Alaska King Crab Research, Rehabilitation & Biology Program

An Introduction

Presented by Celeste LerouxUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks

School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences

Alaska Sea Grant College Program

The AKCRRAB Science Team

Ginny Eckert UAF/UAS

Brad StevensU. Mass. Dartmouth

Brian Allee Alaska Sea Grant

Jeff Hetrick Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery

Sara Persselin NOAA NMFS

Celeste Leroux UAF/Alaska Sea Grant

Ben Daly Alaska Sea Grant

Jim Swingle Alaska Sea Grant

Background – Red King Crab Fishery

Background – Blue King Crab Fishery

Early Enhancement Activities in Alaska

• 1992 International King Crab Rehabilitation and Enhancement Symposium

• 1990s-2000s Extensive research by Dr. Brad Stevens in Kodiak and Japan

• 2000s Continued research by NMFS Kodiak

• 2006 Alaska Crab Stock Enhancement and Rehabilitation Workshop

Small scale experiment setup

S. Persselin and B. Stevens, Kodiak AK

AKCRRAB - Structure

• Steering Committee

• Science Team

• Partnerships

• Research collaborators

• Advisory Board

Crab and Lobster Enhancement Initiatives-A Few Examples-

• Swimming crab, Japan

• Red King Crab, Japan

• American Lobster, New England

Crab and Lobster Enhancement Initiatives-A Few Examples-

• Blue crab, Chesapeake Bay– Excellent model for

investigating feasibility of enhancement

• European lobster, Norway– Commercial sea ranching

very successful

Prezoea

Crab Instar 1Glaucothoe

Zoea 4Zoea 3Zoea 1 Zoea 2

Egg –Day 1 Egg – Day 395

King Crab Life Cycle

King Crab Life Cycle

Female with extruded eggsMating behavior

Juvenile ‘podding’ behavior Adult solitary behavior

Broodstock Collection

St. Paul, Pribilof Islands

November 2006 Alitak Bay, Kodiak

July 2006

Anchorage

Seward

Hatchery Setup

Alutiiq Pride Shellfish HatcherySeward Marine Center

Hatchery Setup – Larval culture

Larval Rearing Modules at APSH

• Flow-through system• Conical bottom tanks• Circulation with air stones• Uniform lighting of tanks

Larval Rearing – Food Production

Algae production

24 hr. old Artemia nauplius

Artemia sp. production

Isochrysis galbana algae

Artemia sp. (brine shrimp) Algae

AKCRRAB 2007 Experiments

Red King Crab • Larval diet study • Larval density

hatchery trials

Blue King Crab • Larval diet/handling

stress study• Larval density study• Juvenile trial rearing• Water quality

investigation P. Platypus ZIs swim in Petri dish

RKC Larval Rearing Diet StudyMarch 7, 2007 – May 3, 2007

Purpose:To test effect of algae or diatom enrichment

on RKC larval survival and growth to glaucothoe stage.

Diet Treatments:Isochrysis galbana Tahitian strian (T-ISO)Pavlova lutheri (PAV)Thalassiosira pseudonana (3H)No enrichment, Artemia sp. only (Art.)

P. camtschaticus ZI

RKC Larval Rearing – Survival

BKC Larval Handling Stress/Diet studyMay 14, 2007 – June 12, 2007

Purpose:

To test effects of live algae vs. algae concentrate as dietary enrichment and effect of handling stress on BKC larval survival and growth to the glaucothoe stage.

Treatments:

Diet: Live T-ISO

Concentrate T-ISO

Handling: Once per zoeal stage

No handling

P. platypus ZIs

BKC Larval Rearing - Survival

RKC & BKC – GrowthAverage dry weight of larvae

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ZI ZII ZIII ZIV

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RKC BKC

Average Temp. of RKC Larval Rearing Tanks

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Duration of experiment

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Larval Rearing Survival - Discussion

Concern Course of Action

Water Quality Monitor for hydrocarbons

Microbiological contamination Monitor for Vibrio bacteria

Temperature fluctuation Improve water system

Excessive aeration Decrease aeration

Nutritional deprivation Fatty acid analysis &

Further diet investigations

Other Hatchery Studies• Larval rearing density studies

• Water quality investigations

• Juvenile trial rearing

• Pathology & Genetics

• Larval fatty acid analysis

• Larval growth measurements

Ongoing Projects

2007 Research Findings Summary

• Hatchery scale red and blue king crab larval and juvenile rearing is possible.

• Tremendous accomplishment in areas of technology transfer, hatchery setup, preliminary research and baseline data.

• Need to refine setup in identified ways to improve survival, as expected.

P. camtschaticus glaucothoe

AKCRRAB Long-term vision

Artificial Propagation

Habitat Studies

Genetics & Pathology

Goal: Assess biological & economic feasibility of red and blue king crab population rehabilitation through ocean ranching.

Thanks

• Alaska Sea Grant College Program• AKCRRAB Science Team & Steering Committee• NOAA Aquaculture Program• NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service• UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences• Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery• Alaska Department of Fish and Game• United Fisherman’s Association• Central Bering Sea Fisherman’s Association• United Fisherman’s Marketing Association…and all of our supporters nationwide

Questions

Red king crab (P. camtschaticus) eggs, Seward, Alaska