Presently there is a lack of consistent sex, length, weight, girth and visible disease information on Yukon River Chinook salmon bound for the Upper River and Canada. These types of data are essential for the effective management of the many salmon species that migrate upstream each year. Student technicians have been trained to collect fisheries data since 2001 in the Rampart Rapids area located at river mile 731, approximately 40 miles upstream of the village of Tanana, Alaska. This project gives students an opportunity to participate in data collection for biological studies and to develop their interest in future fisheries work. The collected data are comprised of Chinook salmon sex, length, weight and girth during the Chinook salmon season and visual inspection of changing flesh color and fat content in chum salmon. All species are inspected for disease conditions with a special emphasis on Ichthyophonus disease prevalence in Chinook salmon. The data from these studies provide valuable information for the management of Chinook and chum salmon and migratory whitefish. This information has been identified as a priority at many Federal Regional Advisory Council, State Advisory Council, and Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association meetings.
Stan Zuray
stanzuray@gmail.com
Rapids Research Center
907 366 7114
Box 172
Tanana
AK
99777
First Year Funding: $2,160.00Funding
Second Year Funding: $10,800.00
Third Year Funding: $10,800.00
Fourth Year Funding: $9,710.00
Keyword Tree for Project