Integrating local ecological knowledge and survey data to improve assessment and management of rockfishes in Alaska
Investigators
Anne BeaudreauFisheries DivisionUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Student
- Jesse Gordon, MS program
Synopsis
Despite the wealth of data collected by state and federal agencies, there are still significant gaps in information for many harvested species in Alaska. This is particularly true for more than 30 species of rockfish (Sebastes spp.) that support commercial, sport, and subsistence fisheries. While rockfish populations in the Gulf of Alaska are assumed to be healthy, there have been growing concerns about the ability to sustainably manage them, given limited biological information and dramatically increasing harvest in recent years. Our project seeks to advance the use of local ecological knowledge (LEK), in combination with scientific data, to address information needs for management and conservation of rockfishes in Alaska. Fishermen’s knowledge is a valuable source of place-based information about long- term changes in coastal marine ecosystems. To address information needs for management and conservation of rockfishes, we will document LEK of commercial, sport, and subsistence fishers in three communities of Southeast and Southcentral Alaska through in-depth interviews. Our objectives are to: (1) synthesize LEK of Alaskan fishers to characterize long-term trends in size, distribution, and relative abundance of rockfishes; (2) assess sources of variation in fishers’ perceptions of ecological change; and (3) integrate LEK and scientific data to develop distribution maps and time series of relative abundance for rockfishes that are used in assessment and management. This study will provide estimates of relative abundance from LEK that, combined with fishery monitoring data, will enable estimation of stock status and development of harvest objectives. The research is highly collaborative and involves diverse Alaska Sea Grant stakeholders in design and implementation, including fishermen, state agency staff, and university faculty and students. Our project directly responds to ASG goals by engaging stakeholders in the development of shared knowledge about marine fish populations to directly address fishery management needs in Alaska.
Overview
The issue
Alaska has the largest coastline of all other U.S. states combined. This poses enormous logistical and financial challenges to long-‐term monitoring of biological resources in coastal ecosystems. Despite the wealth of data collected by state and federal agencies, there are still significant gaps in spatial and temporal coverage for many harvested species. This is particularly true for more than 30 species of rockfish (Sebastes spp.) that support commercial, sport, and subsistence fisheries in Alaska. Rockfishes declined throughout their North American range and some Washington populations are listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act. While rockfish populations in Alaska are assumed to be healthy, there have been growing concerns about the ability to sustainably manage them, given limited biological information and increasing harvest in recent years. Most of the increases are in harvest of black rockfish (S. melanops), yet this species and other pelagic rockfishes are not assessed. These fisheries are monitored and sampled for biological characteristics, but in most cases lack an index of abundance. This project will provide estimates of relative abundance that, combined with fisheries data, will enable estimation of stock status and development of harvest objectives. Importantly, the tools and approaches that we develop will be applicable to coastal ecosystems throughout the world.
Research collaborators
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association
Alaska Marine Conservation Council
Alaska Charter Association
