Ensuring Sustainable Fisheries

Because of our science and the cooperation of our stakeholders, Alaska fisheries are among the most well managed and profitable fisheries in the world. Currently, just a single crab stock in Alaska is considered overfished; that stock???s lack of recovery is most likely due to unfavorable environmental conditions. Our research is relied upon by commercial and recreational fishermen, fishery-dependent processing and retail businesses, and Alaska Native communities to maintain their way of??????life.

We collect biological, ecological and environmental data from our research surveys and from fishing catches. In the laboratory and in the field we study what fish eat, where they live and how fast they grow. We also collect socio-economic data on fisheries and coastal communities. These data are put into models to generate estimates of fish stock abundance and safe catch limits. Resource managers use this information to develop management measures ensuring healthy fisheries over the long term. Healthy marine resources = jobs and food??????security.

Our primary responsibility is to provide scientific data, analyses and expert technical advice to marine resource managers (i.e., the NOAA Fisheries??? Alaska Regional Office, North Pacific Fishery Management Council, the State of Alaska, the International Pacific Halibut Commission, the Pacific Salmon Commission), Alaska tribal governments, public stakeholders, and U.S. representatives participating in international fishery and marine mammal negotiations. The work of monitoring and assessing fish, crab and marine mammal populations, fisheries and marine ecosystems is mandated by legislation, which includes the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the U.S Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy??????Act.

2016 Highlights:

Standard Vessel Surveys: Bread and Butter for Stock Assessments

Using commercial fishing and research vessels, we collect data to estimate the size of fish stocks in Alaska. Managers use these stock assessments to set sustainable fishing quotas and other management measures to protect Alaska fish stocks and fish habitats. In 2016, we conducted 21 fisheries-independent groundfish and crab surveys in the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea, providing information on the abundance, sex, size and age of fish and crabs. We used this information to update 54 fish stock assessments. In as few as 10 days after the surveys were completed, assessment scientists were able to use these data to estimate the size of various??????stocks.

Adding the Human Dimension

Having sustainable fisheries is about having healthy fish stocks, profitable fishing businesses, and preserving traditional ways of life for Alaska Native communities. This year, our scientists conducted socioeconomic surveys of 1,248 Alaska fishing participants and businesses. We updated our Alaska Saltwater Sport Fishing Charter Business Survey, which is designed to collect baseline economic information about the charter fisheries sector in order to evaluate the effects of regulatory changes. We also assessed the level of dependence on marine resources of 334 Alaska communities and their socio-economic well-being to provide marine resource managers with a scientifically sound rapid assessment of community resiliency over??????time.

Each year, we also produce annual economic status reports for various fisheries that include annual trends in catch and processing value, volume and??????effort.

Experimental Studies Enhance Stock Assessments

Experimental studies that provide information on the growth and natural and human-caused mortality of fishes helps us better estimate the size of fish stocks. For example, we collect information from otoliths (fish ear bones) to learn more about how long a fish has lived and conditions in the environment. Like the growth rings of a tree, otolith rings record climate variation and growing conditions that occurred during the fish???s life. Other studies reveal how well fish and other animals caught as bycatch survive after release, which further helps to refine our stock assessment models and improve estimates of fish and crab stock abundance. Results for this past winter???s growth experiments on Tanner and snow crab are already being used in our assessment models. Laboratory studies on the effects of ocean acidification on commercial fish and crab species is another way that our research helps stakeholders prepare for the??????future.

Eyes on the Water: Fisheries Observers

Observer data are used to successfully manage dozens of groundfish stocks and to monitor and ultimately reduce the amount of prohibited species caught in groundfish fisheries such as Chinook salmon and Pacific halibut. The goal is to ensure that other fisheries and communities that target Chinook salmon and Pacific halibut are able to catch what they need while ensuring a healthy Alaska marine??????ecosystem.

While onboard fishing vessels, observers also collect data used to monitor populations of threatened and endangered species including Steller sea lions, killer whales, harbor porpoise, and seabirds such as the endangered short- tailed albatross. These data help us assess interactions with fisheries. This year successful marine resource management led to the delisting of one marine mammal species in AK and the decision not to list another species.

Better Accounting for Bycatch and Improving Survivability of Released Fish

We are continuing to improve methods for at-sea and dockside sampling to better track Chinook salmon bycatch in Gulf of Alaska trawl fisheries. We are also improving methods to quickly and carefully release Pacific halibut back to sea so more survive to support fisheries that target??????them.

We also helped to develop abundance-based halibut prohibited species catch caps for use in the eastern Bering Sea, where halibut bycatch has been a limiting factor for some??????fisheries.

Genetics Studies Increase Understanding of Bycatch Impacts

This year, our genetics laboratory was able to determine the stock of origin of Chinook and chum salmon captured as bycatch in groundfish fisheries in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska. These data help resource managers better understand the impacts of bycatch on local stocks and fishing??????communities.

Understanding Market Forces on Alaska Seafood

We worked with the McDowell Group and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission to produce a new publication to provide the North Pacific Fishery Management Council with insights into the range of market forces that may affect the value of Alaska seafood. Authors examined impacts of market forces on Alaska seafood including the production and global supply of king crab, Atka mackerel harvests in Japan, demand for fish oil for human consumption, currency exchange rates (such as fluctuations in the value of the dollar), changes in Atlantic cod production and changes in consumer preferences for some??????species.

Protecting Fish Habitat

This year our scientists helped define Essential Fish Habitat descriptions and establish habitat impact assessment protocols to assist resource managers at the North Pacific Fishery Management Council with their five-year review of Essential Fish Habitat. Understanding where fish successfully spawn, grow and feed is key to their effective??????management.

Department of Commerce Bronze Medal

Alaska Fisheries Science Center staff Paul Packer, Julie Blair, Glenn Campbell, Farron Wallace, Craig Faunce, and Heather Weikart (retired) received a Department of Commerce Bronze Award for developing an online Observer Declare and Deploy System (ODDS) to automate the observer selection process, improving customer service and the management of fisheries off Alaska. The Bronze Medal Award is the highest honor award granted by the NOAA???s Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, and recognizes superior performance by federal??????employees.

NOAA Fisheries Economics & Human Dimensions Program Best Papers ??? 2016

Four out of the six research and policy papers selected as the Best Papers in Economics and Human Dimensions for 2016 were awarded to center??????staff.

Best Research Papers

First Place

Kasperski, S. 2015. Optimal Multi-species Harvesting in Ecologically and Economically Interdependent Fisheries. Environmental and Resource Economics, 61(4):??????517-557.

Third Place

Himes-Cornell, A. and S. Kasperski. 2015. Assessing Climate Change Vulnerability in Alaska???s Fishing Communities. Fisheries Research 162:??????1-11.

Best Policy Papers

First Place

Wallmo, K. and D. Lew. 2016. A comparison of regional and national values for recovering threatened and endangered marine species in the United States. Journal of Environmental Management 179 (2016) 38e46. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.04.053

Third Place

Seung, C. and J. Ianelli. 2016. Regional Economic Impacts of Climate Change: A computable General Equilibrium Analysis for an Alaska Fishery. Natural Resource Modeling, V 29 (2):??????289-233