A high priority issue of the AYK SSI is to determine whether the ocean environment is a more important cause of variation in the abundance of salmon populations than marine fishing. New analyses and syntheses of historical data, as well as the collection and analysis of new field and laboratory data, are needed to address this issue. The goal of this 3-year project (completed in April 2010) is to identify and evaluate life history patterns of use of marine resources (habitat and food) by Chinook salmon, and to explore how these patterns are affected by climate-ocean conditions in the Bering Sea and North Pacific Ocean. Specific objectives include: (1) develop a comprehensive high seas Chinook salmon database (1955-present) for AYK SSI, (2) map ocean distribution and migration routes of Chinook Salmon, (3) reconstruct histories of ocean age, growth, and size-selective mortality of Chinook salmon, (4) map climate and oceanographic conditions in regions where AYK salmon migrate, (5) collect new seasonal (summer, winter) food habits data, and evaluate variation in marine diets of Chinook salmon, (6) estimate consumption and growth efficiencies modeled under different climate scenarios; (7) map spatial and temporal variability in ocean growth potential; (8) simulate climate effects on age and growth, and (9) synthesize information on the ocean life history and climate-ocean effects on Chinook salmon. Results will benefit salmon, salmon fishers, and salmon fisheries of the AYK region by providing products and information that can be used to improve fishery management. The project, led by the High Seas Salmon Research Program, University of Washington, includes an international team of cooperating investigators. Methods include retrospective, graphical, and statistical analyses of existing data, fieldwork aboard Japanese research vessels in summer, labwork (diet, scale age and growth), computer mapping and spatial analyses, computer simulations of climate-ocean effects, local capacity building, and public outreach.
Janet Armstrong
janeta@u.washington.edu
University of Washington
206-221-6848
SAFS, Box 355020
Seattle
WA
98195-5020
Kerim Aydin
kerim.aydin@noaa.gov
National Marine Fisheries Service
206-526-4225
Alaska Fisheris Science Center
7600 Sand Pt. Way NE/Bldg.4
Seattle
WA
98115-0070
Jerald Berger
jerry.berger@noaa.gov
National Marine Fisheries Service
206-526-4193
Alaska Fisheries Science Center
7600 Sand Pt. Way NE/Bldg. 4
Seattle
WA
98115-0070
Nancy Davis
ncdd@u.washington.edu
University of Washington
206-543-7280
SAFS, Box 355020
Seattle
WA
98195-5020
Karen Dunmall
fish.bio@kawerak.org
Kawerak, Inc.
907-443-4384
PO Box 948
Nome
AK
99762
Edward Farley
ed.farley@noaa.gov
National Marine Fisheries Service
907-789-6085
Auke Bay Laboratory
11305 Glacier Hwy
Juneau
AK
99801
Masa-aki Fukuwaka
fukuwaka@fra.affrc.go.jp
Fisheries Research Agency of Japan
206-543-1101
Hokkaido National Fisheries Research Institute
116 Katsurakoi
Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan
J
0850802
Masahide Kaeriyama
salmon@fish.hokudai.ac.jp
Hokkaido University
206-543-1101
Graduate School of Fisheries Science
3-1-1 Minatocho
Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan
J
041-8611
Nathan Mantua
nmantua@u.washington.edu
JISAO, SMA Climate Impacts Group
206-616-5347
216 King Bldg
4909 25th NE
Seattle
WA
98195
Katherine Myers
kwmyers@u.washington.edu
University of Washington
206-543-1101
SAFS, Box 355020
Seattle
WA
98195-5020
Jennifer Nielsen
Jennifer_Nielsen@USGS.GOV
U.S. Geological Survey
907-786-3670
U.S. Geological Survey
1011 E. Tudor Road
Anchorage
AK
99503
Walker Robert
rvwalker@u.washington.edu
University of Washington
206-543-7281
SAFS, Box 355020
Seattle
WA
98195
Greg Ruggerone
gruggerone@nrccorp.com
Natural Resources Consultants, Inc.
206-285-3480
1900 West Nickerson Street, Suite 207
Seattle
WA
98119
James Seeb
jim_seeb@fishgame.state.ak.us
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
907-267-2385
333 Raspberry Road
Anchorage
AK
99518
A Project Authorization Statement is available for this project: Click to view First Year Funding: $0.00
Funding
Second Year Funding: $229,987.00
Third Year Funding: $204,214.00
Fourth Year Funding: $190,783.00
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