"Genetics Program"

To investigate the potential for speciation or stock structure in giant grenadier, Albatrossia pectoralis, we quantified the shape of female giant grenadier otoliths and compared body growth rates for fish with three otolith shapes;

A genetic analysis of samples from the Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) bycatch of the 2015 Bering Sea-Aleutian Island (BSAI) trawl fishery for walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) was undertaken to determine the overall stock composition of the bycatch. Samples were genotyped for 43 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) DNA markers and results were estimated using the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) SNP baseline. In 2015, genetic samples from the Bering Sea were collected using a systematic random sampling protocol where one out of every 10 Chinook salmon encountered was sampled. Based on the analysis of 1,757 Chinook salmon bycatch samples collected throughout the 2015 BSAI walleye pollock trawl fishery, Coastal Western Alaska stocks dominated the sample set (40%) with smaller contributions from British Columbia (22%), West Coast U.S. (WA/OR/CA) (15%), and North Alaska Peninsula (11%) stocks. Analysis of temporal groupings within the pollock “A” and “B” seasons revealed changes in stock composition during the course of the year with lower contributions of Coastal Western Alaska, North Alaska Peninsula, and Upper Yukon stocks and higher contributions of West Coast U.S. (WA/OR/CA), British Columbia, NW Gulf of Alaska, and Coastal Southeast Alaska stocks during the “B” season.

A genetic analysis of the prohibited species catch (PSC) of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) collected during 2015 from the federally managed walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) trawl fishery in the Bering Sea and from the federal groundfish fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) was undertaken to determine the overall stock composition of the sample sets. Additionally, a genetic analysis was conducted of chum salmon collected in the southeastern Bering Sea during a test of a salmon excluder device. Samples were genotyped for 11 microsatellite markers from which stock contributions were estimated using the current chum salmon microsatellite baseline. In 2015, one genetic sample was collected for every 30.5 chum salmon caught in the Bering Sea midwater trawl fishery. The evaluation of sampling in the Bering Sea based on time, location, and vessel indicated that the genetic samples were representative of the total chum salmon PSC in the Bering Sea. The small set of chum salmon samples (142) from the A-season were mostly from Northeast Asia (41%) and Eastern GOA/PNW (47%) stocks. Based on the analysis of 1,836 chum salmon collected throughout the B- season, the largest stock group in the catch was Eastern GOA/Pacific Northwest (PNW) (51%), followed by Northeast Asia (17%), Western Alaska (16%), Southeast Asia (10%), Upper/Middle Yukon (4%), and Southwest Alaska (< 2%) stocks. The regional stock estimates for the 2015 chum salmon caught in the Bering Sea differed from most previous years, with contributions from Eastern GOA/PNW stocks surpassing those from Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia stocks. Of the 131 chum salmon samples from the GOA groundfish fisheries, the highest proportion was from Eastern GOA/PNW (88%) stocks. As with the Bering Sea fishery samples, the highest proportion of the 549 excluder device test samples were also from Eastern GOA/PNW (51%) stocks and included fish from multiple geographic regions despite being collected at small spatial and temporal scales.

A genetic analysis of the prohibited species catch (PSC) of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) collected during 2016 from the federally managed walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) trawl fishery in the Bering Sea and from the federal groundfish fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) was undertaken to determine the overall stock composition of the sample sets. Samples were genotyped for 11 microsatellite markers from which stock contributions were estimated using the current chum salmon microsatellite baseline. In 2016, one genetic sample was collected for every 30.6 chum salmon caught in the Bering Sea midwater trawl fishery. The evaluation of sampling in the Bering Sea based on time, location, and vessel indicated that the genetic samples were representative of the total chum salmon PSC in the Bering Sea. The majority of the 114 chum salmon samples from the A-season were from Northeast Asia (37%) and Eastern GOA/Pacific Northwest (PNW) (37%) stocks. Based on the analysis of 2,701 chum salmon collected throughout the B-season, the largest stock groups in the catch were Eastern GOA/PNW (35%) and Northeast Asia (31%), followed by Western Alaska (19%), Southeast Asia (9%), Upper/Middle Yukon (5%), and Southwest Alaska (< 2%) stocks. The chum salmon caught in the Bering Sea in 2016 shared general patterns of stock distribution with those from past years, but differed by some finer-scale spatiotemporal strata. Of the 473 chum salmon samples from the GOA groundfish fisheries, the highest proportion was from Eastern GOA/PNW (93%) stocks, similar to previous years.

Evolution Of Phenology In A Salmonid Population: A Potential Adaptive Response To Climate Change

Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) are prohibited species in the federally managed Bering Sea groundfish fisheries, which are subject to complex management rules (NPMFC 2017a) that are in part designed to reduce prohibited species catch, hereafter referred to as “bycatch”. It is important to understand the stock composition of Pacific salmon caught in these fisheries, which take place in areas that are known feeding habitat for multiple brood years of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) from many different localities in North America and Asia (Myers et al. 2007, Davis et al. 2009). Chinook salmon are economically valuable and highly prized in commercial, subsistence, and sport fisheries. Determining the geographic origin of salmon caught in federally managed fisheries is essential to understanding the effects that fishing has on Chinook salmon stocks, especially those with conservation concerns (NPFMC 2017a). This report provides genetic stock identification results for the Chinook salmon bycatch samples collected from the U.S. Bering Sea walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) trawl fishery. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) geographical statistical areas (NMFS area) associated with the Bering Sea groundfish fishery (NMFS areas 509-524) and Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) statistical areas1 are shown in Figure 1 and are used later in the report to describe the spatial distribution of the Chinook salmon bycatch and genetic samples.

The Gulf of Alaska (GOA) is serves as a feeding habitat for multiple brood years of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) originating from many different localities in North America and Asia. Determining the geographic origin and stock composition of Pacific salmon caught in federally managed fisheries is essential to understanding whether fisheries management could address potential conservation concerns. This report provides genetic stock identification results for Chinook salmon Prohibited Species Catch (bycatch) samples collected in the GOA from the trawl fisheries for walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) and catcher vessel (CV) trawl fisheries for rockfish (Sebastes spp.). The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) geographical statistical areas associated with the groundfish fishery are shown in Figure 1 and are used later in the report to describe the spatial distribution of the Chinook salmon bycatch and genetic samples. All analyses used a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) baseline provided by ADF&G (Templin et al. 2011; Appendix 1), the same baseline used to estimate previous stock compositions of samples from the Chinook salmon bycatch of the federally managed GOA trawl fisheries (Guthrie et al. 2013, 2016-18; Guyon et al. 2014, 2015a,b; Larson et al. 2013). For additional information regarding background and methodology refer to the Chinook salmon bycatch report prepared previously for the 2008 Bering Sea trawl fishery (Guyon et al. 2010).

Ecological factors underlying freshwater productivity and marine survival of pink salmon were evaluated by analyzing a 30 year time series of local environmental data and count of migrating adult and juvenile fish collected at Auke Creek, Alaska.

A genetic analysis of samples from the Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Prohibited Species Catch (bycatch) of the 2016 Gulf of Alaska (GOA) trawl fisheries for walleyepollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) and rockfish (Sebastes spp.), was undertaken to determine the stock composition of the sample sets. Samples were genotyped for 43 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) DNA markers and results were estimated using the Alaska Department of Fish and Game SNP baseline. In 2016, genetic samples were collected from Chinook salmon taken in the bycatch of the GOA pollock trawl fisheries using a simple random sample protocol with trip being the primary unit. This was the third year for this sampling protocol and which resulted in the largest available genetic sample set to date with 24% of the estimated salmon bycatch from the pollock fishery successfully genotyped. Based on analysis of 4,962 Chinook salmon bycatch samples, British Columbia (42%), West Coast US (40%), and Coastal Southeast Alaska (15%) comprised the largest stock groups, at an estimated 8,602, 8,301, and 3,080 Chinook salmon, respectively, out of 20,589 fish total. In 2016, genetic samples from the bycatch of the GOA rockfish CV fishery were collected by the fishing industry using a censussampling protocol. Based on the genotyping of 493 Chinook salmon bycatch samples collected from this fishery in NMFS Statistical Areas 620 and 630, West Coast US stocks represented the largest stock group (62%) with smaller contributions from British Columbia (27%), Coastal Southeast Alaska (7%), and Northwest GOA (4%) stock groups.