Bering Sea | Fishes and Fish Habitats
Addition of a benthic component to the northern Bering Sea surface trawl and ecosystem survey Presenter: Daniel Cooper , dan.cooper@noaa.gov, Alaska Fisheries Science Center
James Murphy , jim.murphy@noaa.gov, Alaska Fisheries Science Center Louise Copeman , louise.copeman@noaa.gov, Alaska Fisheries Science Center Elizabeth Logerwell , libby.logerwell@noaa.gov, Alaska Fisheries Science Center
A benthic component was added to the northern Bering Sea surface trawl and ecosystem survey in 2021 and 2022 to study: 1) the use of the northern Bering Sea by juveniles of commercial fish species, 2) the benthic invertebrate and fish community, 3) bentho-pelagic coupling, and 4) the distribution and condition of juvenile Chionoecetes crab. A small (2.1 m width) benthic trawl with small (7 mm) mesh, and a benthic grab were conducted at each station of the existing survey grid. Age-0 Pacific cod were present in 2021, and absent in 2022. Juvenile yellowfin sole were present at nearshore stations in both 2021 and 2022. Shrimp (primarily Crangon dalli and Pandalus goniuris ) were an important component of the catch at many stations in both 2021 and 2022. Small juvenile Chionoecetes crab (<15 mm carapace width) were caught in both the northern and southern areas of the survey grid at intermediate bottom depths, and crab were collected for fatty acid analysis. Sediment samples and infauna were collected at each station in 2022 to measure spatial variability in sediment grain size, sediment organic content and fatty acid biomarkers. The benthic component of this survey is ongoing and evolving, and discussions and comments are encouraged.
Alaska Marine Science Symposium 2023 212
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker