Juvenile sockeye salmon in kelp forest.

Coho salmon smolts in net pin.

The Genetics Program at Auke Bay Laboratories conducts stock assessment on Pacific salmonids. This is an important group of keystone fishes that are widely distributed, generally abundant, commercially valuable, and historically and symbolically important in the cultures of peoples around the North Pacific Rim.

Genetics stock assessment research includes working with FEDZ staff for operation of counting weirs at Sashin Creek and Auke Creek, working with EMA staff for epipelagic trawling for juvenile salmon and associated fishes in key migration corridors, modeling and genetic studies to evaluate interactions between wild and hatchery salmon, and forecasting to predict adult returns and run strength for harvest management. Genetics stock assessment research also uses tagging technologies, such as coded wire tags, to document migratory patterns, fishery contribution, exploitation rates, and interceptions of ESA listed stocks.

Juvenile rockfish stock assessment is focused on behavioral responses to different types of benthic habitat in the presence and absence of predators. This research is designed to evaluate the impacts of disturbed seafloor habitats from commercial groundfish fishing on the well being and survival of juvenile rockfishes using those habitats.

Contact:
John Joyce
Auke Bay Laboratories
Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries

Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute
17109 Pt Lena Loop Rd
Juneau, AK 99801
(907) 789–6618
John.Joyce@noaa.gov