Bering Sea | Fishes and Fish Habitats
Improving the genetic baseline of western Alaska Chinook salmon for mixed stock analysis in the Bering Sea Presenter: Elizabeth Lee , elizabeth.lee@alaska.gov, Alaska Department of Fish and Game Tyler Dann , tyler.dann@alaska.gov, Alaska Department of Fish and Game Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ) returns have decreased in many Western Alaska rivers within the last decade, creating economic hardships, food security, and cultural preservation issues for fishing communities throughout the region. In addition to socioeconomic challenges this poses to fishing communities, this presents challenges to fisheries managers, biologists, and other stakeholders. With low returns, it is vital to minimize uncertainties around estimates of stock-specific harvest, escapement, total return, and forecasts of future returns used in management decisions. Genetic mixed stock analysis (MSA) is an effective method for identifying stock of origin among mixed-stock samples of salmon, including marine-stage Chinook salmon maturing in the Bering Sea. However, the accuracy and precision of MSA stock composition estimates depend on the quality and resolution of the underlaying genetic baseline used for analysis. Here, we present an improved genetic baseline that can be used in MSA applications to inform Chinook salmon fisheries management and research priorities within Western Alaska and the Bering Sea. New genotyping by sequencing techniques were used to incorporate 367 additional genetic markers and 70 additional populations into the existing genetic baseline, which improved the characterization of underlying population structure for more accurate and precise stock composition estimates in MSA. The improved baseline will be an important tool for Chinook salmon management and research applications within Western Alaska and the Bering Sea.
Alaska Marine Science Symposium 2023 208
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