Research and Restoration Plan for Norton Sound Salmon
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Research and Restoration Plan for Norton Sound Salmon Working Draft September 26, 2002 (as revised through February 18, 2003) Prepared by the Scientific Technical Committee For the Norton Sound Steering Committee Working Draft: Research and Restoration Plan for Norton Sound Salmon 2/18/03 SCIENTIFIC TECHNICAL COMMITTEE Milo Adkison, Assistant Professor, Juneau Center, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, Juneau, Alaska. Linda K. Brannian, Regional Research Supervisor for the Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Region of the Division of Commercial Fisheries, ADF&G, Anchorage, Alaska. Russell R. Holder, Fisheries Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fairbanks Alaska. Michael Link, Fisheries Biologist, LGL Limited, Victoria, Canada. Phillip R. Mundy (Chair), Fisheries Scientist, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Office, State of Alaska, Anchorage. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The committee gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Gene Sandone, Charlie Lean, Steve McGee, Mac McLean, Jim Magdanz, and the members of the Steering Committee. We also wish to acknowledge Matt Nemeth for his assistance to the committee in drafting sections of this plan involving the life cycle of sockeye and pink salmon and the marine stage of coho salmon, and for his work on the literature cited and the preparation of the electronic bibliography on which it is based. PROJECT SPONSORSHIP Preparation of the Research and Restoration Plan for Norton Sound Salmon was partially financed by the Fishery Disaster Relief Program granted after the Norton Sound Fishery Disaster, contract NA16FW1272 to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. This grant is administered under the Norton Sound Research and Restoration Memorandum of Understanding. ii Working Draft: Research and Restoration Plan for Norton Sound Salmon 2/18/03 OEO/ADA STATEMENT The Alaska Department of Fish and Game administers all programs and activities free from discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, or disability. The department administers all programs and activities in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility, or if you desire further information please write to ADF&G, P.O. Box 25526, Juneau, AK 99802-5526; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 300 Webb, Arlington, VA 22203 or O.E.O., U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington DC 20240. For information on alternative formats for this and other department publications, please contact the department ADA Coordinator at (voice) 907-465-4120, (TDD) 907-465-3646, or (FAX) 907-465-2440. iii Working Draft: Research and Restoration Plan for Norton Sound Salmon 2/18/03 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of Tables vii List of Figures vii List of Appendices vii Introduction 1 Identifying the Research Questions................................................................................. 1 Norton Sound Salmon and Area Definition 2 People of Norton Sound 3 Economics of Norton Sound 4 Subsistence Economy...................................................................................................... 4 Cash Economy................................................................................................................. 4 Fisheries of Norton Sound 5 Subsistence ...................................................................................................................... 5 Commercial ..................................................................................................................... 5 Recreational..................................................................................................................... 6 Current Research, Assessment, and Restoration 7 Life Cycle of Norton Sound Salmon 8 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 8 Life Cycle of Norton Sound Chum Salmon .................................................................... 8 Introduction.................................................................................................................. 8 Egg Stage ..................................................................................................................... 9 Fry Stage – hatching and freshwater emigration........................................................ 13 Fry stage - nearshore marine...................................................................................... 14 Marine Stage .............................................................................................................. 16 Immigrant (Adult) Stage ............................................................................................ 22 Life Cycle of Norton Sound Coho Salmon ................................................................... 24 Introduction................................................................................................................ 24 Egg Stage ................................................................................................................... 25 Juvenile Stage – hatching, freshwater residence, and freshwater emigration............ 27 Smolt Stage – nearshore marine................................................................................. 28 Marine Stage .............................................................................................................. 29 Immigrant (Adult) Stage ............................................................................................ 31 Life Cycle of Norton Sound Sockeye Salmon .............................................................. 32 Introduction................................................................................................................ 32 Egg Stage ................................................................................................................... 34 Juvenile Stage – hatching, freshwater residence, and freshwater emigration............ 37 Smolt stage - nearshore marine .................................................................................. 41 Marine Stage .............................................................................................................. 43 Immigrant (Adult) Stage ............................................................................................ 49 Life Cycle of Norton Sound Pink Salmon..................................................................... 51 Introduction................................................................................................................ 51 Egg Stage ................................................................................................................... 52 Juvenile Stage – hatching and freshwater emigration................................................ 56 Juvenile stage - nearshore marine .............................................................................. 57 iv Working Draft: Research and Restoration Plan for Norton Sound Salmon 2/18/03 Marine Stage .............................................................................................................. 59 Immigrant (Adult) Stage ............................................................................................ 65 Life Cycle of Norton Sound Chinook Salmon .............................................................. 67 Introduction................................................................................................................ 67 Egg Stage ................................................................................................................... 68 Juvenile Stage – hatching, freshwater residence, and freshwater emigration............ 71 Juvenile stage - nearshore marine .............................................................................. 72 Marine Stage .............................................................................................................. 74 Immigrant (Adult) Stage ............................................................................................ 79 Harvest Management 81 Policies and Regulations Governing Harvest Management .......................................... 81 Commercial Fisheries.................................................................................................... 83 Harvest and Escapement of Norton Sound Chum Salmon ........................................ 84 Harvest and Escapement of Norton Sound Coho Salmon ......................................... 84 Harvest and Escapement of Norton Sound Sockeye Salmon..................................... 85 Harvest and Escapement of Norton Sound Pink Salmon........................................... 86 Harvest and Escapement of Norton Sound Chinook Salmon .................................... 86 Harvest and Escapement Information Needs ............................................................. 86 Subsistence Fisheries..................................................................................................... 88 Hatchery Activities 88 Hatchery Locations and Programmatic Concerns ......................................................... 88 Research Plan 90 Egg Stage....................................................................................................................... 90 Questions...................................................................................................................