A large haul of juvenile rockfish.

Juvenile rockfish being processed.

Little is known about the ecology of pelagic juvenile rockfishes (Sebastes) in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA); most species have not been described at this stage of development. It is presently difficult or impossible to identify the larvae and juveniles of many rockfish species from their morphology. With recently developed methods using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers (Gharrett et al. 2001, Li et al. 2006), we can identify most of the species found in the GOA and along the North Pacific coast.

Many young-of-the-year rockfishes were collected during the Auke Bay Laboratories' juvenile salmonid surveys around the northern GOA. These specimens offer an unparalleled opportunity to learn about the seasonal distributions of the species sampled. One objective of the present study is to compare and combine morphological and genetic information to identify rockfish. A second objective is to obtain information about the diversity of species distributed around the GOA. A third objective being pursued by University of Alaska Fairbanks is to examine the population genetic structure of young-of-the-year Pacific ocean perch, the predominate species identified in the collections, along GOA survey transects and between years.

Funding:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Contact
Sharon Wildes
Auke Bay Laboratories
Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries

Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute
17109 Pt Lena Loop Rd
Juneau AK 99801
(907) 789-6081
Sharon.Wildes@noaa.gov