1. Identifying Information Needs and Research Priorities for the North Aleutian Basin of Alaska Fish and Fisheries Working Group Report John Hayse North Aleutian Basin Information Status and Research Planning Meeting Minerals Management Service Anchorage, Alaska November 28—December 1, 2006

2. 2 Advisory Panel for Fish and Fisheries Brenda Konar Chris Stark Jeff Anderson Matthew Eagleton Mike Sigler Diana Evans Paul Gronholdt Ian Yoparil Shelby Boothe Steve Schrof Gunnar Knapp Myra Olsen Kate Wedemeyer Gary Johnson Adelheid Herrmann Dick Jacobsen Tom Ahlfeld Casey Buechler

3. 3 Research Priority Identification Process Identified Information status and needs (Worksheet 5) –Resource and resource attributes of concern –Impacting factors of greatest concern –Level of understanding/knowledge for attribute –Level of understanding/knowledge of effects of impacting factors on attributes –Information needed Identified potential studies to address resources and resource attributes –22 potential studies were identified by the group Prioritized studies and identified highest priority research topics –Cost and effort needed –Timeliness relative to sequence of development activities –Importance relative to information needs Preliminary study profiles for 5 priority studies and 3 additional studies

4. 4 Potential Studies Information1.Web-based Bering Sea fish catalog using existing NOAA and other data 2.Literature review and bibliography of subsistence as an economy 3.Compile historical information about seismic surveys and fishery information in north Aleutian basin Modeling1.Integrate oceanographic and fish modeling 2.Integrate biological and physical modeling (ecosystem level) 3.More accurate trophic model Nearshore Surveys 1.Seasonal near shore habitat assessment, juvenile fish abundance and spawning location - Bering Sea side of Alaska Peninsula 2.Near shore and seasonal baseline studies for Pacific side of Alaskan peninsula Salmon1.Analysis of distribution of salmon maturation areas within Sale 92 using current data 2.Identification of migration routes for adult salmon within NAB 3.Late spring and early summer juvenile salmon and young of the year Pollock epipelagic surveys 4.Effects of seismic surveys on smolt 5.Verify and update state of Alaska’s anadromous fish database Habitat Evaluations 1.Benthic habitat substrate distribution investigation in north Aleutian basin 2.Baseline surveys of coastal stream water quality and fish use Fisheries1.Evaluation of fishing gear conflicts with energy development in Sale 92 area 2.Local fishing community surveys and studies to predict potential impacts of oil spills and development Other1.Seasonal juvenile flat fish survey 2.Seasonal fish migration (cod and halibut) within NAB 3.Juvenile crab survival and distribution (identification of settling areas) 4.Pelagic studies of plankton (especially ichthyoplankton) (May & September) 5.Better understand value and importance of impacting factors to biological resources that utilize Aleutian passes

5. 5 Priority Studies for Fish and Fisheries Seasonal evaluations of habitat use, juvenile fish abundance and spawning locations for fish in nearshore areas of the Bering Sea side of the Alaska Peninsula (capelin, sand lance, sandfish, juvenile cod, pollock and other species) Epipelagic surveys during late spring and early summer to evaluate distribution and abundance of juvenile salmon and young-of-the-year pollock within the North Aleutian Basin Plankton (especially ichthyoplankton) surveys of pelagic waters in the NAB during May & September Compilation and statistical evaluation of historical seismic survey information and fishery catch data for the North Aleutian basin Evaluation of potential for space-use conflicts between fishery activities and oil and gas development activities within the Sale 92 area

6. 6 Priority Studies for Fish and Fisheries Seasonal evaluations of habitat use, juvenile fish abundance and spawning locations for fish in nearshore areas of the Bering Sea side of the Alaska Peninsula (capelin, sand lance, sandfish, juvenile cod, pollock and other species) –important fishery species and serve as forage for many other species (including some birds and marine mammals) –Shallow (<20 m) nearshore habitats have not been the target of past surveys and the distribution, abundance, and spawning locations for many are poorly known –Variety of gears to be used to accommodate varied habitat types (sand/gravel beaches, eelgrass) –evaluate seasonal use and relative use by habitat type

7. 7 Priority Studies for Fish and Fisheries Epipelagic surveys during late spring and early summer to evaluate distribution and abundance of juvenile salmon and young-of-the-year pollock within the North Aleutian Basin –Early summer distributions of these species are poorly understood even though they are important fishery species –Target depths of >20 m to 100m –Surface trawling in upper 15 m of the water column –Complements existing surveys conducted during late summer and early fall

8. 8 Priority Studies for Fish and Fisheries Plankton (zooplankton and ichthyoplankton) surveys of pelagic waters in the North Aleutian Basin –Improve understanding vulnerability of zooplankton and larval fish Lower trophic level production is critical to energy transfer Larval fish survival is often a recruitment bottleneck –Spring (May) and fall (September) –Standard plankton sampling gear –Depths <50 m –Complements data collected during other seasons and locations –Coordinate with oceanographic modeling efforts to include distribution/life history information into models of transport

9. 9 Priority Studies for Fish and Fisheries Evaluation of potential for space-use conflicts between fishery activities and oil and gas development activities within the Sale 92 area –Use available data to identify fishery uses of the area By target species and gear type, where possible –Low cost, rapid evaluation

10. 10 Priority Studies for Fish and Fisheries Compilation and statistical evaluation of historical seismic survey information and fishery catch data for the North Aleutian basin –Data available on locations and timing of seismic surveys conducted within the North Aleutian Basin –Overlay the historic seismic data for sale 92 area with available catch per unit effort from same time and place –evaluate whether there is evidence that seismic surveys within the Sale 92 Area of the North Aleutian Basin would affect commercial fishery catches –Relatively low-cost, rapid assessment

11. 11 Other Considerations for Recommended Studies Opportunities exist for some of the potential studies to be conducted in conjunction with other data collection efforts –Potential for improving information about utilization of forage fish by birds and marine mammals Potential for cooperative studies –NMFS –AGFD –Local communities –Commercial fisheries