we conducted exposed me to a whole host of organisms that I had never seen before. I learned how to use trawls, beach seines, and a flume net. The trawls and seines collected strange organisms that inhabited the estuarine intertidal zones. I learned that we were conducting these studies because the intertidal zone had not yet been surveyed. The terrestrial environment had been surveyed up to the Mean High High Water (MHHW) line and the aquatic (ocean) environment had been surveyed up to the Mean Low Low Water (MLLW) line, leaving the intertidal zone unmapped. We conducted shore-zone habitat classifications that looked at the various component (substrate) and bioband (vegetation) zones within these intertidal areas. The goal of these EFH surveys was to correlate the distribution of organisms within these various intertidal shore zones at various times throughout the year. This information will help to establish better fisheries management strategies within these intertidal zones.

The other interesting fisheries management survey that I was a part of was the sablefish longline survey. This survey was a valuable experience with regards to fisheries management. I learned that the purpose of the sablefish longline survey is to determine the relative abundance and size composition of the sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria). This information enables fisheries managers to establish the annual catch limits for the sablefish fishery. During this survey, I became adept at collecting otoliths and tagging fish. I was also able to talk to the contract biologists and ask them questions about fisheries observer jobs. I learned what observer companies are

the best to work under and also what to expect while on a vessel for 90 days. By talking with captain Joe Pohl, I was able to obtain a commercial fisherman's views on fisheries issues and where he thinks they are going. I could not have obtained this valuable insight from classroom work alone. Seeing the commercial longlining first hand was an experience in itself.

Theses various projects exposed me to the world of commercial fishing. The sleeper shark research put me in contact with Peter Ord, a commercial Dungeness crab and halibut fisherman who had been fishing for fifteen years. I helped him and his nephew haul crab off his boat and to the airport some evenings after work. In doing so, I showed him that I was a hard worker and he deferred me to Paul Burrel, a Dungeness crab, sablefish, and halibut fisherman. I worked one weekend as a deck hand for Paul hauling and harvesting crab. Through these valuable experiences, I've developed an interest in the commercial fishing scene and think that I will come back to Juneau next summer to fish for Dungeness crab and Halibut with one of these two fisherman.

I also conducted much computer work this summer. This was probably the most beneficial and useful insight I gained all summer. Prior to coming to Auke Bay for this internship I had no idea how to work Microsoft Access and Excel. I learned how to save files under the appropriate settings, download programs to a PC, and most importantly - computers are my friends. This internship has also increased the speed at which I type.

This summer of 2004 I was exposed to an entirely new area in my fisheries field, the marine environment. I had little knowledge of marine organisms and marine based fisheries management prior to this summer's internship. The projects that I was involved in and the others that I saw around the lab have opened my eyes and sparked an interest in marine fisheries. The dates and days of the various projects I worked on can be found on Table 1 below. The information and computer skills gained from this internship will prove useful next semester in school and in graduate school in the fall of 2005.

References:

Pimm, S.L.
1991. The balance of nature? Ecological issues in the conservation of species in communities. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL. 434pp.

Sih, A., P.H. Crowley, M.A. McPeek, J.W. Petranka, and K. Strohmeir. 1985. Predation, competition and prey communities: a review of field experiments. Annual Reviews of Ecology and Systematics 16:269-311.