Forage Species, Grenadiers, Sculpins, and Squids Management in Alaska

Forage species, grenadiers, sculpins, and squids are those species which are a critical food source for many marine mammal, seabird, and fish species.

Alaska

Regulations and Management

Forage Species

Osmeridae family (eulachon, capelin, and other smelts)
Myctophidae family (lanternfishes)
Bathylagidae family (deep-sea smelts)
Ammodytidae family (Pacific sand lance)
Trichodontidae family (Pacific sand fish)
Pholidae family (gunnels)
Stichaeidae family (pricklebacks, warbonnets, eelblennys, cockscombs, and shannys)
Gonostomatidae family (bristlemouths, lightfishes, and anglemouths)
Order Euphausiacea (krill)

Grenadier

Albatrossia pectoralis (Giant grenadier)
Coryphaenoides acrolepis (Pacific grenadier)
Coryphaenoides cinereus (Popeye grenadier)

Sculpins

Cottidae
- Artediellus pacificus (Pacific hookear sculpin)
- Artedius lateralis (Smoothhead sculpin)
- Bolinia euryptera (Broadfin sculpin)
- Enophyrs bison (Buffalo sculpin)
- Enophyrs diceraus (Antlered sculpin)
- Gymnocanthus galeatus (Armorhead sculpin)
- Gymnocanthus pistilliger (Threaded sculpin)
- Hemilepidotus (Red Irish lord)
- Hemilepidotus jordani (Yellow Irish lord)
- Hemilepidotus papilio (Butterfly sculpin)
- Hemilepidotus spinosus (Brown Irish lord)
- Hemilepidotus zapus (Longfin Irish lord)
- Icelinus borealis (Northern sculpin)
- Icelinus burchami (Dusky sculpin)
- Icelinus filamentosus (Threadfin sculpin)
- Icelinus tenuis (Spotfin sculpin)
- Icelus spatula (Spatulate sculpin)
- Icelus spiniger (Thorny sculpin)
- Icelus uncinalis (Uncinate sculpin)
- Jordania zonope (Longfin sculpin)
- Leptocottus armatus (Pacific staghorn sculpin)
- Microcottus sellaris (Brightbelly sculpin)
- Myoxocephalus joak (Plain sculpin)
- Myoxocephalys polyacanthocephalus (Great sculpin)
- Myxocephalys verrucosus (Warty sculpin)
- Paricelinus hopliticus (Thornback sculpin)
- Radulinus asprellus (Slim sculpin)
- Rastrinus scutiger (Roughskin sculpin)
- Thecopterus aleuticus (Whitetail sculpin)
- Thyriscus anoplus (Sponge sculpin)
- Triglops forticatus (Scissortail sculpin)
- Triglops macellus (Roughspine sculpin)
- Triglops metopias (Crescent-tail sculpin)
- Triglops pingelii (Ribbed sculpin)
- Triglops septicus (Spectacled sculpin)
Hemitripteridae
- Blepsias bilobus (Crested sculpin)
- Hemitripterus bolini (Bigmouth sculpin)
- Nautichthys oculofasciatus (Sailfin sculpin)
- Nautichthys pribilovius (Eyeshade sculpin)
Psychrolutidae
- Dasycottus setiger (Spinyhead sculpin)
- Eurymen gyrinus (Smoothcheek sculpin)
- Malacocottus zonurus (Darkfin sculpin)
- Psychrolutes paradoxus (Tadpole sculpin)
- Psychrolutes phrictus (Blob sculpin)
Rhamphocottidae
- Rhamphocottus richardsonii (Grunt sculpin)

Squids

Squid species that have been found in the BSAI. It is not known whether all of these species occur in the GOA.
- Class Cephalopoda; Order Oegopsida
  - Family Chiroteuthidae
    - Chiroteuthis calyx
  - Family Cranchiidae (glass squids)
    - Belonella borealis
    - Galiteuthis phyllura
  - Family Gonatidae (armhook squids)
    - Berryteuthis anonychus (minimal armhook squid)
    - Berryteuthis magister magistrate (magistrate armhook squid)
    - Eogonatus tinro
    - Gonatopsis borealis (boreopacific armhook squid)
    - Gonatus berryi (Berry armhook squid)
    - Gonatus madokai
    - Gonatus middendorffi
    - Gonatus onyx (clawed armhook squid)
  - Family Onychoteuthidae (hooked squids)
    - Moroteuthis robusta (robust clubhook squid)
    - Onychoteuthis borealijaponica (boreal clubhook squid)
  - Class Cephalopoda; Order Sepioidea
    - Rossia pacifica (North Pacific bobtail squid)

More Information

Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Reports
Science and Data
- Forage Species
- Grenadiers
Federal Fisheries in Alaska

Last updated by Alaska Regional Office on 02/27/2024