NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-AFSC-367 doi:10.7289/V5/TM-AFSC-367 Eastern Gulf of Alaska Ecosystem Assessment, July through August 2017 W. W. Strasburger, J. H. Moss, K. A. Siwicke, E. M. Yasumiishi, A. I. Pinchuk, and K. H. Fenske U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Fisheries Science Center February 2018 NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS The National Marine Fisheries Service's Alaska Fisheries Science Center uses the NOAA Technical Memorandum series to issue informal scientific and technical publications when complete formal review and editorial processing are not appropriate or feasible. Documents within this series reflect sound professional work and may be referenced in the formal scientific and technical literature. The NMFS-AFSC Technical Memorandum series of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center continues the NMFS-F/NWC series established in 1970 by the Northwest Fisheries Center. The NMFS-NWFSC series is currently used by the Northwest Fisheries Science Center. This document should be cited as follows: Strasburger, W. W., J. H. Moss, K. A. Siwicke, E. M. Yasumiishi, A. I. Pinchuk, and K H. Fenske. 2018. Eastern Gulf of Alaska Ecosystem Assessment, July through August 2017. U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-AFSC-367, 105 p. Document available: http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/Publications/AFSC-TM/NOAA-TM-AFSC-367.pdf Reference in this document to trade names does not imply endorsement by the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-AFSC-367 doi:10.7289/V5/TM-AFSC-367 Eastern Gulf of Alaska Ecosystem Assessment, July through August 2017 by W. W. Strasburger1, J. H. Moss1, K. A. Siwicke1a, E. M. Yasumiishi1, A. I. Pinchuk2, and K. H. Fenske1 1Auke Bay Laboratories Alaska Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 17109 Pt. Lena Loop Road Juneau, AK 99801 2University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences 17101 Pt. Lena Loop Road Juneau, AK 99801 aNOAA affiliate www.afsc.noaa.gov U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Wilbur L. Ross Jr., Secretary National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RDML Timothy Gallaudet (ret.), Acting Under Secretary and Administrator National Marine Fisheries Service Chris Oliver, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries February 2018 This document is available to the public through: National Technical Information Service U.S. Department of Commerce 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, VA 22161 www.ntis.gov Abstract The goal of the Gulf of Alaska Ecosystem Assessment is to characterize ecosystem function and status in the eastern Gulf of Alaska. This survey is a coordinated research effort, conducted by the Recruitment Processes Alliance within the Alaska Fisheries Science Center. The scientific objectives of the survey are to assess age-0 groundfish, juvenile salmon, zooplankton, and oceanographic conditions in the coastal, shelf, slope, and offshore waters of the eastern Gulf of Alaska. This information is used to describe species distributions, ecosystem processes, marine productivity, and recruitment processes in response to changes in climate patterns and temperature anomalies (i.e., “The Blob”, and El Niño). iii Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................ iii Contents ........................................................................................................................................................ v Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 1 Methods ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 Survey Design ........................................................................................................................................... 3 Oceanography ....................................................................................................................................... 4 Zooplankton .......................................................................................................................................... 4 Fish ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 Trawl Sampling ................................................................................................................................. 5 Fish Sample Collection ..................................................................................................................... 6 At Each Station ................................................................................................................................. 6 Sablefish Tagging Methods NW1704 ............................................................................................... 7 Data Analysis ................................................................................................................................................ 9 Results and Discussion ............................................................................................................................... 13 Ocean Conditions .................................................................................................................................... 13 Zooplankton ............................................................................................................................................ 13 Fish .......................................................................................................................................................... 16 Age-0 Groundfish ............................................................................................................................... 16 Juvenile Salmon .................................................................................................................................. 18 Squid ................................................................................................................................................... 19 Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................................................... 21 Citations ...................................................................................................................................................... 23 Tables .......................................................................................................................................................... 27 Figures ........................................................................................................................................................ 51 Appendix I. Cruise Itinerary ....................................................................................................................... 83 Appendix II. Scientific Personnel ............................................................................................................... 85 Appendix III. Sample Requests .................................................................................................................. 87 Appendix IV. Sampling Protocols .............................................................................................................. 99 v Introduction The Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Assessment is a fisheries and oceanographic survey conducted in the eastern GOA during the summer season. The survey is designed to characterize ecosystem status and function and is a coordinated research effort among scientists within the Recruitment Processes Alliance at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The survey has sampled in the eastern GOA each year since 2010 and is a continuation of the monitoring efforts established by the GOA Integrated Ecosystem Research Project (GOAIERP; https://www.nprb.org/gulf-of-alaska- project/about-the-project/). The scientific objectives of the survey are to assess age-0 groundfish, juvenile salmon, zooplankton, and oceanographic conditions in the coastal, shelf, slope, and offshore waters of the eastern GOA. This information is used to describe species distributions, ecosystem structure, and marine productivity in response to changes in climate patterns and temperature anomalies (e.g., The Blob, and El Nio). In 2017, sampling for fish, plankton, and oceanography was completed at pre-determined and opportunistic station locations onboard the chartered fishing vessel Northwest Explorer (B&N Fisheries). Specific Objectives Listed in the Cruise Plan 1) Observe epipelagic fish communities by sampling with a rope trawl. Fish species of interest retained from the trawl included age-0 arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias), age-0 rockfish species (Sebastes spp.), age-0 walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus), age-0 Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus), age-0 sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria), juvenile Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.), and forage fishes 2) Collect physical oceanographic data including CTD (conductivity-temperature-depth) vertical profiles, salinity, light transmission, chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) fluorescence, nutrients, and photosynthetically available radiation (PAR). 3) Collect biological oceanographic