Alaska Archives - Page 8 of 261

Genetic Diversity in Alaska Red King Crab May Provide Resilience to Climate Change

January 3, 2024 — Maintaining genetic diversity within and among populations is vital to ensure species are resilient to challenging conditions. Without it, a single disease or set of conditions—such as a prolonged change in ocean acidification—could drive a species to extinction. Fortunately, new research has revealed more genetic diversity across Alaska’s red king crab populations than originally documented. This suggests that the species will be more resilient in the face of changing conditions like ocean warming. However, any efforts to enhance red king crab populations need to be careful not to affect this genetic diversity.

King Crab in Alaska

Historically, the red king crab fishery was Alaska’s top shellfish fishery. It’s embedded in the culture of Alaska’s working waterfronts and king crabs have been the centerpiece of holiday feasts around the world. However, the red king crab fishery collapsed in the 1980s. Since 1983, most populations have been depressed statewide and the Gulf of Alaska fishery remains closed.

Wes Larson is co-author of the new research and the genetics program manager at the NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center. He reflects, “When it comes to understanding crab biomass declines and how to recover populations, we need to better understand population structure and local adaptation. There are a lot of concerned and invested fishermen, processors, and community members getting more engaged in these issues and it’s propelling new and innovative research.”

To dig into this need, Larson and a team of collaborators embarked on a study to generate whole genome sequencing data on red king crab in different locations across Alaska. The benefit of whole genome sequencing over previous methods is that it’s akin to reading the full story of an organism’s makeup instead of just a chapter or two. This holistic approach offers more robust analysis in order to tease apart similarities and differences between locations. Collaborators on the research included:

Cornell University
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

ALASKA: NOAA announces up to $1 million in funding for crucial research projects — here’s why we should be paying attention

December 30, 2024 Alaska is known for its beauty, northern location, fishing industry, and harsh winter weather. Now, the resilient state is set to benefit from up to $1 million to support research geared toward its local communities, as reported by NOAA.

During the first year alone, the remote state will receive about $500,000 of that funding thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act signed by the Biden-Harris administration in 2022.

Alaska may be the country’s largest state by land mass, but it has a sparse population in comparison — one projected to decline by 2% or 15,000 people by 2050, according to Alaska’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Read the full article at The Cool Down

Fish, crab may shift to further north waters

December 27, 2024 — Regional models being developed by NOAA Fisheries indicate that some fish and crab may shift further north in Alaskan waters than previously predicted due to climate change.

A new report issued by NOAA Fisheries on Dec. 17 says scientists have developed new models that predict more extreme changes in the ecosystem of the eastern Bering Sea by the end of the century, with larger summer northward shifts and changes in areas occupied by important commercial crab and fish species.

Specifically, the majority of models estimate changes in the center of distribution for several commercially important species. They predict that most species’ summer distributions will shift north by between 50 and 200 kilometers by 2080-2089.

Scientists also project large declines in the amount of area occupied by red king crab and snow crab and potentially northern rock sole in summer months, a substantial increase in area occupied by arrowtooth flounder who are a key predator of walleye pollock and declines in probability of occurrence of most species in areas with low pH and oxygen concentration.

Read the full article at The Cordova Times

ALASKA: ‘Mining and salmon have never gotten along’: Alaskan tribes don’t want B.C. gold mine

December 20, 2024 — Southeast Alaskan tribal groups are decrying a proposed mine in northwestern British Columbia, arguing it will have disastrous environmental repercussions for the Taku River watershed.

Vancouver-based Canagold Resources Ltd., is proposing to develop the New Polaris gold mine, an underground gold mine located 100 kilometres south of Atlin, B.C. and 60 kilometres northeast of Juneau, Alaska.

The remote, fly-in mine would produce around 1,000 tonnes of ore per day.

“The people of the Taku have subsisted, survived and stewarded the Taku River watershed for thousands of years,” said Jill Weitz, government affairs liaison for the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.

“It’s such a magical place that to even think about activity like that, for those of us downstream, it’s kind of mind boggling,” she said.

The Taku River, as well as the Stikine and Unuk rivers, flow from northwestern B.C. to southeastern Alaska.

The rivers are home to all five species of wild Alaska salmon, brown bears, moose and other wildlife and fish species.

Read the full article at Yahoo! News

Environmentalist group sues to gain information about Alaska trawler toll on marine mammals

December 20, 2024 — The federal government has failed to give adequate information on deaths of killer whales and other marine mammals that become entangled in commercial trawling gear in Alaska waters, claims a lawsuit filed on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Anchorage.

The lawsuit, filed by the environmental group Oceana, targets the National Marine Fisheries Service, an agency of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The whales and other marine mammals killed in fishing gear are subjects of what is known as bycatch, the unintended, incidental catch of species that are not the harvest target.

Read the full article at the Alaska Beacon

ALASKA: Bycatch debate heats up in Prince William Sound pollock fishery

December 19, 2024 — A long-running debate over bycatch in the pollock fishery has moved closer to urban Alaska with a new set of proposals aimed at regulating the annual harvest in Prince William Sound. This week, the state Board of Fisheries is considering four proposals that could place sharp restrictions on or even close down the small pollock trawl fishery in the waters east of Anchorage.

Supporters of the proposals point to state data showing that approximately 15 boats, mostly from Kodiak Island, unintentionally catch about 900 king salmon and 900 rockfish each year in their wide-mouth trawl nets. They argue that these fish are crucial to subsistence harvests for local communities, especially the village of Chenega. Boyd Selanoff, a member of the Chenega tribal council, expressed concern about the impact on their way of life.

“The language is disappearing. The culture is disappearing, the subsistence traditions and education are disappearing,” Selanoff reported by the Anchorage Daily News and Nathaniel Hertz. “One of the main sources of life in Prince William Sound — for all of us, not just Chenega — is a healthy fish stock.”

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

ALASKA: Alaska Pollock Fishery Alliance applauds unified effort to support Prince William Sound fisheries

December 17, 2024 — The following was released by Alaska Pollock Fishery Alliance:

At last week’s Alaska Board of Fisheries meeting, an unprecedented display of unity emerged as members of diverse fishery sectors – from salmon fishermen to processors and local fishing families – came together to oppose a proposed ban on trawling in Prince William Sound (PWS). The Alaska Pollock Fishery Alliance (APFA) welcomes this collaborative victory for science-based fisheries management, sustainable fishing practices, and Alaska’s coastal communities.

The rejection of the proposals targeting trawling reflects not only a win for sound data and science but also a profound moment of solidarity for sustainable fisheries among stakeholders who sometimes compete for resources. The realization that, during challenging economic times, the survival of the Alaska seafood industry requires collective effort, has set a precedent for cooperation that all Alaskans can take pride in.

“This wasn’t a victory only for the trawl fishery,” said Julie Bonney, executive director of the Alaska Groundfish Data Bank. “It was a victory for every fishing family, crew member, and processor who depends on sustainable Alaska fisheries to keep our coastal communities alive. When Alaskans stick together, we are stronger – and this meeting proved that.”

Community members, salmon fishermen, and processors joined forces in vocal opposition to the proposals, recognizing the significant role the PWS trawl fishery plays in supporting Alaska livelihoods. Beyond the economic contributions, testimony highlighted that many small businesses, processing workers, and fishing families rely on trawl landings for their survival.

“Fishermen understand that we are all connected,” said Bonney. “From salmon to pollock, our fisheries must work together. The success of pink salmon in Prince William Sound relies in part on pollock harvests, and the local fishing community understands that more than anyone.”

While a well-known advocacy group pushed misleading information online and at the meeting in attempts to sway the Board, the Board of Fisheries and public alike saw through these efforts. Testimony underscored that well-designed conservation management measures – not blanket bans – are the appropriate response to fishery challenges.

Contrary to the opposition’s claims, the PWS trawl fishery is a clean fishery with minimal rockfish bycatch, when compared with incidental catch in other fisheries. Additionally, testimony revealed that rockfish conservation proposals aimed at addressing real conservation issues saw no interest from the same advocacy group calling for the ban, calling their real motivations into question.

Particularly impactful were hallway conversations and testimonies from Kodiak fishermen, who delivered firsthand accounts of how trawl fishing works, the economic and cultural importance of maintaining the trawl fishery in Prince William Sound. Trawl fishermen also explained their co-dependance on the PWS salmon fishery to local Cordovan fishermen since many of these same trawl vessels tender salmon for the local salmon fleet. Their words resonated across gear types, sparking conversations and building understanding among fishermen.

“It was heartening to see salmon and trawl fishermen stand shoulder-to-shoulder on this issue,” said Paddy O’Donnell, board president of the Alaska Whitefish Trawlers Association and skipper of the Kodiak-based F/V Caravelle. “We don’t always agree, but we recognize now is the time to support each other. When fishermen join forces and speak the truth, others listen.”

The Alaska Pollock Fishery Alliance believes this outcome underscores the importance of science, data, and collaboration in fisheries management. More importantly, it highlights the resilience of Alaska’s fishing communities, who understand that a thriving fishery benefits all.

“We hope this spirit of unity continues,” O’Donnell concluded. “When times are tough and the survival of our way of life is on the line, we speak with one voice for the benefit of all.”

ALASKA: Defending Alaska’s trawl fleet: Myths, facts, and the fight

December 16, 2024 — Alaska’s trawl fisheries, vital to coastal communities and the seafood sector, are under attack by what industry leaders call “radical groups funded by out-of-state interests.” As the Alaska Beacon reported, critics seek to ban trawling, a fishing method responsible for “a substantial majority of fishery landings in the Alaska Region and nationally.”

Four fishermen from Alaska put together the piece for the Beacon: Sam Wright, a lifelong Alaska native who’s fished for 30 years for crab, flatfish, Pacific cod, and other species in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and the Gulf of Alaska; Dan Carney, an Alaskan homesteader, farmer, fisherman, and 43-year Bering Sea survivor; Jason Chandler was born in Kodiak and is a lifelong resident. He has participated in multiple fisheries for more than 30 years; Kiley Thomson, a 32-year resident of Sand Point, fishes for salmon, crab, pollock, and cod in the Gulf of Alaska.

The article states for those who enjoy wild seafood, “fish sandwiches or shrimp; fish sticks or scallops; fish tacos or rockfish,” much of it comes from trawl or dredge gears. While these methods “impact the environment,” their effects are continually monitored to ensure “long-term ecosystem health.”

The Alaska Beacon underscores that few food production systems are as sustainable as Alaska’s fisheries, supported by “a clear, science-based process” that determines where, when, and how fishing occurs. This oversight enables the harvest of “billions of seafood meals every year” while sustaining tens of thousands of jobs across Alaska.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

ALASKA: A Few Surprises in Alaska’s Marine Environment in 2024

December 12, 2024 — The Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Island waters were on the warm side for a good part of the year. In fact, winter sea surface temperatures in 2023–2024 were among the 10 warmest years since 1900 in the Aleutians. The eastern Bering Sea appears to be in a period of transition as it continues to recover from record heatwave conditions (2014–2021).

This year’s Ecosystem Status Reports provide a comprehensive look at 2024 conditions and trends over time (whether some indicators were increasing or decreasing) for key indicators. Scientists use these indicators to monitor Alaska marine ecosystem health.

“We look at numerous indicators that tell us about the ocean environment, the animals that live there, what they’re eating, who is eating them and how healthy they all are. That includes everything from water temperature, pH, ocean currents, and weather patterns to abundance of plankton, fish, crabs, seabirds, marine mammals and other species,” said Bridget Ferriss, author of the Gulf of Alaska Ecosystem Status Report.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

Over 74 percent of Pacific halibut quota caught before Dec. 7 closure

December 12, 2024 — Alackluster Pacific halibut season closes on December 7 in fisheries across Alaska, British Columbia and along the U.S. west coast.

By December 6, just over 74% of the 28.86 million pound coastwide commercial catch limit had crossed the docks since the fishery opened on March 15, with a net weight barely topping 21.43 million pounds. Fishermen for the most part reported sketchy catches and lots of smaller sized halibut.

Alaska always get the lion’s share of the annual commercial halibut catch which this year totaled 18.47 million pounds, a 2.7% decrease from 2023. By the season’s closure, Alaska fishermen had delivered nearly 14 million pounds to fishing communities across the state.

Fishermen at Southeast, Area 2C, caught 87% of their halibut limit, the harvest at the Central Gulf, Area 3A, came in at 91%, 3B, the Western Gulf, at 88%, at 4A, the Aleutians region, 55% of the allowable halibut was taken, and the Bering Sea areas of 4B were at 31% and 43% of the halibut catch limit.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

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