The AYK SSI is pleased to announce our upcoming Juvenile Chinook Salmon Workshop, entitled: Risks and Benefits of Using Juvenile Salmonid Research to Understand Adult Population Dynamics.
Dates: April 23-24, 2014
Location: Egan Convention Center, Anchorage, AK 99501
Workshop agenda and materials for download:
AYK SSI Juvenile Chinook Salmon Workshop Program.
Beamish – AYK workshop Extended Abstract
Bisson – AYK workshop Extended Abstract
Wertheimer – AYK workshop Extended Abstract
Workshop Overview: The AYK Chinook Salmon Research Action Plan, released in August 2013, includes two key hypotheses about the mortality of juvenile Chinook salmon in their freshwater, estuarine, and early marine life phases:
Hypothesis 2 – Freshwater Mortality: Change in the suitability or productivity of freshwater habitats used for spawning, rearing and migration has contributed to declines in AYK Chinook salmon stocks.
Hypothesis 3 – Ocean Mortality: Ocean conditions (physical and biological) have changed in the Bering Sea, causing an increase in mortality of Chinook salmon during the early marine portion of their life cycle and contributing to declines of AYK Chinook salmon stocks.
In response to these hypothesized drivers of decline, a need exists to assess the likelihood that habitat variables operating during the juvenile life phase are, in fact, the dominant drivers of declines of AYK Chinook salmon stocks. However, despite great interest in new research focused on the juvenile life phases, there is reason to be cautious and deliberative in undertaking new research initiatives. Medium or long-term data sets from the Bering Sea region informing the relationship between juvenile and adult Chinook salmon productivity are very limited and new investments in data collection are expensive and moderately high risk.
We are organizing this public Juvenile Chinook Salmon Workshop as a forum to explore, evaluate and weigh the potential benefits and risks among a range of approaches to create the long-term data sets required to address our hypotheses and better inform AYK region Chinook salmon forecasting, conservation, and management.
The aims of this two day workshop are:
- To explore through case study presentations what we know about juvenile Chinook salmon ecology; especially the evidence for the scope and scale of juvenile Chinook salmon mortality in their freshwater and early marine life phases in the AYK region and elsewhere.
- To compile and review the best science advice available and propose new strategic research investments to improve our understanding of juvenile Chinook salmon mortality as a determinant of brood-year strength.
The Workshop will feature a number of juvenile Chinook salmon case-study presentations ranging from the AYK region in Alaska to the Pacific Northwest as well as a facilitated discussion among Workshop attendees.