Fishery investigations of the Southeastern Chuckchi Sea
Alverson DL and Wilimovsky NJ. 1966. Fishery investigations of the Southeastern Chuckchi Sea. Pages 840-860. In Alverson DL and Wilimovsky NJ. Environment of the Cape Thompson Region, Alaska. US Atomic Energy Commission, Division of Technical Information. Oak Ridge, TN
The U. S. Atomic Energy Commission established the Plowshare Program in 1957 to investigate and develop peaceful uses for nuclear explosives snf in 1958, the AEC authorized planning and studies for an experimental harbor excavation to be called Project Chariot. A site at the mouth of Ogoturuk Creek near Cape Thompson on the northwestern coast of Alaska was then selected for detailed study. Several objectives were set. First, estimates were made as to the biological cost of the excavation operation and judgements were made as to whether or not there would be effects that could result in widespread damage or major disruption of ecological systems. Second, it was important to become sufficiently familiar with the biological and physical environments of the area so that findings could be used as base lines in studies to be conducted posexcavation time. Third, radiation levels and the distribution of radioisotopes in the biota and physical environment needed to be determined in pre- and postdetonation time. The last objective was that these studies all be conducted in such a manner that the results would constitute a significant contribution to scientific knowledge. Forty separate investigation were then initiated, primarily during the period 1959-1961, and performed by university, private, and governmental organizations under contract to, or agreement with, the Atomic Enery commision. This book is a compilation of these studies. This particular study was a three-phase ecological investigation designed to provide information on the abundance and distribution of marine fauna in the Chuckchi Sea. This included a gross survey of the benthic fauna of the region, a more detailed sampling of the area adjacent toe the proposed excatvation site, and a study of pelagic fauna of the region. The distribution of the 52 fish species was related to temperature and salinity, and a dozen fish forms previously not known to occur north of Bering Strait were collected. Physical parameters of the study as well as data pertaining to species adundance and distribution is recorded.
- Type
- Book Chapter
- Authors
- Alverson, Dayton; Wilimovsky, Norman
- Units
- BELA , CAKR
- Keywords
- Abundance, Animal Studies, Aquatic Sciences, Benthic Fauna, Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Cape Krusenstern, Cape Lisburne, Cape Lowenstern, Cape Prince of Wales, Cape Thompson, demersal, Distribution, Fish, Fishery, Ichthyology, Invertebrates, Marine, Ogoturuk Creek, pelagic, pelagic fauna, Point Hope, project chariot, Southeastern Chuckchi Sea, U. S. Atomic Energy Commission