DOCSLIB.ORG

2005 Bottom Trawl Survey of the Eastern Bering Sea Continental Shelf

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
2005 Bottom Trawl Survey of the Eastern Bering Sea Continental Shelf Alaska Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service U.S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AFSC PROCESSED REPORT 2007-01 2005 Bottom Trawl Survey of the Eastern Bering Sea Continental Shelf January 2007 This report does not constitute a publication and is for information only. All data herein are to be considered provisional. This document should be cited as follows: Lauth, R, and E. Acuna (compilers). 2007. 2005 bottom trawl survey of the eastern Bering Sea continental shelf. AFSC Processed Rep. 2007-1, 164 p. Alaska Fish. Sci. Cent., NOAA, Natl. Mar, Fish. Serv., 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle WA 98115. Reference in this document to trade names does not imply endorsement by the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA. Notice to Users of this Document This document is being made available in .PDF format for the convenience of users; however, the accuracy and correctness of the document can only be certified as was presented in the original hard copy format. 2005 BOTTOM TRAWL SURVEY OF THE EASTERN BERING SEA CONTINENTAL SHELF Compilers Robert Lauth Erika Acuna Bering Sea Subtask Erika Acuna Lyle Britt Jason Conner Gerald R. Hoff Stan Kotwicki Robert Lauth Gary Mundell Daniel Nichol Duane Stevenson Ken Weinberg Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering Division Alaska Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 7600 Sand Point Way N.E. Seattle, WA 98115-6349 January 2007 ABSTRACT The Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering Division of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center conducts annual bottom trawl surveys to monitor the condition of the demersal fish and crab stocks of the eastern Bering Sea continental shelf. The standard study area, surveyed each year since 1979, encompasses a major portion of the eastern Bering Sea shelf between the 20-m and the 200-m isobaths and from the Alaska Peninsula north to approximately the latitude of St. Matthew Island (60°50'N). In 2005, two chartered trawlers, the 40-m FV Arcturus and the 40-m FV Aldebaran, again surveyed this area. Demersal populations were sampled by trawling for 30 minutes at stations centered in a 20 × 20 nautical mile grid covering the survey area. At each station, species composition of the catch was determined. Length distributions and age structure samples were collected from ecologically and commercially important species. Three-hundred and fifty-three of the 356 standard survey stations were sampled. Walleye pollock, yellowfin sole, and rock sole dominated fish biomass estimates (10.1 metric tons combined). A total of 219 invertebrate species were identified in the survey. Survey results presented in this report include relative fishing powers of the survey vessels, abundance estimates for fish and invertebrates, geographic distributions of important fish species and size composition of principal fish species. Surface and bottom temperatures recorded at each sampling station are also presented. Appendices provide station data, species listings, and detailed results of analyses of abundance and biological data of the sampled populations. iii CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................1 METHODS Survey Area and Sampling Design......................................................................................3 Survey Stations Sampling Design........................................................................................4 Survey Vessels and Sampling Gear .....................................................................................8 Data Collection ..................................................................................................................11 Data Analysis.....................................................................................................................16 Special Studies...................................................................................................................17 RESULTS Station Data........................................................................................................................19 Environmental Conditions .................................................................................................19 Relative Fishing Powers of Survey Vessels.......................................................................24 Relative Abundance of Individual Fish Species ................................................................25 Estimated Biomass of Major Fish and Invertebrate Groups..............................................25 Northwest Stations.............................................................................................................26 Abundance, Distribution, CPUE, and Size Composition of Principal Species and Species Groups ............................................................32 Walleye pollock .................................................................................................................34 Pacific cod..........................................................................................................................38 Yellowfin sole....................................................................................................................42 Rock sole (grouped)...........................................................................................................46 Flathead sole (grouped)......................................................................................................50 Alaska plaice......................................................................................................................54 Greenland turbot ................................................................................................................58 Arrowtooth flounder ..........................................................................................................62 Kamchatka flounder...........................................................................................................66 Pacific halibut ....................................................................................................................70 Bering skate .......................................................................................................................74 v Alaska skate .......................................................................................................................76 Warty sculpin.....................................................................................................................78 Great sculpin ......................................................................................................................80 Plain scupin........................................................................................................................82 Bigmouth sculpin...............................................................................................................84 Wattled eelpout ..................................................................................................................86 Shortfin eelpout..................................................................................................................88 Marbled eelpout .................................................................................................................90 Sturgeon poacher ...............................................................................................................92 Bering poacher...................................................................................................................94 Butterfly sculpin.................................................................................................................96 Eulachon ............................................................................................................................97 Capelin ...............................................................................................................................98 Pacific herring...................................................................................................................99 CITATIONS ................................................................................................................................101 APPENDIX A: List of Species Encountered.............................................................................................105 APPENDIX B: Station Data......................................................................................................................117 APPENDIX C: Rank Order of Relative Abundance of Fish and Invertebrates........................................133 APPENDIX D: Population Estimates by Sex and Size Groups for Principal Fish Species......................145 vi INTRODUCTION The eastern Bering Sea continental shelf supports one of the most productive groundfish and crab fisheries in the world (Bakkala 1993). Since 1970, groundfish such as walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma), yellowfin sole (Limanda aspera) and Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) have been the primary target species among commercial catches. Although many species of groundfish are caught commercially, the most abundant has been the walleye pollock with catches ranging from 0.9 to 1.5 million metric tons (t) for the past 30 years (North Pacific Fishery Management Council 2002). Since 1971, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Research Plan 2 3 A
    Arctic Pre-proposal 3.4-Galloway 1 Research Plan 2 3 A. Project Title: Characterizing lipid production hotspots, phenology, and trophic transfer at the 4 algae-herbivore interface in the Chukchi Sea 5 6 B. Category: 3. Oceanography and lower trophic level productivity: Influence of sea ice dynamics and 7 advection on the phenology, magnitude and location of primary and secondary production, match- 8 mismatch, benthic-pelagic coupling, and the influence of winter conditions. 9 10 C. Rationale and justification: 11 The spatial extent of arctic sea ice is declining and earlier seasonal sea ice melt may dramatically 12 affect the magnitude, and spatial and temporal scale of primary production (Kahru et al. 2011, Wassmann 13 2011). In order to predict the consequences of these changes to ecosystems, it is important that we 14 understand the mechanistic links between temporally dynamic ice conditions and the physical factors 15 which govern phytoplankton growth (Popova et al. 2010). The mechanisms that govern productivity of 16 the Chukchi Sea ecosystem are of considerable interest due to dramatically changing temporal and spatial 17 patterns of sea ice coverage and because this area is likely to be the subject of intense fossil fuel 18 exploration in coming decades (Dunton et al. 2014). Tracing the biochemical pathways of basal resources 19 (pelagic and attached micro- and macroalgae) in this system is critical if we are to better understand how 20 the Chukchi Sea ecosystem might be modified in the future by a changing climate and offshore oil and 21 gas exploration and production (McTigue and Dunton 2014).
    [Show full text]
  • MARINE TANK GUIDE About the Marine Tank
    HOME EDITION MARINE TANK GUIDE About the Marine Tank With almost 34,000 miles of coastline, Alaska’s intertidal zones, the shore areas exposed and covered by ocean tides, are home to a variety of plants and animals. The Anchorage Museum’s marine tank is home to Alaskan animals which live in the intertidal zone. The plants and animals in the Museum’s marine tank are collected under an Alaska Department of Fish and Game Aquatic Resource Permit during low tide at various beaches in Southcentral and Southeast Alaska. Visitors are asked not to touch the marine animals. Touching is stressful for the animals. A full- time animal care technician maintains the marine tank. Since the tank is not located next to the ocean, ocean water cannot be constantly pumped through it. This means special salt water is mixed at the Museum. The tank is also cleaned regularly. Equipment which keeps the water moving, clean, chilled to 43°F and constantly monitored. Contamination from human hands would impact the cleanliness of the water and potentially hurt the animals. A second tank is home to the Museum’s king crab, named King Louie, and black rockfish, named Sebastian. King crab and black rockfish of Alaska live in deeper waters than the intertidal zone creatures. This guide shares information about some of the Museum’s marine animals. When known, the Dena’ina word for an animal is included, recognizing the thousands of years of stewardship and knowledge of Indigeneous people of the Anchorage area and their language. The Dena’ina & Marine Species The geographically diverse Dena’ina lands span both inland and coastal areas, including Anchorage.
    [Show full text]
  • COMPLETE LIST of MARINE and SHORELINE SPECIES 2012-2016 BIOBLITZ VASHON ISLAND Marine Algae Sponges
    COMPLETE LIST OF MARINE AND SHORELINE SPECIES 2012-2016 BIOBLITZ VASHON ISLAND List compiled by: Rayna Holtz, Jeff Adams, Maria Metler Marine algae Number Scientific name Common name Notes BB year Location 1 Laminaria saccharina sugar kelp 2013SH 2 Acrosiphonia sp. green rope 2015 M 3 Alga sp. filamentous brown algae unknown unique 2013 SH 4 Callophyllis spp. beautiful leaf seaweeds 2012 NP 5 Ceramium pacificum hairy pottery seaweed 2015 M 6 Chondracanthus exasperatus turkish towel 2012, 2013, 2014 NP, SH, CH 7 Colpomenia bullosa oyster thief 2012 NP 8 Corallinales unknown sp. crustous coralline 2012 NP 9 Costaria costata seersucker 2012, 2014, 2015 NP, CH, M 10 Cyanoebacteria sp. black slime blue-green algae 2015M 11 Desmarestia ligulata broad acid weed 2012 NP 12 Desmarestia ligulata flattened acid kelp 2015 M 13 Desmerestia aculeata (viridis) witch's hair 2012, 2015, 2016 NP, M, J 14 Endoclaydia muricata algae 2016 J 15 Enteromorpha intestinalis gutweed 2016 J 16 Fucus distichus rockweed 2014, 2016 CH, J 17 Fucus gardneri rockweed 2012, 2015 NP, M 18 Gracilaria/Gracilariopsis red spaghetti 2012, 2014, 2015 NP, CH, M 19 Hildenbrandia sp. rusty rock red algae 2013, 2015 SH, M 20 Laminaria saccharina sugar wrack kelp 2012, 2015 NP, M 21 Laminaria stechelli sugar wrack kelp 2012 NP 22 Mastocarpus papillatus Turkish washcloth 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 NP, SH, CH, M 23 Mazzaella splendens iridescent seaweed 2012, 2014 NP, CH 24 Nereocystis luetkeana bull kelp 2012, 2014 NP, CH 25 Polysiphonous spp. filamentous red 2015 M 26 Porphyra sp. nori (laver) 2012, 2013, 2015 NP, SH, M 27 Prionitis lyallii broad iodine seaweed 2015 M 28 Saccharina latissima sugar kelp 2012, 2014 NP, CH 29 Sarcodiotheca gaudichaudii sea noodles 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 NP, CH, M, J 30 Sargassum muticum sargassum 2012, 2014, 2015 NP, CH, M 31 Sparlingia pertusa red eyelet silk 2013SH 32 Ulva intestinalis sea lettuce 2014, 2015, 2016 CH, M, J 33 Ulva lactuca sea lettuce 2012-2016 ALL 34 Ulva linza flat tube sea lettuce 2015 M 35 Ulva sp.
    [Show full text]
  • History of Alaska Red King Crab, Paralithodes Camtschaticus, Bottom Trawl Surveys, 1940–61
    History of Alaska Red King Crab, Paralithodes camtschaticus, Bottom Trawl Surveys, 1940–61 MARK ZIMMERMANN, C. BRAXTON DEW, and BEVERLY A. MALLEY Introduction As early as the 1930’s, the Alaska ≥135 mm) was recorded in 1980. Then, red king crab resource was a heav- in 1981, the Bristol Bay red king crab The U.S. government was integrally ily exploited species, with significant population abruptly collapsed in one involved with the development of Alas- foreign commercial harvests occurring of the more precipitous declines in the ka’s red king crab, Paralithodes camts- well before the first U.S. (1940–41) ex- history of U.S. fisheries management. chaticus, fishing industry (Blackford, ploratory bottom trawl survey (Schmitt, In the opinion of Alaska crab manag- 1979). In 1940 Congress appropriated 1940; FWS, 1942). During the 1930’s, ers and modelers (Otto, 1986; Zheng funds for surveys of Alaska’s fishery Japan and Russia together took 9–14 and Kruse, 2002; NPFMC1), the crash resources (Schmitt, 1940; FWS, 1942). million kg of king crab per year from of the Bristol Bay red king crab stock Based on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife the southeast Bering Sea, within the vast was a natural phenomenon unrelated to Service’s (FWS) exploratory work for area referred to as Bristol Bay. commercial fishing. red king crab during the 1940’s, skepti- In 1946, U.S. fishermen began com- Considering the history of the Bristol cal commercial trawlers expected the mercial king crab fishing in these same Bay red king crab commercial fishery bulk of their profits to come from bot- waters, and by 1963 the United States and the unresolved issues surrounding tomfish.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Sensitivity Index Guidelines Version 2.0
    NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS ORCA 115 Environmental Sensitivity Index Guidelines Version 2.0 October 1997 Seattle, Washington noaa NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION National Ocean Service Office of Ocean Resources Conservation and Assessment National Ocean Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Department of Commerce The Office of Ocean Resources Conservation and Assessment (ORCA) provides decisionmakers comprehensive, scientific information on characteristics of the oceans, coastal areas, and estuaries of the United States of America. The information ranges from strategic, national assessments of coastal and estuarine environmental quality to real-time information for navigation or hazardous materials spill response. Through its National Status and Trends (NS&T) Program, ORCA uses uniform techniques to monitor toxic chemical contamination of bottom-feeding fish, mussels and oysters, and sediments at about 300 locations throughout the United States. A related NS&T Program of directed research examines the relationships between contaminant exposure and indicators of biological responses in fish and shellfish. Through the Hazardous Materials Response and Assessment Division (HAZMAT) Scientific Support Coordination program, ORCA provides critical scientific support for planning and responding to spills of oil or hazardous materials into coastal environments. Technical guidance includes spill trajectory predictions, chemical hazard analyses, and assessments of the sensitivity of marine and estuarine environments to spills. To fulfill the responsibilities of the Secretary of Commerce as a trustee for living marine resources, HAZMAT’s Coastal Resource Coordination program provides technical support to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency during all phases of the remedial process to protect the environment and restore natural resources at hundreds of waste sites each year.
    [Show full text]
  • A Synthesis of Information I
    Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Assessment Program * A Synthesis of Information I U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTEXIOR National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Minerals Management Service National Ocean Service Alaska OCS Region Office of Oceanography and Marine Assessment . .:.% y! Ocean Assessments Division ' t. CU ' k Alaska Office OCS Study, MMS 89-0081 . '.'Y. 4 3 --- NOTICES This report has been prepared as part of the U.S. Department bf Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Assessment Program, and approved for publication. The inter- pretation of data and opinions expressed in this document are those of the authors. Approval does not necessarily signify that the contents reflect the views and policies of the Department of Commerce or those of the Department of the Interior. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) does not approve, recommend, or endorse any proprietary material mentioned in this publication. No reference shall be made to NOAA or to this publication in any advertising or sales promotion which would indicate or imply that NOAA approves, recommends, or endorses any proprietary product or proprietary material mentioned herein, or which has as its purpose or intent to cause directly or indirectly the advertised product to be used or purchased because of this publication. Cover: LandsatTMimage of the Yukon Delta taken on Julg 22, 1975, showing the thamal gradients resulting from Yukon River discharge. In this image land is dqicted in sesof red indicating warmer temperatures versus the dark blues (colder temperatures) of Bering Sea waters. Yukon River water, cooh than the surround- ing land but wanner than marine waters, is represented bg a light aqua blue.
    [Show full text]
  • Table of Contents
    Table of Contents Chapter 2. Alaska Arctic Marine Fish Inventory By Lyman K. Thorsteinson .............................................................................................................. 23 Chapter 3 Alaska Arctic Marine Fish Species By Milton S. Love, Mancy Elder, Catherine W. Mecklenburg Lyman K. Thorsteinson, and T. Anthony Mecklenburg .................................................................. 41 Pacific and Arctic Lamprey ............................................................................................................. 49 Pacific Lamprey………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………49 Arctic Lamprey…………………………………………………………………………………….……………………….55 Spotted Spiny Dogfish to Bering Cisco ……………………………………..…………………….…………………………60 Spotted Spiney Dogfish………………………………………………………………………………………………..60 Arctic Skate………………………………….……………………………………………………………………………….66 Pacific Herring……………………………….……………………………………………………………………………..70 Pond Smelt……………………………………….………………………………………………………………………….78 Pacific Capelin…………………………….………………………………………………………………………………..83 Arctic Smelt………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….91 Chapter 2. Alaska Arctic Marine Fish Inventory By Lyman K. Thorsteinson1 Abstract Introduction Several other marine fishery investigations, including A large number of Arctic fisheries studies were efforts for Arctic data recovery and regional analyses of range started following the publication of the Fishes of Alaska extensions, were ongoing concurrent to this study. These (Mecklenburg and others, 2002). Although the results of included
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix 3 Marine Spcies Lists
    Appendix 3 Marine Species Lists with Abundance and Habitat Notes for Provincial Helliwell Park Marine Species at “Wall” at Flora Islet and Reef Marine Species at Norris Rocks Marine Species at Toby Islet Reef Marine Species at Maude Reef, Lambert Channel Habitats and Notes of Marine Species of Helliwell Provincial Park Helliwell Provincial Park Ecosystem Based Plan – March 2001 Marine Species at wall at Flora Islet and Reef Common Name Latin Name Abundance Notes Sponges Cloud sponge Aphrocallistes vastus Abundant, only local site occurance Numerous, only local site where Chimney sponge, Boot sponge Rhabdocalyptus dawsoni numerous Numerous, only local site where Chimney sponge, Boot sponge Staurocalyptus dowlingi numerous Scallop sponges Myxilla, Mycale Orange ball sponge Tethya californiana Fairly numerous Aggregated vase sponge Polymastia pacifica One sighting Hydroids Sea Fir Abietinaria sp. Corals Orange sea pen Ptilosarcus gurneyi Numerous Orange cup coral Balanophyllia elegans Abundant Zoanthids Epizoanthus scotinus Numerous Anemones Short plumose anemone Metridium senile Fairly numerous Giant plumose anemone Metridium gigantium Fairly numerous Aggregate green anemone Anthopleura elegantissima Abundant Tube-dwelling anemone Pachycerianthus fimbriatus Abundant Fairly numerous, only local site other Crimson anemone Cribrinopsis fernaldi than Toby Islet Swimming anemone Stomphia sp. Fairly numerous Jellyfish Water jellyfish Aequoria victoria Moon jellyfish Aurelia aurita Lion's mane jellyfish Cyanea capillata Particuilarly abundant
    [Show full text]
  • Using Ecologically Based Relationships to Predict Distribution of Flathead Sole Hippoglossoides Elassodon in the Eastern Bering Sea
    MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES Vol. 290: 251–262, 2005 Published April 13 Mar Ecol Prog Ser Using ecologically based relationships to predict distribution of flathead sole Hippoglossoides elassodon in the eastern Bering Sea Christopher N. Rooper*, Mark Zimmermann, Paul D. Spencer Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, Washington 98115-6349, USA ABSTRACT: This study describes a method for modeling and predicting, from biological and physi- cal variables, habitat use by a commercially harvested groundfish species. Models for eastern Bering Sea flathead sole Hippoglossoides elassodon were developed from 3 relationships describing the response of organism abundance along a resource continua. The model was parameterized for 1998 to 2000 trawl survey data and tested on 2001 and 2002 data. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) of flathead sole had a curvilinear relationship with depth, peaking at 140 m, a proportional relationship with bot- tom water temperature, a positive curvilinear relationship with potential cover (invertebrate shelter- ing organisms such as anemones, corals, sponges, etc.), a negative relationship with increasing mud:sand ratio in the sediment, and an asymptotic relationship with potential prey abundance. The predicted CPUE was highly correlated (r2 = 0.63) to the observations (1998 to 2000) and the model accurately predicted CPUE (r2 = 0.58) in the test data set (2001 and 2002). Because this method of developing habitat-based abundance models is founded on ecological relationships, it should be more robust for predicting fish distributions than statistically based models. Thus, the model can be used to examine the consequences of fishing activity (e.g.
    [Show full text]
  • Book of Abstracts
    PICES Seventeenth Annual Meeting Beyond observations to achieving understanding and forecasting in a changing North Pacific: Forward to the FUTURE North Pacific Marine Science Organization October 24 – November 2, 2008 Dalian, People’s Republic of China Contents Notes for Guidance ...................................................................................................................................... v Floor Plan for the Kempinski Hotel......................................................................................................... vi Keynote Lecture.........................................................................................................................................vii Schedules and Abstracts S1 Science Board Symposium Beyond observations to achieving understanding and forecasting in a changing North Pacific: Forward to the FUTURE......................................................................................................................... 1 S2 MONITOR/TCODE/BIO Topic Session Linking biology, chemistry, and physics in our observational systems – Present status and FUTURE needs .............................................................................................................................. 15 S3 MEQ Topic Session Species succession and long-term data set analysis pertaining to harmful algal blooms...................... 33 S4 FIS Topic Session Institutions and ecosystem-based approaches for sustainable fisheries under fluctuating marine resources ..............................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Foregut Anatomy of the Cochlespirinae (Gastropoda, Conoidea, Turridae)
    Foregut anatomy of the Cochlespirinae (Gastropoda, Conoidea, Turridae) Alexandra I. MEDINSKAYA A. N. Severtzov Institute of Problems of Evolution, Leninsky Prospect 33, Moscow 117071 (Russia) Medinskaya A. I. 1999. — Foregut anatomy of the Cochlespirinae (Gastropoda. Conoidea. Turridae). Zoosystema2\ (2): 171-198. ABSTRACT The foregut anatomy of 20 species, belonging to eight genera, of the sub­ family Cochlespirinae is described. A cladistic analysis based on several most important characters (morphology of proboscis, position of buccal sphinc­ ters, histology of venom gland, position of the venom gland opening, struc­ ture of muscular bulb, and morphology of radular teeth) revealed three more or less well-defined groups within the subfamily. The main feature characte­ rizing the subfamily as a whole and separating groups within it, appeared to be the structure of venom gland and its muscular bulb. The subgenus KEYWORDS Cochlespirinae, Sibogasyrinx of the genus Leucosyrinx was shown to deserve a genus status. Conoidea, Some genera appeared to be intermediate between Cochlespirinae and anatomy, foregut, Crassispirinae in some anatomical characters, and their taxonomic position histology. remains not completely clear. RESUME L'anatomie du système digestif des Cochlespirinae (Gastropoda, Conoidea, Turridae). L'anatomie du système digestif de 20 espèces, appartenant à huit genres de la sous-famille Cochlespirinae, est étudiée. Une analyse cladistique, fondée sur les plus importants caractères de ce groupe (la morphologie de la trompe, la disposition des sphincters, l'histologie de la glande à venin, la disposition de l'ouverture de la glande à venin, la structure de la poire musculaire et la mor­ phologie des dents de la radula) a permis de distinguet trois groupes plus ou moins homogènes.
    [Show full text]
  • INVERTEBRATE SPECIES in the EASTERN BERING SEA By
    Effects of areas closed to bottom trawling on fish and invertebrate species in the eastern Bering Sea Item Type Thesis Authors Frazier, Christine Ann Download date 01/10/2021 18:30:05 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/11122/5018 e f f e c t s o f a r e a s c l o s e d t o b o t t o m t r a w l in g o n fish a n d INVERTEBRATE SPECIES IN THE EASTERN BERING SEA By Christine Ann Frazier RECOMMENDED: — . /Vj Advisory Committee Chair Program Head / \ \ APPROVED: M--- —— [)\ Dean, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences • ~7/ . <-/ / f a Dean of the Graduate Sch6oI EFFECTS OF AREAS CLOSED TO BOTTOM TRAWLING ON FISH AND INVERTEBRATE SPECIES IN THE EASTERN BERING SEA A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE 6 By Christine Ann Frazier, B.A. Fairbanks, Alaska December 2003 UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS ABSTRACT The Bering Sea is a productive ecosystem with some of the most important fisheries in the United States. Constant commercial fishing for groundfish has occurred since the 1960s. The implementation of areas closed to bottom trawling to protect critical habitat for fish or crabs resulted in successful management of these fisheries. The efficacy of these closures on non-target species is unknown. This study determined if differences in abundance, biomass, diversity and evenness of dominant fish and invertebrate species occur among areas open and closed to bottom trawling in the eastern Bering Sea between 1996 and 2000.
    [Show full text]