult fall chum salmon in the lower Kuskokwim River; and 3) determine the relative abundance of adult fall chum salmon in the Kuskokwim River. Project objectives will be achieved by utilizing historical data, local traditional knowledge, and by capitalizing on existing project platforms. Results from this project will serve as a basis for developing sustainable management practices for this unique population aggregate.
The objectives of this project, and justification according to the AYK SSI 2004-2005 Interim Research and Restoration Priorities are:
1) Describe the distribution, morphology, and biology of fall chum salmon in the Kuskokwim River drainage in comparison to summer chum salmon by: a) summarizing traditional knowledge, historical data, and aerial survey data to compare and contrast the timing of spawning and distribution of spawning grounds used by summer and fall chum salmon; b) comparing and contrasting morphological characteristics of summer and fall chum salmon by age class, including mideye-fork length, maximum dorsal-ventral height, and maximum depth; c) comparing and contrasting biological characteristics of summer and fall chum populations, such as age distributions, sex ratios, and average fecundity; and d) document spawning areas during an aerial survey. · This objective will compile existing information in order to assess the current state of knowledge of Kuskokwim River fall chum salmon stocks, and to identify the data gaps in current knowledge about fall chum salmon. Traditional ecological knowledge will be obtained in order to facilitate community input into the identification of research needs. The project will attempt to fill the knowledge gap in order to assess needs for restoration. This objective is time-sensitive, since it seeks to capitalize on existing projects. 2) Estimate the run-timing of fall chum salmon in the lower and middle Kuskokwim River through the recovery of spaghetti tags deployed at the Kalskag-Aniak mark-recapture project. a) Estimations of run-timing have been considered a high priority in the Strategic Plan for Salmon Research in the Kuskokwim River Drainage (Merritt 2001) as well as by the Kuskokwim Fishery Resource Coalition. Information on run-timing is a significant data gap in our understanding of Kuskokwim River fall chum, and could address questions about management strategies. This objective is time-sensitive, since it seeks to capitalize on an existing project. 3) Estimate the relative contribution of fall chum salmon to the overall chum run passing through the Kalskag-Aniak mark-recapture site using GSI mixed stock analyses. a) Providing an estimate of abundance of fall chum salmon will help to assess the state of the stock. In addition, the objective will serve as an independent check on run-timing estimates, which has been considered a gap in current knowledge and a high priority for research. This objective is time-sensitive, since it seeks to capitalize on existing projects.
Sara Gilk
sara_gilk@fishgame.state.ak.us
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
907-267-2535
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
333 Raspberry Road
Anchorage
AK
99518
A Final Report is available for this project: Click to view
A Project Authorization Statement is available for this project: Click to view
The following Semi Annual Progress Reports are available
July 2004
January 2005
July 2005
First Year Funding: $74,971.00
Second Year Funding:
Third Year Funding:
Fourth Year Funding:
Fields of Expertise |
| Biological Science |
| Population Biology - 26 Other Projects |
| Physical Science |
| Socio/Economic |
Professional Activity |
| Field research and Data Collection - 37 Other Projects |
Ecosystems |
| Freshwater – Rivers/Streams - 45 Other Projects |
Ecosystem Components |
| Fish - 51 Other Projects |
| Species Groups |
| Anadromous salmonids - 51 Other Projects |
| Chum - 24 Other Projects |
| Specific research issues |
| Distribution and abundance - 21 Other Projects |
| Genetics and stock identification - 13 Other Projects |
Geographic Regions |
| Kuskokwim River Watershed - 22 Other Projects |
Technological Expertise/Lab Methods |
| Lab Methods |
| Genetic analysis - 11 Other Projects |
| Technology |
| Radio Tagging - 6 Other Projects |
Modeling |
| Method |
| Type |
Physical Science Specialties Areas |
Management/Policy/Social |