Biological studies and estimates of optimum escapements of sockeye salmon in the major river systems in Southwestern Alaska
Burgner RL, DiCostanzo CJ, Ellis RJ, Harry GY, Hartman WL, Kerns OE, Mathisen OA, Royce WF. 1969. Biological studies and estimates of optimum escapements of sockeye salmon in the major river systems in Southwestern Alaska. Fishery Bulletin. 67(2):405-459
An intensive research program was conducted in 1961 and in 1962 by the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Biological Laboratory, Auke Bay, Alaska and the Fisheries Research Institude, University of Washington, with cooperation of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Many sockeye salmon river systems were studied concurrently with essentially the same techniques so taht systems covering the entire range of production levels could be compared. The general objective of this research was to determin the optimum escapement of sockeye salmon for each of the major systems. This was accomplished through intergration of the results of several related sutdies: (1) summarization and analysis of historical and current data on runs of adult sockeye salmon, (2) deliniation and description of spawning areas and estimation of their capcities, (3) deliniation and description of the nursery areas and estimation of their capacities. The major systems studied were the Wood, Kvichak, Naknek, and Ugashic systems, which enter Bristol Bay; the Chignik system on the southside of the Alaska Peninsulay; and the Karluk system, on Kodiak Island. Adult sockeye salmon on the commercial catches and escapements, and sockeye salmon smolts, were counted and sampled. Spawning grounds were surveyed to determine their size and quality and the distribution and abundance of spawners. Bathymetric maps were prepared for some of the nursery lakes. Intensive limnological suties, including a major effort to measure primary productivity, were made on many nursery lakes. Several typs of gear sampled juvenile sockeye salmon and asssociated species in the lakes. Interim optimum or target escapements required for highest production on a sustained-yeild basis have been established for each major system.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Burgner, Robert; DiCostanzo, Charles; Ellis, Robert; Harry, George; Hartman, Wilbur; Kerns, Orra; Mathisen, Ole; Royce, William
- Units
- ALAG , ANIA , KATM , LACL , SWAN , WRD
- Keywords
- Alkalinity, catch, Dissolved Solids, Escapement, Fish, Fisheries, Fishery, Limnology, pH, Phytoplankton, Rivers, Sockeye Salmon, Southwestern Alaska, Spawning, Studies, Water Chemistry, Water Quality, WRBIB