kodiak area marine - alaska sea grant · kodiak area marine science symposium - 2017 april 18 ......

Program and Abstracts

Kodiak Area Marine Science Symposium - 2017

April 18 - 21, 2017

Kodiak Harbor Convention CenterKodiak, AK

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Symposium Donors

Alaska Sea Grant

North Pacific Research Board

Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak

Dr. Quentin Fong

Julie Matweyou

We recognize and thank all symposium presenters for their contribution to this event.

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Steering Committee

Julie Matweyou (chair)University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, Kodiak

Julie BonneyAlaska Groundfish Data Bank, Kodiak

Robin CorcoranUS Fish and Wildlife Service, Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, Kodiak

Switgard DuesterlohAlaska Ecological Resource Services, Kodiak

Robert FoyNOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Kodiak

Pat JacobsonResident, former University of Alaska Board of Regents, Kodiak

Tom LanceSun’aq Tribe of Kodiak, Kodiak

Theresa PetersonAlaska Marine Conservation Council, North Pacific Fishery Management Council, Kodiak

Danielle RingerUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks, Kodiak

Nick SagalkinAlaska Department of Fish and Game, Kodiak

Patrick SaltonstallAlutiiq Museum, Kodiak

Kate Wynne,University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, emeritus

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Tuesday, April 18, 20176:00 pm KAMSS Kickoff6:00 - 6:30 pm Registration and refreshments

6:30 - 8:30 pm Keynote Address Seabirds, Citizen Science and a Warming World

Julia Parrish,University of Washington, Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team, Seattle, WA

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

8:00 am Registration

9:00 - 9:05 am Welcome

9:05 - 9:25 am Introduction to Marine Science in Kodiak

Session 1 - Changing EcosystemsRobert Foy - Session Chair

9:25 - 9:55 am Making Sense of a Complicated Ecosys-tem: Gulf of Alaska dynamics from an Integrated Perspective

Olav Ormseth, NOAA Fisheries, Seattle, WA

9:55 - 10:25 am Twenty Years of Observations Along the Gulf of Alaska’s Seward Line: Impact of Continued Warm Conditions

Russ Hopcroft,University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK

10:25 - 10:45 am Break

10:45 - 11:05 am 2015 Gulf of Alaska Large Whale Unusual Mortality Event

Kate Savage, NOAA Fish-eries Protected Resources Division, Juneau, AK

11:05 - 11:25 am Dead Birds on Beaches, the Seabird Die-off of 2015-16: A Kodiak Perspective

Robin Corcoran, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Kodiak, AK

11:25 - 11:45 am Murres, Puffins and the Blob: How Alaska Seabird Populations May Respond to Global Warming


11:45 - 12:05 pm Current State of Knowledge of Climate Change Effects on Alaska’s Fisheries

Terry Johnson, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Anchorage, AK

12:05 - 12:25 pm Facilitated Q & A

12:25 - 1:40 pm Lunch on your own or COASST Workshop


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Wednesday, April 19, 2017 - continued

Session 2 - Habitat and ProcessDanielle Ringer - Session Chair

1:40 - 2:00 pm Delineating the Footprint of Commercial fisheries: Working Backwards to Examine Effects on Habitat

John Olson, NOAA, Habitat Conservation Division, Anchorage, AK

2:00 - 2:20 pm Alaska Essential Fish Habitat Research Plan 2017-2022: A Research Plan for the NOAA Fisheries

Matthew Eagleton, NOAA Habitat Conservation Division, Anchorage, AK

2:20 - 2:40 pm Characterization of the Buskin River Nearshore Area: Bathymetry, Salinity, Marine Ecological Succession, and Hu-man Use

Leyla Arsan, Birch Leaf Consulting, Kodiak, AK

2:40 - 3:00 pm Underwater Archaeology in the Kodiak Archipelago and Beyond

Jason Rogers Northern Land Use Research Alaska, LLC, Anchorage, AK

3:00 - 3:20 pm Break

3:20 - 3:40 pm Kayaks and Supersacks: Marine Debris Removal on Shuyak Island

Andy Schroeder, Island Trails Network, Kodiak, AK

3:40 - 4:00 pm Socioeconomic Risks and Impacts of Military Training Events in Gulf of Alaska

Christina Hendrickson, Willow Environmental, Girdwood, AK

4:00 - 4:20 pm Steller Sea Lions: A Natural Ecosystem Management System

Switgard Duesterloh and Jane Eisemann, Tsunami Bowl Coaches, Olivia Winters, Naomi Daniher, Hanna Clary, Matthew Wald, Lars Bodnar, Students, Kodiak High School, Kodiak, AK

4:20 - 4:40 pm Kodiak Youth Leaders in Science Education with Kodiak Refuge Summer Science and Salmon Camp

Shelly Lawson, USFWS/ Kodiak National Wild-life Refuge, Kodiak, AK, Nia Pristas and Joshua Barnes, Kodiak Refuge Youth Leaders, Kodiak, AK

4:40 - 5:00 pm Facilitated Q & A

5:00- 6:30 pm Break

6:30- 8:30 pm Poster Night with Kid’s Corner (Kodiak Harbor Convention Center)Pizza and no-host bar

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Thursday, April 20, 20179:00 - 9:05 am Welcome and Announcements

Session 3 - Dynamic MethodsJulie Bonney - Session Chair

9:05 - 9:25 am The Molting Process in Golden King Crab, Lithodes aequispin

Daniel Urban, National Marine Fisheries Service, Kodiak, AK

9:25 - 9:45 am It’s Complicated: The Reproductive Biology of the Shortraker Rockfish in Alaska

Christina Conrath, National Marine Fisheries Service, Kodiak, AK

9:45 - 10:05 am Zooarchaeological Analysis of Central Alaskan Fish Fauna

Holly McKinney, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK

10:05 - 10:25 am Experimentally Wrangling with Fish Parasites

Brian Himelbloom, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Kodiak, AK

10:25-10:45 am Break

10:45 - 11:05 am Chignik River Post-Weir Enumeration with DIDSON

Mary Beth Loewen, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Kodiak, AK

11:05- 11:25 am Hunting Seals with Nets 5000 Years Ago Patrick Saltonstall, Alutiiq Museum, Kodiak, AK

Session 4 - Community and MonitoringTheresa Peterson - Session Chair; Davin Holen - Discussion Facilitator

11:25 - 11:45 am Building Networks to Bridge Information and Action on Alaska’s Coasts

Davin Holen, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Anchorage, AK

11:45 - 12:05 pm What are the “Best Practices” for Community-Based Monitoring of Alaska’s Coastal and Ocean Environment?

Marilyn Sigman, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Anchorage, AK

12:05 - 12:25 pm A World Bridge: Kodiak Island Borough School District Project Activities

Mr. Searaphim McGann, A World Bridge Teacher, Kiae Shin, DanielJohnson, Tiger Oka, Stu-dents, Kodiak High School

12:25 - 1:40 pm Lunch on your own or Alutiiq Museum Tour

Patrick Saltonstall, Alutiiq Museum, Kodiak, AK

1:40 - 2:00 pm The Coastal Community Ocean Observers (C202) Program

Peter Winsor, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK

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Thursday, April 20, 2017 - continued2:00 - 2:20 pm Monitoring Paralytic Shellfish Toxins to

Provide Sustainable Access to Traditional Resources

Chris Whitehead, Sitka Tribe of Alaska, South-east Alaska Tribal Ocean Research, Sitka, AK

2:20 - 2:40 pm Monitoring Ocean Acidification and the Sustainability of Crab Fisheries in Alaska

Robert Foy, National Marine Fisheries Service, Kodiak, AK

2:40 - 3:00 pm Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning and Community Involvement: Working Toward Safe Shellfish Harvest on Kodiak Island

Julie Matweyou,University of Alaska Fairbanks, Kodiak, AK

3:00 - 3:20 pm Break

3:20 - 3:40 pm From Collection to Practical Use: Integrating and Visualizing Coastal and Marine Data

Will Koeppen, Axiom Data Science, Anchorage, AK

3:40 - 4:00 pm Kodiak Tribes Seafood Consumption Assessment: Final Report

Thomas Lance, Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak, Kodiak, AK

4:00 - 5:00 pm Facilitated Discussion Davin Holen, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Anchorage, AK

5:00 - 6:30 pm Break

6:30 - 8:30 pm Marine Science Reception at KSMSCUAF - KSMSC (aka Fish Tech - 118 Trident Way)

Friday - April 21, 2017

Session 5 - Marine and Coastal SystemsSwitgard Duesterloh - Session Chair

9:00 - 9:05 am Welcome

9:05 - 9:25 am Electrofishing and Kick Seining Efforts for Invasive Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) on Kodiak Island, Alaska

Kelly Krueger, Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak Kodiak, AK

9:25 - 9:45 am How Many Fish are in this Barrel? Sustainably Harvesting Two Easily Caught Skate Species

Thomas Farrugia, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK

9:45 - 10:05 am Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Marine Bird Monitoring and Research

Robin Corcoran, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Kodiak, AK

10:05 - 10:25 am The Next Generation of Fishermen in the Kodiak Archipelago: Exploring Dynamics Contributing to the Graying of the Fleet in Alaska’s Commercial Fishing Industry

Danielle Ringer, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Kodiak, AK

10:25 - 10:45 am Break

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Friday, April 21, 2017 - continued10:45 - 11:05 am An Archaeological Investigation of a 3800

Year Old Fishery in the Kodiak ArchipelagoJustin Hays, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Kodiak, AK

11:05 - 11:25 am How Old is that Crab? Progress on an Age Old Question

April Rebert, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Juneau, AK

11:25 - 11:45 am Tanner Crab Population in the Kodiak District of the Westward Region

Kally Spalinger, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Kodiak, AK

11:45 - 12:05 pm A World Bridge: Kodiak Island Borough School District Upcoming Projects Research and Development

Mr. Searaphim McGann, A World Bridge Teacher, Kiae Shin, Daniel Johnson, Tiger Oka, Students, Kodiak High School

12:05 - 12:25 pm Recent Chemical Dispersant Research and Policy Changes in the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Region

Lisa Matlock, Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council

12:25 - 12:45 pm How Does Release Density Affect Enhancement Success for Hatchery-Reared Red King Crab?

Christopher Long, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Kodiak, AK

12:45 Closing Comments

Saturday - April 22, 2017 - Earth Day

Partnered Field Trips9:00 am Audobon Whale-Watching Hike -Narrow Cape

Stacy Studebaker with the Kodiak Audubon will lead a whale-watching hike at Narrow Cape. The group will organize from the downtown ferry terminal parking lot. Arrive BEFORE 09:30 Satur-day morning (the group will depart at 09:30). Wear warm clothes, hiking shoes, and bring rain gear, food for lunch and drinking water. There are no amenities at the end of the road. Some car-pooling will be available for the out-of-towners. If the weather is bad, the event will be canceled.

4:45 pm Sun’aq Tribe Buskin Beach Cleanup and Barbeque Meet at Buskin Beach Parking Lot and check in at 4:45 pm. Bring a pair of gloves and food to grill. Volunteers can assist with a marine debris survey or help cleanup Buskin Beach. Afterwards, join us for a barbeque and bonfire to celebrate Earth Day 2017. (Day use parking fee will be waived for this event.)

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PostersImplementation of Community Based PSP Testing for Subsistence and Recreational Shellfish Harvest-ing In Southwestern Alaska – A Project Description

Julie Matweyou, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Kodiak, AK

Climate Change and Ocean Acidification: A Middle School Tutorial

Switgard Duesterloh, Alaska Ecolog-ical Resource Services, Kodiak, AK

Intertidal and Subtidal Colonization of New Rock at the Kodiak Airport

Leyla Arsan, Birch Leaf Consulting, Kodiak, AK

SASAP - State of Alaska’s Salmon and People Ian Dutton, Nautilus Impact Investing, Anchorage, AK

Tufted Puffins Succeed Despite High Variability in Diet and Marine Habitat

Sarah Schoen, Alaska Science Center, US Geological Survey, Anchorage, AK

Food, Disease, and Migration: How Emperor Geese Fare in the Kodiak Archipelago

Brian Uher-Koch, USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK,

Ongoing Investigation of the Size and Scope of the 2015/2016 Die-Off of Common Murres in Alaska

Sarah Schoen, Alaska Science Center, US Geological Survey, Anchorage, AK

Marine Mammal Monitoring in the Offshore Waters Near Kodiak Alaska under U.S. Navy Funding 2009-2015

Andrea Balla-Holden, U.S. Navy, Bremerton WA

Hunting Seals by Kashevaroff Mountain Molly Odell, Patrick Saltonstall, Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository, Kodiak, AK

The Seven Principles of Sustainability Lori Swanson, Marine Conservation Alliance, Kodiak, AK

Workshops and ToursCOASST Beached Bird Die-Off Alert Training - Wednesday, April 19, 2017 - 12:25 -1:40 pmA warming ocean is creating many changes in coastal communities in Alaska. Document-ing the impacts on marine wildlife is one way communities can bear witness. Based on the recent die-off events, the COASST Program and BeringWatch worked together to create a simple and rigorous data collection program that will allow coastal communities to document marine bird die-off events. Volunteers need NO experience with birds, just a commitment to survey a specific beach as much as possible during any die-off event, a camera, and the ability to upload photos and simple data sheets to the internet. Refresh-ments will be provided for workshop participants.Alutiiq Museum Tour - Thursday, April 20, 2017 12:25 - 1:40pmThe Alutiiq Museum welcomes you for a special lunch time visit to our gallery. Founded in 1995 the Museum has held fast its mission, to preserve and share Alutiiq culture and heritage. Today the Museum cares for more than 250,000 objects representing all eras of Alutiiq history; from ancient traditions to the present. Explore current exhibits on kayaking, wild foods, graphic arts, and more. Join us for a free gallery tour led by Patrick Saltonstall. Refreshments will be provided. 215 Mission Road, Kodiak, AK.

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Abstracts - Keynote Speaker

Seabirds, Citizen Science, and a Warming World

Julia Parrish, University of Washington, and Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team, Seattle, WA, [email protected]

In 2013, the “Blob” (a lens of unusually warm water the size of Canada!) in-vaded the surface of the North Pacific, provoking ecosystem responses from harmful algal blooms to elevated mortality of marine mammals. Within the seabird community, the response included five mass mortality events between 2014 and 2017, collectively accounting for millions of birds. The death of hun-dreds of thousands of Common Murres was by far the largest mortality event in Alaska in 2015-16. The birds floated ashore from May 2015 through March 2016, and from Southeast Alaska around the Gulf of Alaska and out the Aleu-tians, at rates many times higher than the long-term baseline. A smaller event in 2016-17 in the Bering Sea affected mainly Tufted Puffins. We know this be-cause thousands of coastal residents from California to Alaska have diligently collected data on beachcast marine birds on a monthly basis. Citizen science is a growing phenomenon, allowing the non-science public access to data col-lection, monitoring, and research projects across the spectrum of science. The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) is a 17-year-old citizen science program with about 800 active participants. At approximately 75,000 birds of about 175 species found, COASSTers discover the patterns that define “normal” annual signals. With this almanac, COASST data have been used to assess the impacts of a changing climate and to empower thousands of coastal residents to participate in science and conservation.

Biography

Julia K. Parrish is a Lowell A. and Frankie L. Wakefield Professor of Ocean Fishery Sciences, and the associate dean of the College of the Environment, at the University of Washington. She is also the executive director of the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST), the largest beached bird program in the world. Julia has been honored as a NOAA Year of the Oceans Environmental Hero, and has received a Champions of Change award at the White House for her leadership in coastal citizen science.

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Abstracts - Session 1 - Changing Ecosystems

Making Sense of a Complicated Ecosystem: Gulf of Alaska Dynamics from an Integrated PerspectiveOlav A. Ormseth, NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA, [email protected]

The Gulf of Alaska (GOA) is a large and complex marine ecosystem that sup-ports myriad human activities and communities, including substantial commer-cial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries. Over the years many scientists have worked to describe the structure of the GOA ecosystem and to understand how it responds to change. One of the recent efforts in this field of endeavor is the GOA Integrated Ecosystem Research Program (GOAIERP). The GOAIERP, funded mainly by the North Pacific Research Board, was created to study the GOA from multiple, diverse perspectives using a variety of scientific approaches. Oceanog-raphers worked side by side with fish biologists during field studies on small and large research vessels; laboratory studies were related to observations of fish and seabirds in the wild; and complex computer models of fish movement were compared to the results of seasonal field surveys. Through these types of col-laborations the program achieved an integrated view of the GOA ecosystem at many different levels. The program, begun in 2010 with completion planned for 2018, has yielded three overarching conclusions regarding the GOA ecosystem:1. East and west are different. Physical and biological components of the ecosys-tem vary between the eastern and western sides of the GOA. These include the width of the continental shelf, magnitude and timing of phytoplankton blooms, and the diversity of fish species. In addition, in many cases there appears to be a distinct breakpoint at approximately the longitude of Prince William Sound. While there are also many connections between the regions, the east/west di-vide is an essential feature of this ecosystem.2. Local processes profoundly influence the GOA ecosystem. Despite its enor-mous size, processes at relatively small scales have an outsized influence on the GOA. These include permanent features such as the high productivity in the Cross Sound area of Southeast Alaska and the flow of deep water up onto the shelf in Amatuli Trough north of Kodiak Island. They also comprise short-lived events like eddies and gap winds, high-velocity streams of air channeled by mountain passes that can affect ocean currents. In addition, the open waters of the GOA are altered by connections to semi-enclosed water bodies (inside waters of Southeast Alaska, Prince William Sound, and Cook Inlet).3. Fish have adapted to the complexity in the GOA. The GOA hosts an incredible variety of fishes, from Pacific cod and arrowtooth flounder to salmon and Pacific herring. To a greater degree than is found in most marine ecosystems, these fishes display wide diversity in the strategies they use for survival, growth, and reproduction. These differences include where and when adults spawn, the du-ration of different life stages, preferred habitats for juveniles and adults, feeding behaviors, and migration. The variety of life strategies may allow the fish com-munity to better handle environmental changes.At the symposium I will give an overview of the program, describe some of the more important scientific findings, and explain how this information will be used to enhance management of the GOA ecosystem and its resources.

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Twenty Years of Observations Along the Gulf of Alaska’s Seward Line: Impact of Continued Warm ConditionsRussell R. Hopcroft1, Kenneth O. Coyle1, Seth Danielson1, and Suzanne L. Strom2

1. University of Alaska Fairbanks, Institute of Marine Science, Fairbanks, AK, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] 2. Western Washington University, Shannon Point Marine Lab, Anacortes, WA, [email protected]

During 2016 Seward Line observations entered their 20th year, with the third year in a row of anomalously warm conditions. We summarize the major properties of the physical, chemical, and biological oceanographic systems in the northern Gulf of Alaska. We then illustrate the impact of these three warm years characterized by “the blob” and an El Nino, when spring tem-peratures were several degrees above normal. Despite El Nino’s end, waters remained 1°C above normal during spring and summer of 2016, with a large warm-core eddy loitering at the continental slope. Phytoplankton community composition has been affected by these events. Warm-water species con-tinue to be observed along the Seward Line, including occurrences of species never observed during the past two decades. This inventory now includes more than just copepods. Gulf wide, observations of warmer-water species have peaked during 2016. The impacts on upper trophic levels have been pronounced. We speculate on what can be anticipated in future years, and in-troduce a new long-term program designed to expand our observation base.

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2015 Gulf of Alaska Large Whale Unusual Mortality Event

Kate Savage, NOAA Fisheries Protected Resources Division, Juneau, AK, [email protected] Fauquier, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources, Silver Spring, MDStephen Raverty, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Abbotsford, BC, CanadaKathy Burek Huntington, Alaska Veterinary Pathology Service, Eagle River, AKJohn Moran, NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Juneau, AKMandy Migura, NOAA Fisheries Protected Resources Division, Anchorage, AKPaul Cottrell, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Vancouver, BC, CanadaKate Wynne, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Juneau, AKBree Witteveen, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Kodiak, AKFran VanDolah, National Ocean Service, Charleston, SC

Between May 22 and June 17 of 2015, 12 dead fin whales were reported near Kodiak Island and in the western Gulf of Alaska (GOA). The number of animals was unprecedented; over the previous 15 years an average of less than one stranded fin whale had been reported throughout the entire Alaska region. Through the summer, coastal British Columbia (BC) also experienced an unusu-al intensity of large whale strandings, including five fin whales. Consequently, in August of 2015 a large whale Unusual Mortality Event (UME) was declared and an investigative team established. By the end of 2016, findings of the investigative team included:• Reports of 44 animals in the GOA and 17 animals in BC were compiled in 2015. In both locations, a temporal and spatial pattern in fin whale mortality appeared to indicate a discrete event which was not evident in other species. Humpback whale strandings were slightly elevated in both the GOA and BC and humpback whale involvement remains uncertain. • Necropsy findings included internal and external gross and microscopic pa-thology, sample testing for radioisotopes, viral and bacterial disease, and algal toxins.A definitive cause of death was not determined. Differentials included infec-tious disease, predation, navy sonar testing, radiation, ship strike, and ecologi-cal shifts. The most likely etiology may have been related to unusual ocean-ographic/climatic conditions that occurred in 2015, including oceanographic changes leading to shifts in prey distribution or harmful algal bloom exposure. It is also possible that mortality was from more than a single etiology.

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Dead Birds on Beaches, the Seabird Die-Off of 2015-16: A Kodiak PerspectiveRobin Corcoran, Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, Kodiak, AK, [email protected]

In 2015-2016, what has been labeled an unprecedented seabird die-off oc-curred throughout the northern Gulf of Alaska. The minimum count of dead Common Murres in the Kodiak archipelago was 1,947 from 4 April 2015 to 31 March 2016 based on beach surveys done by Kodiak National Wildlife Ref-uge (NWR) biologists and reports from local residents. In addition to Common Murres, carcasses of another 65 birds representing 15 different species were also found on beaches on the Kodiak road system during the die-off. The die-off event was preceded by a large-scale inshore movement by marine bird species typically seen offshore (Common Murres and shearwater species) document-ed by Kodiak NWR survey data and by observations of residents throughout the archipelago. There appeared to be at least three peaks in deposition of carcasses on the Kodiak road system; first in September 2015, second in mid-November 2015, and third from the end of December 2015 until mid-February 2016. Expanding the density estimate based on carcasses counted on regular surveys on the Kodiak road system (55 murres per km2, SE = 12) to all beaches in the archipelago in the same biophysical habitat class based on Alaska Shore-Zone coastal mapping yielded an estimate of 86,834 dead Common Murres (95% confidence Interval: 48,502, 125,165).

Murres, Puffins and the Blob: How Alaska Seabird Populations May Respond to Global Warming

Julia K. Parrish, University of Washington, and Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team, Seattle, WA, [email protected]

Marine heatwaves are relatively recent phenomena across the globe. A con-centrated lens of anomalously warm water, a heatwave may persist for months to years. The largest marine heatwave to date has been in the Northeast Pacif-ic, reaching into the Bering and Chukchi Seas by 2016. In Alaska, two separate seabird mass mortality events have been associated with this climate event: the death of hundreds of thousands of Common Murres which floated ashore from May 2015 through March 2016, and from Southeast Alaska around the Gulf of Alaska and out the Aleutians; and a smaller event in 2016-17 in the Ber-ing Sea affecting mainly Tufted Puffins. The COASST program collects data on the rate of seabird beaching throughout Alaska. These data form the baseline against which recent mortality events can be assessed.

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Current State of Knowledge of Climate Change Effects on Alaska’s FisheriesTerry Johnson, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, Anchorage, AK, [email protected]

Numerous physical effects of climate change are evident in the North Pacific, but so far relatively few and subtle changes to commercially valuable fish stock abundance, distribution, and behaviors have been documented. This presen-tation comprises a review of recent research in the field, as well as the non-scientific literature, interviews with scientists, and anecdotal information to summarize the latest research results and current thinking on coming fisheries effects of climate change in the North Pacific and Bering Sea. • It distinguishes true long-term climate change from inter-annual and decadal scale climate anomalies.• It points to developments in the Pacific Northwest as indicators of what’s to come in Alaska waters if current trends continue.• It concludes with a very brief outline of potential adaptation measures that can be applied by fishermen and fisheries-dependent communities.

Abstracts - Session 2 - Habitat and Process

Delineating the Footprint of Commercial Fisheries: Working Backwards to Examine Effects on HabitatJohn Olson, National Marine Fisheries Service, Habitat Conservation Division, Anchorage, AK, [email protected]

The susceptibility of sensitive marine habitats, such as corals and sponges, has been a focus of recent updates to the Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) 5-year review, mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management and Con-servation Act. During the 2017 review, species distribution models (SDM) for managed fish and crab species and a Fishing Effects (FE) model were developed by NMFS Alaska Region, Habitat Conservation Division; NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center; and the Alaska Pacific University Fisheries Aquatic Science and Technology Lab. While these models are substantial improvements over previ-ous efforts, the sediment data that determines habitat type (and drives the FE model) is somewhat limited, and it’s unlikely that full surveys will ever be completed across Alaska.One alternative to the sediment-based habitat types approach that is being investigated is to delineate the footprint of the fisheries by utilizing the VMS-enabled Catch-in-Areas database. By focusing only on areas that are fished, we hope to utilize bathymetric and other opportunistic data (multibeam, submers-ible/ROV transects) to assemble terrain metrics (slope, rugosity, bathymetric position index, etc.) to identify the characteristics of areas that are fishable for each gear type/species target, and the habitat types that may be present on those terrain/sediment combinations.

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Alaska Essential Fish Habitat Research Plan 2017-2022: A Research Plan for NOAA FisheriesMike Sigler, Matthew Eagleton, Tom Helser, John Olson, Jodi Pirtle, Chris Rooper, Samantha Simpson, and Bob Stone, NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center and Alaska Regional Office, WA and AK, [email protected]

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFC-MA) mandates NOAA to identify habitats essential for managed species and conserve habitats from adverse effects on those habitats. These habitats are termed “Essential Fish Habitat” or EFH, and are defined as “those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to ma-turity” (NMFS 2010). Further, the MSFCMA requires federal agencies to consult with NOAA Fisheries when their actions may adversely affect EFH. These con-sultations occur for both fishing and non-fishing activities. Recently revised, National Standard 1 guidelines (2016) add several provisions to facilitate the incorporation of ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) into federal fisheries management. National Standard 2 of the MSFCMA requires NOAA Fisheries to conserve and manage fishery resources based upon the best avail-able scientific information. To meet these mandates, NOAA’s research must identify habitats that contribute most to the survival, growth, and productivity of managed fish species and determine science-based measures to best man-age and conserve these habitats from adverse effects of human activities. Previous EFH Research Plans (AFSC 2006, Sigler et al. 2012) for Alaska have guided research to meet EFH mandates in Alaska since 2005. A new EFH Re-search Plan revises and supersedes these earlier plans, and similar to previous plans, is expected to guide the next several years of EFH research. Revisions of the EFH research plan (Sigler et al. 2012) are timed to match required EFH 5-year reviews; the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and NOAA Fisheries are required by EFH regulations to review the EFH components within each fishery management plan (FMP) every five years. The objectives of these reviews are to evaluate and synthesize new information on habitat, de-termine whether changes to the FMPs are warranted, and present this evalu-ation in a summary report to the Council. These reviews summarize the status of EFH research, which then provides a basis for determining future research directions (i.e., revised research plan).The talk will offer insight into the new direction of the coordinated Research Plan, the EFH Proposal Review Process, new Research Items from NMFS Stock Assessment Authors (2/2017), and the EFH Allocation (fund) process. • 1996—EFH research funding began• 2006—First 5-year EFH Research Plan published• 2012—Revised EFH Research Plan based on 5-year EFH review• 2017—Revising EFH Research Plan based on latest 5-year EFH review

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Characterization of the Buskin River Nearshore Area: Bathymetry, Salinity, Marine Ecological Succession, and Human UseLeyla Arsan1, Kelly Krueger2, and Tom Lance2

1. Birch Leaf Consulting, Anchorage, AK, [email protected]. Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak, Kodiak, AK, [email protected], [email protected]

The Buskin River Marine Zone Study (BRiMS) is a four-year, post-construction monitoring effort led by the Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak as part of the mitigation package for the Kodiak Airport Runway Safety Area Expansion. The study has four main components and objectives. • Physical: document basic bathymetry and features at the river mouth and nearshore.• Chemical: record the character (salinity and temperature) and geographic extent of the Buskin River freshwater plume.• Biological: monitor recruitment and colonization of invertebrates and algae on the new armor rock.• Cultural: identify human use of the Buskin River nearshore area.A summary of the first year of data collection will be presented for all four as-pects of the project. An AUV collected bathymetry data from the river mouth to the northern runway extension to document potential accretion or erosion. Salinity data were collected to evaluate if the river plume reaches habitats south of the runway extension. The new fill was monitored for recruitment and colonization of invertebrates and algae. Surveys were initiated to document human use of the nearshore area.

Underwater Archaeology in the Kodiak Archipelago and Beyond

Jason Rogers, Northern Land Use Research Alaska, LLC, Anchorage, AK, [email protected]

The first substantive underwater archaeology project in Alaska was undertaken in 2004 in Kodiak. This was the investigation of the Kad’yak shipwreck, a Rus-sian-period vessel that sank off Spruce Island in 1860. The investigation con-sisted of site mapping and documentation, and included recovery of a small amount of artifacts. Subsequent years have seen additional shipwreck investi-gations, innovative research on traditional watercraft, and new studies of sea level history. Although underwater and maritime archaeology in Alaska has clearly progressed since the Kad’yak project, there remain a number of short-comings and obstacles. This presentation will provide a retrospective view of the Kad’yak investigation, and place the work in the context of current research and future objectives.

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Kayaks and Supersacks: Marine Debris Removal on Shuyak IslandTom Pogson and Andy Schroeder, Island Trails Network, Kodiak, AK, [email protected], [email protected]

Overview of NOAA community-based marine debris cleanup and removal on Shuyak Island in 2016. Over 30 kayaking enthusiasts from around the world volunteered for two weeks at a time to access Shuyak’s remote shorelines by kayak and remove marine debris over a sustained effort lasting 92 days. Crew ultimately removed 35,000 pounds of marine debris spanning 45 miles of shoreline. The presentation will include threats to wildlife and human populations posed by marine debris, composition, and distribution across the clean-up area, and challenges of removal and disposal.

Socioeconomic Risks and Impacts of Military Training Events in Gulf of AlaskaChristina Hendrickson, Summer is for Salmon, Girdwood, AK, [email protected] Stolarcyk, Summer is for Salmon, Cordova, AK, [email protected]

This presentation explores the known and unknown cumulative impacts of mil-itary training activities on our local economy: habitat impact, risk to economic livelihoods, and areas where more scientific research is needed. The US Navy (USN) scheduled “Northern Edge,” a live fire training event in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), for 1-12 May 2017. In August 2016, USN published a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). The document did not use best available science and yet concluded no adverse impacts despite state-ments regarding unknown behavioral and distribution shifts in fish due to ex-plosions; mortality of fish due to noise, exposure to chemical by-products, and sonar; and direct contradictions from National Marine Fisheries Service.USN seeks authorization to disperse up to 352,000 pounds of munitions into Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) in the GOA, 10,500 pounds of which are hazardous (e.g., lead, cyanide, cadmium, etc.). There is no marine debris cleanup plan. Recently, USN cited far less ordnance is “planned” for 2017; but they are not legally beholden to those numbers. Moreover, future exercises may change in scope and the use of weaponry, munitions, and sonar as long as it does not exceed the limits in the SEIS. We will explore the potential economic impact of Northern Edge on Kodiak and other fishing communities. What will be the loss of EFH? What are the health impacts of contaminated or reduced fish stocks? What will be the cost of ma-rine debris cleanup and scientific data for baseline and recovery?

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Steller sea lions: A Natural Ecosystem Management System

Olivia Winters1, Naomi Daniher1, Hanna Clary1, Matthew Wald1, Lars Bodnar1, Jane Eisemann2, and Switgard Duesterloh2

1. Kodiak High School students, Kodiak, AK2. Coaches, Kodiak, AK, [email protected], [email protected]

Steller sea lions are a common sight in Kodiak and an important part of the economy and ecosystem. As ocean warming affects ecosystems in the North Pacific, how can an ecosystem-based management plan that protects the Western Steller sea lion population be implemented while dealing with the challenges of ocean warming? In this presentation, we investigate the connec-tion between the California sea lion crisis and ocean warming in the California current. We further study causes of the Steller sea lion population declines in the 1980s and 1990s in Alaska and the role of sea lions in the local food web. We discuss the role of ecosystem modeling in management and the limitations and challenges of implementing the ecosystem-based management mandate, and conclude with suggestions for Steller sea lion management strategies to inform management of forage fish populations and protect Steller sea lions from unusual mortality events.

Kodiak Youth Leaders in Science Education with Kodiak Refuge Summer Science and Salmon CampShelly Lawson, Nia Pristas, and Joshua Barnes, Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, Kodiak, AK, [email protected]

In 2016, the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Kodiak Refuge Summer Science and Salmon Camp program. This program educates youth on the science and value and salmon and healthy habitats for our island as well as global issues such as the carbon cycle and climate change.In 2016 in an effort to reach broader audiences for the Salmon Camp program the Kodiak Refuge created a pop-up Salmon Camp at Kodiak’s Main Elemen-tary School lunch program. Joshua Barnes, a recent high school graduate and member of the 2016 Kodiak Refuge Youth Conservation Corps was one of the leaders of the pop-up Salmon Camp. Kodiak High School student Nia Pristas is a long time volunteer youth leader and helps mentor youth at Salmon Camp. At this presentation they will share their roles as science educators and mentors for youth and will specifically share fun ways they have participated in teaching youth about salmon.

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Abstracts - Session 3 - Dynamic Methods

The Molting Process in Golden King Crab, Lithodes aequispina

Daniel Urban, National Marine Fisheries Service, Kodiak, AK, [email protected] Nault, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Kodiak, AK, [email protected]

Golden king crab, Lithodes aequispina, are a valuable commercial species found on the upper continental slope in the North Pacific Ocean from British Columbia, Canada, to Suruga Bay, Japan. As a complement to the tagging effort on golden king crab by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in the Aleutian Islands, golden king crab from Kodiak Island waters were held in a laboratory setting and tagged using methods identical to those used in the field. No crabs died due to the tagging process, and tag loss was found to be 8%. While most tagged crab successfully molted, 12% of tagged crabs experienced difficulty during molting and died during the process. Some synchronicity of molting was observed. A video of the molting process will be presented.

It’s Complicated: The Reproductive Biology of the Shortraker Rockfish in AlaskaChristina Conrath, NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Kodiak, AK, [email protected]

Rockfish have unique reproductive biology that includes internal fertilization and the live birth of planktonic larvae. Other distinctive characteristics of rock-fish reproduction are prolonged adolescence, abortive maturity, and maternal effects. Spawning omission or skipped spawning has also recently been docu-mented for deep water rockfish in this region. It is unknown if the proportion of skip spawners varies by location or changes over time. In this study, the reproductive biology of the shortraker rockfish, Sebastes borealis, was exam-ined by collecting samples from two different reproductive years, 2010 and 2016. The reproductive complexity and temporal differences in length at ma-turity, abortive maturity, and skipped spawning rates were compared for the two time periods. Differences in reproductive productivity will impact stock assessment of this species and a better understanding of these changes is needed to appropriately manage and conserve this species and other deep water rockfish.

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Zooarchaeological Analysis of Central Alaska Fish Fauna

Holly McKinney1, Carrin Halffman1, Ben Potter1, Joshua Reuther1, and Chuck Holmes2

1. University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. University of Alaska Fairbanks, Anchorage, AK, [email protected]

This presentation introduces some of our initial zooarchaeological results for a multidisciplinary research project that examines fishing through antiquity in central Alaska. Archaeologically deposited fish bones are relatively rare in cen-tral Alaska contexts and are often overlooked and/or underreported. Models used to represent exploitation of freshwater and anadromous resources are also underdeveloped. To establish the relative importance fishes played in terminal Pleistocene and late Holocene subsistence economies, fish fauna were analyzed from existing central Alaska archaeological collections. Analyses are focused on assessing taphonomic preservation, abundance, and landscape use. Preliminary results indicate that inhabitants exploited salmon, burbot, northern pike, and whitefish.

Experimentally Wrangling with Fish ParasitesBrian Himelbloom, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center, Kodiak, AK, [email protected] Sannito, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Sea Grant, Kodiak, AK, [email protected]

Among the encounters fish consumers may face are parasites that have been missed during processing and meal preparation. Usually, the parasites (specifically worms) are inactivated and do not result in a foodborne illness. Safeguards are in place commercially to observe and remove parasites and inactivate any missed parasites by freezing and/or proper cooking. Our study was designed to deter-mine which time and temperature relationships would allow parasite survival in Pacific cod and sockeye salmon fillets. Blast freezing (–20°C internal temperature) was sufficient to quickly inactivate parasites in fillets. Undercooking (<50°C inter-nal temperature) fillets, which were not previously frozen, resulted in parasite sur-vival and could pose a safety risk to unaware consumers.

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Chignik River Post-Weir Enumeration with DIDSON

Mary Beth Loewen, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Kodiak, AK, [email protected]

Sockeye and coho salmon escapement into the Chignik watershed is measured through use of a large, pile-driven weir equipped with an underwater video camera. The operation of this weir is expensive and time consuming. Funded by multiyear grants from the Alaska Sustainable Salmon Foundation, since 2012 the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has used DIDSON acoustic units to enumerate sockeye and coho salmon escaping into the Chignik River after the weir is removed. Beach seines and variable mesh gillnets are used to cap-ture fish moving into the river for species apportionment to the sonar counts. Over the past four seasons, the project has become more refined, with greater in-season utility for late season salmon management. The current phase of the project seeks to validate simultaneous sonar and weir counts from August 15 to September 15 annually in order to create calibration factors between the two methods, with the hope of utilizing sonar technology to minimize weir use in the future.

Hunting Seals with Nets 5,000 Years Ago

Patrick Saltonstall, Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository, Kodiak, AK, [email protected]

The Kashevaroff Site has been the focus of the Alutiiq Museum’s community archaeology program for the last four years. Today the site lies on the shoulder of Kashevaroff Mountain, overlooking the grassy meadows at the head of Ko-diak Island’s Womens Bay. But 5,000 years ago the site overlooked a small lake. Archaeological data suggest that site residents pursued seals in the lake and processed their catch at the site. Large numbers of slate lances and net weights suggest that hunters used spears to kill seals tangled in nets. Numerous cutting tools and special purpose features, filled with wood charcoal, gravel, and bits of calcined sea mammal bone, hint that seal meat was dried for future use.

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Abstracts - Session 4 - Community and Monitoring

Building Networks to Bridge Information and Action on Alaska’s CoastsDavin Holen, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Sea Grant, Anchorage, AK, [email protected]

Coastal resilience and climate adaptation grants and projects are becoming widespread in coastal Alaska, but how do they meet the needs of communities and natural resource managers who balance economic development and the subsistence way of life? A consortium of four Alaska Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCCs), NOAA, the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association and other regional Alaska Native organizations, Alaska Sea Grant, and the Alaska Cli-mate Science Center joined numerous local partners to host workshops in five regions to bring climate science to coastal communities, in an effort to create a discussion of how to bridge the gap between information and action. This talk will present the effort, the tools that are the outcome of the project, and ideas for moving forward to build resilience in coastal communities in Alaska.

What are the “Best Practices” for Community-Based Monitoring of Alaska’s Coastal and Ocean Environment?Marilyn Sigman, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Sea Grant, Anchorage, AK, [email protected]

Several common challenges emerged from a 2014 statewide workshop on best practices for community-based monitoring of Alaska’s coastal and ocean environments: (1) developing and sustaining relationships between commu-nity members and other “end-users” of observations and data; (2) identifying and meeting the objectives of all partners; (3) ensuring scientifically valid data and its long-term management; (4) youth engagement; (5) sustaining funding; and (6) outreach and communication strategies, including those required to co-produce knowledge by both Western scientists and Traditional Knowledge holders. Participants, including some from the Kodiak area, shared their suc-cesses and “lesson learned” in addressing each of the challenges. The handbook, Community-Based Monitoring of Alaska’s Coastal and Ocean Environment: Best Practices for Linking Alaska Citizens with Science, published by Alaska Sea Grant, translates the results of the workshop into practical guid-ance for planning or implementing a collaborative community-based monitor-ing program. The emphasis is on collecting scientifically defensible data and systematic—rather than opportunistic—observations in ways that benefit community members as well as scientists and natural resource management agencies.The diverse Alaska communities engaged in monitoring provide potential net-works for Kodiak area communities to join and learn from. This presentation will serve to frame the presentations about specific projects and programs that will follow and contribute to subsequent discussion.

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A World Bridge: Kodiak Island Borough School District Project ActivitiesMr. Searaphim McGann, A World Bridge Teacher, [email protected] Shin, Daniel Johnson, and Tiger Oka, Students, Kodiak High School, Kodiak, AK

The Kodiak “A World Bridge” program has developed several world-class research projects both in technology and education. Kodiak High School stu-dents will provide updates on current projects, including the Earthquake Sig-nal Precursors (pre-earthquake anomaly detection) with NASA Ames Research Center. The Earthquake Signal Precursors project was the back-to-back winner of the international NASA Europa Challenge. Other A World Bridge projects we will present include the Nanotechnology in Agriculture project with USCG, and the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Scientific Applications program with Kodiak Electric Association and Alaska Aerospace Corp. A World Bridge also has established partnerships with business, industry, and government, includ-ing the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, US Fish and Wildlife Invasive Species projects, FAA/Unmanned Aircraft System UTM (Traffic Management) system, which will be described as part of the presentation.

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The Coastal Community Ocean Observers (C202) program

Peter Winsor1, Seth Danielson1, Tuula Hollmen2, and Glen Clough3

1. University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, Fairbanks, AK, [email protected], [email protected]. Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward, AK, [email protected]. Old Harbor, Kodiak Island, AK

The Coastal Community Ocean Observers (C2O2) is a coastal science program that seeks to build a framework for long-term community-driven monitoring of oceanic environmental variables. The C2O2 program combines cost-efficient means for communities to collect environmental data with local interest, pro-moting mutually beneficial partnerships and relationships for collecting and sharing information.The C2O2 program is currently active in three communities—Kaktovik, Old Harbor, and St. Paul—and is being implemented in the neighboring communi-ties of Cold Bay and King Cove in the Aleutians. These five communities have uniquely different climates, cultures, and local concerns, and represent differ-ent oceans and environments. Using simple-to-operate lowered conductivity-depth-salinity-fluorescence profilers, each of these communities have generat-ed a large number of hydrographic data on weekly to months intervals, which is reported in near-real time via a web interface and immediately available on the project website for community residents, scientists, and stakeholders.We describe our experiences with the C2O2 program, focusing on data collec-tion, results, and a build-out plan for the future, including implementation of a biological sampling component. We highlight successful long-term sampling from Old Harbor, Kodiak Island. C2O2 is interfacing with similar efforts in Can-ada, the Mosquito Fleet to the south and CROW project to the north, to create a linked network of ocean observations in a south-to-north framework from Vancouver to the Canadian Arctic Archipelago to detect and describe climate change propagation and its impact on local ecosystems and communities.

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Monitoring Paralytic Shellfish Toxins to Provide Sustainable Access to Traditional ResourcesChris Whitehead, Sitka Tribe of Alaska, SEATOR, Sitka, AK, [email protected]

The Sitka Tribe of Alaska (STA), founder of Southeast Alaska Tribal Toxins (SE-ATT), has a vested interest in protecting traditional natural resources as well as the health of the local community. SEATT was formed in September 2013 to unify 15 Southeast Alaska tribes in monitoring harmful algal bloom (HAB) events that pose a human health risk to subsistence and commercial shell-fish harvesters. With “eyes on the water” actively monitoring sites within their communities, tribes can establish subsistence management plans, and continue the cultural importance of shellfish harvesting. Each tribal partner collects weekly samples at key community harvest sites including phytoplank-ton identification and quantification, salinity, sea and air temperature, whole water for cellular toxin analysis, and shellfish for biotoxins. The phytoplankton and environmental parameter data are uploaded to the SoundToxins database (soundtoxins.org) and are used as an “early warning” by researchers, manag-ers, and community partners. Shellfish and whole water samples are sent to the Sitka Tribe of Alaska Envi-ronmental Research Laboratory (STAERL) for toxin analysis. STAERL uses the re-ceptor binding assay (AOAC Method 2011.27) for measuring saxitoxins and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (AOAC Method 2006.02) for determining domoic acid concentrations. All samples are processed and analyzed within a 48 hour period and results are posted to the Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research webpage (seator.org/data). Results are also emailed out to all SEATT partners, local and state health officials, resource managers, and university staff. If detected toxin levels are above the regulatory limit of 80 ug per 100 g or a SEATT partner site is observ-ing HAB species in their phytoplankton sample, a shellfish harvest advisory is issued by the tribe for the community.

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Monitoring Ocean Acidification and the Sustainability of Crab Fisheries in Alaska

Robert J. Foy, NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Kodiak, AK, [email protected]

Increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations have acceler-ated substantially since the Industrial Revolution. With the world’s oceans absorbing 30–50% of the new CO2, mean surface ocean pH declined by 0.1 (equivalent to 30% greater acidity), reducing calcium carbonate saturation and subsequent availability of carbonate for shell building organisms such as crabs. Studies on the physiological effects of ocean acidification on commercial crab species have been the focus of the NOAA Kodiak Laboratory since 2007. Mul-tiyear laboratory studies have been conducted to assess the physiological re-sponse of southern Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi) and red king crab (Paral-ithodes camtschaticus) during early developmental stages to changes in pCO2. The results of the studies have led to population dynamics and bioeconomic predictions on the effects to commercial fisheries and coastal communities. To better inform these models about the seasonal variability and interannual changes in ocean carbonate chemistry, monitoring studies are needed in coast-al areas. In 2017 a coastal monitoring program is being developed to collect temporally and spatially relevant ocean chemistry data such as temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved inorganic carbon, and primary production around the Kodiak archipelago.

Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning and Community Involvement: Working Toward Safe Shellfish Harvest on Kodiak Island

Julie A. Matweyou, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, Kodiak, AK, [email protected]

Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) remains a serious health risk to subsistence and recreational shellfish harvesters in Alaska. Statewide, some of the highest PSP toxin concentrations and a large percentage of the PSP illnesses have been recorded in the Kodiak region. The Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program has been working with coastal communities for many years to address the risk of PSP. Recent work in the Kodiak region has included research into emerg-ing technology, community-based toxin monitoring initiatives, and youth and adult education. Results from these efforts demonstrate the spatial and tem-poral complexity of PSP toxins, raise complicated questions regarding shellfish consumption practices, and elevate the need for continued attention on this difficult topic. Building local partnerships is essential for the success of building a safe shellfish harvest program; contributions from Kodiak partnerships will be shared.

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From Collection to Practical Use: Integrating and Visualizing Coastal and Marine Data

Will Koeppen1, Rob Bochenek1, Molly McCammon2

1.Axiom Data Science, Anchorage, AK, [email protected], [email protected]. Alaska Ocean Observing System, Anchorage, AK, [email protected]

Research and monitoring efforts across Alaska in recent years have led to new discoveries and scientific breakthroughs. The wealth of data resources currently available include real-time conditions, forecast models, satellite imagery, time-series monitoring, and project level data ranging from oceanography to breeding birds. Continued collaboration is needed to maintain and expand these efforts. However, there is a simultaneous need to integrate existing information to bet-ter understand the environment, promote safe operations, and inform decisions regarding human activities.Integrating data is a challenge since many data sets are housed in isolated and physically dispersed locations. Technical barriers such as complex data formats, lack of standardization, and inadequate metadata have also made acquiring and using scientific information a daunting task. As a result, existing data is often underused.To help address these needs, the Alaska Ocean Observing System has partnered with a spectrum of organizations across the state to develop and maintain a cen-tralized data clearinghouse to provide easy access to marine data. This interac-tive web-based mapping application visualizes operational oceanographic and atmospheric models, real-time sensor feeds, satellite observations, and GIS lay-ers in a seamless interface. Users are able to choose from several hundred layer options including ocean circulation and temperature grids, habitat maps, envi-ronmental sensitivity indices, marine mammal observations, ShoreZone video and imagery, and more.The goal of this tool is to improve access to existing information that can benefit a wide spectrum of research and management efforts, including emergency re-sponse. This presentation will provide a live view of the portal.

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Kodiak Tribes Seafood Consumption Assessment: Final Report

Kathy Drabek1 (retired), Thomas Lance1, Kelly Krueger1, Sean Hales1, Erica McCall Valentine2, and Shubha Pandit3

1. Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak, Kodiak, AK, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] 2. The Scholar Ship, Fairbanks, AK, [email protected] 3. Terraqua Environmental Consulting, Entiat, WA, [email protected]

Little information exists regarding seafood consumption rates among Alaska Na-tives, and consequently, the inherent risks of consuming seafood, which is known to bioaccumulate environmental contaminants, has not been well established.To help guide researchers investigating seafood consumption health risks, Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak undertook a seafood consumption assessment to quantitatively describe the fish, shellfish, and marine mammal consumption rates of 326 Alutiiq Natives aged 18 and older, living within 5 of the 10 communities of the Kodiak archipelago. Assessments were conducted in Port Lions, Larsen Bay, Ouzinkie, Old Harbor, and Kodiak between October and December 2015.Using EPA-approved interview protocols and methods, respondents shared infor-mation about the amount of seafood they consumed in the 24 hours prior to the interview (24-hour recall) and over the course of the previous year (food frequency questionnaire, FFQ). The interview protocols integrated methods to document the types and quantities of seafood consumed (species and standardized serving size) as well as how the seafood was prepared (smoked, baked, boiled, fried, etc.). The median, mean, and percentiles of seafood consumption rates, in grams per person per day, were calculated and stratified for both 24-recall and FFQ methods.Mean consumption rates in all the communities, based on the 24-recall data, were significantly higher than the FFQ in all communities. The 24-hour recall data re-vealed an estimated average consumption rate of 359.0 g seafood per person per day, whereas the average consumption rate based on the FFQ data was 232.8 g seafood per person per day. Both methods evidenced that salmon and other fresh-water fish were most frequently consumed. In contrast, the US Environmental Pro-tection Agency estimates the national fish consumption rate at approximately 17.6 g per person per day.It is hoped that the seafood consumption rates derived from this assessment will be used by tribes, EPA, State of Alaska, and other agencies and organizations to inform and guide efforts to assess inherent risks of consuming seafood.

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Abstracts - Session 5 - Marine and Coastal Systems

Electrofishing and Kick Seining Efforts for Invasive Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) on Kodiak Island, Alaska

Kelly Krueger and Tom Lance, Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak, Kodiak, AK, [email protected], [email protected]

Signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), which are not indigenous to Alaska, were first recorded in the Buskin River watershed on Kodiak Island in 2002. Since then, several organizations have noted the presence of signal crayfish within the wa-tershed. In 2015, trapping efforts by Kodiak Soil and Water Conservation District found gravid female signal crayfish, indicating a breeding population. In 2016, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Invasive Species Program provided funding for Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak to survey for signal crayfish within the watershed. To enhance the suc-cess of signal crayfish detection and removal from the watershed, this project uti-lized capture methods not previously used by others, including kick seining and electrofishing techniques. Trapping and kick seining for crayfish resulted in few specimens captured. However, electrofishing for crayfish proved more effective in numbers captured and in variety of age classes. Based on anecdotal information, the general public increased utilization of signal crayfish for consumptive uses in 2016. In particular, snorkeling/free diving has proven to be most successful. Survey results, partnerships, and collaboration with the public will be discussed in this presentation.

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How Many Fish are in this Barrel? Sustainably Harvesting Two Easily Caught Skate SpeciesThomas J. Farrugia1, Gordon H. Kruse2, Ian G. Taylor3, Olav A. Ormseth4, Keith R. Criddle2, and Andrew C. Seitz1

1. University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, Fairbanks, AK, [email protected], [email protected]. University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, Juneau, AK, [email protected], [email protected]. NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA, [email protected]. NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA, [email protected]

Skates in the Gulf of Alaska, specifically big (Beringraja binoculata) and long-nose (Raja rhina) skates, are abundant and frequently caught by fishermen using longline and trawl gear. The fishing industry has expressed interest in increasing skate landings, in part because of relatively high ex-vessel prices. However, management is unlikely to allow higher catch levels until skate popu-lations are shown to be capable of sustaining increased harvest pressure. Recently, biological and economic information on these skates has made it pos-sible to assess the feasibility of conducting sustainable skate fisheries under various fishing and economic scenarios. Such scenarios were examined using stock assessment and bioeconomic models. Specifically, we developed the first stock assessments for big and longnose skates in Alaska, using Stock Synthesis, a powerful software package with flexibility to handle data-poor assessments. We then used the output from this assessment in a simple, constrained opti-mization bioeconomic model to evaluate the feasibility of expanding harvest opportunities and prosecuting directed fisheries for skates in the Gulf of Alaska.The stock assessment model shows that skate populations in the Gulf of Alaska have declined, but it appears that they remain above biomass levels that would provide maximum sustainable yield. However, models also indicate that total skate landings cannot be substantially increased without jeopardizing the stock sustainability. Results from the population dynamics and bioeconomic models will be provided to state and federal fishery management agencies to help ensure the long-term sustainability and profitability of skate fisheries in Alaska.

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Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Marine Bird Monitoring and Research

Robin Corcoran, Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, Kodiak, AK, [email protected]

Marine birds are conspicuous, abundant, high trophic-level consumers that are sensitive to change in the nearshore environment and are frequently identified as indicators of the health of marine ecosystems. Nearshore marine birds have been a focus of monitoring and research by Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge biologists and cooperators for many years. In this presentation we will sum-marize refuge programs conducted over the last decade including: (1) near-shore marine bird and mammal surveys; (2) seabird colony surveys; (3) Kittlitz’s Murrelet nesting ecology research; and (4) Aleutian and Arctic Tern colony monitoring. Goals for marine bird and seabird colony surveys are to determine long-term trends and habitat associations for key species relevant to refuge management objectives and to contribute data to a regional monitoring pro-gram for birds throughout the Gulf of Alaska. The Kittlitz’s Murrelet is a rare seabird relative of puffins that nests in rugged mountainous terrain. Coopera-tive research on Kittlitz’s Murrelets has yielded nest success information on 146 nests over nine breeding seasons on western Kodiak Island, and provided valuable information on chick diets and growth rates. Both Aleutian and Arctic Terns have experienced significant population declines along the Alaska coast. The Kodiak refuge has been monitoring tern colonies for many years and plans for designing cooperative studies examining nest success and habitat prefer-ences will be discussed.

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The Next Generation of Fishermen in the Kodiak Archipelago: Exploring Dynamics Contributing to the Graying of the Fleet in Alaska’s Commercial Fishing IndustryDanielle Ringer, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Kodiak, AK, [email protected] Carothers, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Anchorage, AK, [email protected] Coleman, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, [email protected] Cullenberg, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Sea Grant, Anchorage, AK, [email protected] Donkersloot, Alaska Marine Conservation Council, Anchorage, AK, [email protected]

The sustainability of fisheries and fishing-dependent communities depends upon numerous political, cultural, economic, and ecological factors. Our re-search project exploring the “graying of the fleet” in the Bristol Bay and Kodiak regions of Alaska produced 130 interviews with fishermen and more than 800 surveys from middle and high school students. In this presentation we focus on Kodiak region key findings to better understand youth interest, existing path-ways, and barriers to participation in commercial fishing. Our ethnographic research suggests that access restriction and transforming rights to fish into tradable commodities (i.e., limited entry permits and individual fishing quo-tas) have fundamentally changed how fishing opportunities are perceived and pursued by residents of rural fishing communities. Student survey results ex-plore fishing engagement, post-high school aspirations, importance of and per-ceptions of fishing, motivations to stay or leave the community, and attitudes about community health. Conclusions from the project indicate that whether and how youth in the Kodiak archipelago will engage in the commercial fishing industry will have substantial implications for the health and sustainability of this region.

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An Archaeological Investigation of a 3,800 Year Old Fishery in the Kodiak ArchipelagoJustin M. Hays, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Department of Anthropology, Fairbanks, AK, [email protected]

The Early Kachemak phase in the southcentral Alaska coast is one of the less-er-understood periods in prehistory. Archaeological evidence shows a dra-matic change in material culture, tool types, and house forms. Until recently, the primary diet and subsistence economy of the Early Kachemak phase was speculative at best. It has been hypothesized and tested that roughly 7,500 to 4,000 years before present (BP), the indigenous peoples relied primarily on the plentiful marine mammals. Due to possible resource overharvesting, climate change, regime shifts, habitat destruction, or a combination of effects, the ar-chaeology indicates humans began focusing intensively on fishes. Analysis of a shell and fishbone midden site from the Kodiak archipelago, during a 3,800 BP Early Kachemak occupation, would potentially illuminate a picture of the subsistence economy during this period, and allow testing of such hypotheses. The Horseshoe Cove Site (KOD-00415) on Uganik Island has that potential. This talk presents a detailed analysis of faunal remains from the site to test hypoth-eses concerning subsistence in the Kodiak archipelago. Results confirm mass harvesting of offshore fishes were the primary resource of the Early Kachemak at Horseshoe Cove.

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How Old is that Crab? Progress on an Age Old Question

April Rebert1,2, Joel Webb2, Kevin McNeel2, and Gordon Kruse1

1. University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, Juneau, AK , [email protected], [email protected]. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Commercial Fisheries, Mark, Tag and Age Laboratory, Juneau, AK, [email protected], [email protected]

Age information provides direct insight into rates of growth, reproduction, and survival essential to stock assessment and fishery management. Crab and shrimp have long supported vital fisheries in Alaska, but direct determination of their ages has not been possible. Structures useful for age determination (e.g., fish otoliths) are generally retained throughout the life span; banding patterns on these growth structures associated with seasonal growth variabil-ity are interpreted as indices of chronological age. Due to loss of the calcified cuticle during molting, it has been presumed that age determination in crab and shrimp is impossible. However, banding patterns potentially useful for age determination were recently identified in the gastric mill (grinding apparatus in stomachs) of snow and red king crabs and eyestalks of spot shrimp from Alas-ka. This study investigates whether banding patterns on these structures yield reliable indices of chronological age for crabs and shrimp by: (1) developing standardized workflows to facilitate evaluation of differences in band counts between groups of small and large individuals for each species; (2) examin-ing whether the endocuticle layer of each structure is retained through the lifetime to describe potential band retention or formation; and (3) evaluating chemical marking methods that can be used to validate that bands form an-nually. Project milestones to date include: (1) production of over 2,000 thin-sections for band counts; (2) sampling of red king crab and spot shrimp before and after molting to evaluate cuticle retention; and (3) identification of calcein as an effective fluorescent marker for age validation.

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Tanner Crab Population in the Kodiak District of the Westward Region Kally Spalinger, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Kodiak, AK, [email protected]

Tanner crab stocks around Kodiak Island are monitored with a large-mesh bot-tom trawl survey conducted annually by ADF&G. This survey has been conduct-ed since 1988 and provides data for management of commercially important groundfish and crab stocks. Survey-estimated abundances of Tanner crab are highly variable with greater than five-fold variation in abundance among years. In the Kodiak District variability in abundance since the late 1990s has been driven by the recruitment of three cohorts at approximately six-year intervals. Dramatic reductions in cohort abundance (>90%) appear to occur between the size-class at which small crab are effectively sampled by the trawl, and when the cohort contributes to harvest—a lag of about five years. Short-term priori-ties of the assessment and management program are to improve the estima-tion of abundance and harvest levels by reducing sources of uncertainty in the area-swept calculations from the trawl survey. Longer-term priorities are to improve understanding of processes that contribute to high mortality (e.g., predator-prey relationships) and the implications of large-scale oceanographic processes (such as warming temperatures and ocean acidification) which im-pact stock productivity.

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A World Bridge: Kodiak Island Borough School District Upcoming Projects’ Research and Development Mr. Searaphim McGann, A World Bridge Teacher, [email protected] Shin, Daniel Johnson, and Tiger Oka, Students, Kodiak High School, Kodiak, AK

Following the back-to-back success of Kodiak’s “A World Bridge” NASA Europa Challenge teams, we are now developing new partnerships and research pro-grams. The NASA CitySmart program involves building a suite of community urban management tools. The idea is to build functionalities for an open city management platform that address issues essential to serving the needs of their community, which can also be shared with other communities—large and small—around the world. This develops significant awareness for how lo-cal issues have a global context, demonstrating the relevance to every other community on the planet, and thus the benefit of collaborating with students around the world. CitySmart is being built using a key NASA 4D geospatial tech-nology, Web World Wind, that NASA is developing in concert with the Euro-pean Space Agency. As part of this effort, students are sharing the information necessary to build, operate, and maintain a sustainable energy system, specifi-cally related to renewable wind and hydroelectric energy. This is a result of the tremendous partnership A World Bridge students have established with the Kodiak Electric Association (KEA), and their extraordinary offer to share their data. Then we have the UAV inspections of the Kodiak Launch Complex for facility management and environmental assessment, including a sophisticated inspection of the launch pad itself. UAV inspections are also being done for the KEA Wind Turbine Farm and hydroelectric facilities. Upcoming programs include Unmanned Aircraft System support for the Kodiak Island Search and Rescue (KISAR) team, field research missions to support the Alaska Depart-ment of Fish and Game, and marine debris monitoring and invasive species identification for the Island Trails Network.

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Chemical Dispersant Research and Policy Changes in the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill RegionLisa Matlock1,Wayne Donaldson2, and Brooke Taylor1

1. Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council, Anchorage, AK, [email protected], [email protected]. Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council, Kodiak, AK

The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council sponsors re-search to better understand oil spill chemical dispersants and their effects on the Gulf of Alaska environment. The council also tracks policy changes that can affect how chemical dispersants are used during a spill. In this session, council staff and volunteers will summarize some of the recent research and related policy about chemical dispersants for Kodiak Island residents.

How Does Release Density Affect Enhancement Success for Hatchery-Reared Red King Crab?W. Christopher Long, Peter A. Cummiskey, and J. Eric MunkNOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Kodiak, AK, [email protected]

Red king crab, Paralithodes camtschaticus, was an important fishery around Kodiak in the 1960s and 70s. However, in the late 1970s the stock crashed, the fishery was closed, and the population has failed to recover. A potential solu-tion to help increase the population is the use of hatchery-reared juveniles to supplement the wild populations. In this field-release study, we examine the effects of release density on the survival of red king crab reared at the Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery. Juveniles were released at three densities, 25, 50, and 75 per square meter, in Trident Basin, Kodiak. Densities, inside to determine loss rates, and outside to determine emigration rates, were monitored by div-ers for five months post release using quadrat counts. Relative predation risk was determined using tethering experiments repeated monthly for the first 3 months post-release, and predator densities were quantified using quadrat counts and predator transect counts. Initial mortality of crabs released into plots over the first 24 hours was about 65%. Loss rates after the initial mortality did not differ among density treatments and were a combination of mortality and emigration. Relative predation risk decreased with time from release, but did not vary among density treatments. Predator density did not vary over time or with density treatment. Estimated mortality rates suggest that the mortality of hatchery-reared juveniles was similar to that of wild red king crabs in a healthy population, indicating that stock enhancement may be ecologically viable. Future work should focus on ways to reduce initial release mortality.

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Abstracts - Posters

Implementation of Community-Based PSP Testing for Subsistence and Recreational Shellfish Harvesting in Southwestern Alaska—a Project DescriptionJulie A. Matweyou1, R. Wayne Litaker2, Steven R. Kibler2, Bruce A. Wright3, Donnie R. Hardison2, and Patricia A. Tester4

1. University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Sea Grant, Kodiak, AK, [email protected] 2. NOAA National Ocean Service, Beaufort, NC, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, Anchorage, AK, [email protected] 4. Ocean Tester LLC, Beaufort, NC, [email protected]

Subsistence shellfish harvesters in southwest Alaska are exposed to high para-lytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) risks due to their strong cultural traditions, de-pendency on shellfish resources, and limited accessibility to medical care. The state has a toxin-monitoring program in place for the commercial shellfish in-dustry and samples are submitted to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) for analysis ($125 per sample + shipping). Resource limi-tations, though, have restricted routine testing of recreational/subsistence-harvested shellfish. A recent ADEC pilot program (2012-2015) demonstrated that community-based monitoring is an effective strategy to reduce PSP risks, but the project ended after three years. This study will leverage community networks from the ADEC monitoring program and the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association (APIA) with NPRB-funded technologies (#1118) to implement sub-sistence shellfish testing. A new electrochemical PSP test (ECtest) is expected to offer rapid shellfish screening in remote locations. The test features a nu-merical readout at a cost of <$20 per sample. The project will include re-testing of shellfish analyzed previously via ADEC and APIA programs and analysis of new samples collected at the Kodiak and Aleutian Island sites to validate the ECtest. The project objectives are to test commonly harvested bivalve species and implement on-site community PSP testing when the ECtest is internally validated. Shellfish collected by commu-nity samplers in the Kodiak Islands (Kodiak, Old Harbor, Ouzinkie) and Aleutian Islands (King Cove, Sand Point) will be screened with the ECtest and the results validated via HPLC analysis (a regulatory method). Outreach will include work-shops to gather local knowledge about shellfish resources and cleaning meth-ods, as well as training volunteers in on-site testing methods with the ECtest. Study results will be incorporated into a project web page and fact sheets for public dissemination. Community-based PSP screening and monitoring capac-ity should ease the burden on ADEC for PSP testing and improve community awareness and information on PSP toxicity trends. The ECtest will also offer the scientific community a tool to monitor the environment for PSP toxins, which may be increasing in Alaska due to climate change.

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Abstracts - Posters

Climate Change and Ocean Acidification: A Middle School TutorialSwitgard Duesterloh, Alaska Ecological Resource Services, Kodiak, AK, [email protected]

Following a ten day unit about climate change and ocean acidification, Kodiak Middle School 6th grade students had a chance to deepen their understanding of the effects in a two-week project-based learning tutorial. Students designed and conducted experiments and studied the effects of temperature and pH on larval development of green sea urchins.

Intertidal and Subtidal Colonization of New Rock at the Kodiak AirportLeyla Arsan1, Kelly Krueger2, and Tom Lance2

1. Birch Leaf Consulting, Anchorage, AK, [email protected]. Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak, Kodiak, AK, [email protected], [email protected]

New armor rock placed at the Kodiak Airport is being monitored to document recruitment and colonization of invertebrates and algae and provide informa-tion regarding the associated rate of increase in ecological function post-con-struction. Few data are available regarding colonization rates or recolonization rates post-disturbance in southcentral Alaska or at high northern latitudes. As part of the Kodiak Airport Runway Safety Area Expansion, new armor rock was placed in the intertidal and subtidal area along the coastal edge of several runways. The fill is being monitored for colonization rates, species abundance, and assemblage parameters (percent cover of algae and invertebrates). A ref-erence site with similar habitat characteristics (substrate, exposure, depth, and salinity) is also being monitored. Sites will be sampled annually from 2016 to 2018. This study will provide information regarding nearshore marine distur-bance recovery in hard-bottom habitats in southcentral Alaska. Because of the potential impacts of rock armor on aquatic habitats, on both a local scale and a cumulative landscape scale, the colonization rate of rock armor and the time-frame to which it develops higher ecological functions is important. The need and quantity of mitigation for projects that disturb marine substrates or add new fill to existing substrates is currently based on assumptions and this proj-ect will provide data to better inform mitigation decisions in the future.

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Abstracts - Posters

SASAP—State of Alaska’s Salmon and People

Ian Dutton1, Peter Westley2, Frank Davis3, Katherine Schake1, and Jorge Cornejo-Donoso3

1. Nautilus Impact Investing, Anchorage, AK, [email protected], [email protected]. University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, Fairbanks, AK, [email protected]. University of California, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, Santa Barbara, CA, [email protected], [email protected]

Alaska salmon management has a firm science foundation and there are well-established research and monitoring programs to inform fisheries alloca-tion, management, and policy. However, it can be difficult for stakeholders of Alaska’s salmon system to readily access up-to-date, accurate and integrated information. Existing information is often fragmented and lacks a significant body of indigenous knowledge. In addition, due to insufficient interdisciplin-ary approaches there is a range of salmon science, policy, and management questions that have not yet been addressed. These knowledge gaps can leave salmon stakeholders inadequately informed about the status of salmon popu-lations and habitats as well as options to address the increasing pressures on salmon systems. Information asymmetries can undermine the stakeholders’ ability to equitably and knowledgeably participate in the management pro-cesses. A new multi-institution initiative, the State of Alaska’s Salmon and People (SA-SAP), seeks to provide an up-to-date interdisciplinary perspective on Alaska’s salmon systems and the people who rely on them.The SASAP project is working to connect knowledge across disciplines and agencies, between cultures and users, and across regions to create new insti-tutional capacity that allows the generation of interdisciplinary salmon knowl-edge and establish a foundation for integrated knowledge that can be built on over time. SASAP is being undertaken by eight diverse working groups from mid 2016 through early 2018. The groups span a range of disciplines, includ-ing social and biological sciences, and actively engages indigenous knowledge holders as an equal partner in synthesis research.This presentation describes the SASAP process and intended outcomes. Fur-ther details of working group membership and interim progress are available at https://alaskasalmonandpeople.org/.

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Abstracts - Posters

Tufted Puffins Succeed Despite High Variability in Diet and Marine HabitatSarah Schoen1, John Piatt1,, Mayumi Arimitsu1, Gary Drew1, Brielle Heflin1, David Douglas1, Martin Renner2, and Erica Madison1

1. US Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. Tern Again Consulting, [email protected]

How seabirds compensate for variability in prey type and abundance across large ranges and environments is central to understanding seabird distribu-tion and reproductive success. We studied the marine food webs of Tufted Puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) at breeding colonies spanning >2,400 km from Kodiak Island to the western Aleutian Islands during August 2012-2014. We quantified marine habitat characteristics (e.g., bathymetric-slope, tide-range), oceanographic conditions (temperature and salinity), forage nekton biomass, and seabird community composition and density surrounding puffin colonies. At colonies, we collected puffin chick-meals to characterize prey communities, and measured chicks to obtain an index of their condition. Cluster analysis of oceanographic conditions identified at least three distinct ecoregions: (1) West-ern Aleutians; (2) Eastern Aleutians; and (3) Alaska Peninsula. Correspondingly, the primary principal component (PPC) encompassing environmental condi-tions (habitat and oceanographic data) was different among ecoregions. The community composition, species richness, and biomass of forage nekton dif-fered markedly at the regional scale; however, seabird density and chick con-dition did not. At a local scale, the PPC for environmental conditions strongly predicted forage nekton biomass. Further, both forage biomass and the PPC for the combination of forage biomass and select environmental variables pre-dicted local puffin density. Our results provide evidence that Tufted Puffins can produce healthy chicks of similar condition across wide ranging environmental conditions, despite differences in prey abundance, richness, and composition. The high ecological flexibility of Tufted Puffins may be the key to their overall success and wide distribution across the North Pacific Ocean.

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Abstracts - Posters

Food, Disease, and Migration: How Emperor Geese Fare in the Kodiak Archipelago

Brian Uher-Koch, USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK, [email protected] Corcoran, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, Kodiak, AK, [email protected] Schmutz, USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK, [email protected]

Emperor geese have long been a species of conservation concern. Recently, the abundance of emperor geese has increased to such a level that harvest is now allowable for the first time in 30 years. Understanding the ecology of em-peror geese during winter might help us understand if the increases in popula-tion size are caused by ecological conditions during winter, or if the population is more influenced by conditions on the breeding sites or staging areas. Emper-or geese have a widespread distribution in winter, with some geese migrating three times as far as other geese. Observations at Kodiak, Adak, and Shemya Islands indicate that Kodiak geese (those with the shortest migration) are the fattest, suggesting that feeding conditions (mussels, clams, and algae) are good at Kodiak. The frequency with which emperor geese are actively infected with avian influenza virus is much greater at Kodiak than at Adak or Shemya. We do not currently know why this pattern exists, but one possibility is that there are larger concentrations of geese and other waterfowl at Kodiak than at the other two areas, which makes it easier for the virus to continually infect other birds. At present, we do not detect any negative consequences of infection from this virus. Indeed, growing numbers of emperor geese wintering in Ko-diak may simply be a consequence of less icing in winter (warmer winters), allowing them to spend winter in areas with big tides (more intertidal foraging habitat) and having a short migration to the breeding area.

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Abstracts - Posters

Ongoing Investigation of the Size and Scope of the 2015/2016 Die-Off of Common Murres in AlaskaSarah Schoen1, John Piatt1, Robin Corcoran2, Tony DeGange1, David Irons3, Julia Parrish4, Brielle Heflin1, Robert Kaler3, Kathy Kuletz3, Elizabeth Labunski3, Heather Coletti5, Anne Schaefer6, and Mary Anne Bishop6

1. US Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, [email protected]. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, [email protected]. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird Management4. Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team 5. National Park Service, Southwest Alaska Network6. Prince William Sound Science Center

From spring 2015 through spring 2016, an enormous number of dead, ema-ciated Common Murres (Uria aalge) washed up on beaches across Alaska in pulses, peaking during winter months. Coincident with this die-off were anom-alously warm ocean temperatures in the North Pacific. To quantify the mag-nitude and extent of this recent die-off, biologists from several organizations collaborated on surveys for beach-cast murres at more than 100 beaches span-ning a geographic range of >850 km from Prince William Sound to the Alaska Peninsula, including Kodiak Island. We surveyed >330 km of beach from August 2015 to May 2016, and documented >20,000 dead murres on beach transects. The mean encounter rate on beaches was 61 murres per km, with an unprece-dented maximum encounter rate exceeding 6,980 murres per km, greater than any previously documented mortality events of murres in Alaska. The proxi-mate cause of death appeared to be starvation: nearly all (96%) of the birds were emaciated or strongly emaciated, and 91% of stomachs were completely empty. Surprisingly, the majority of birds we examined were female (74%). Starvation was likely related to a lack of accessible prey. In the Gulf of Alaska, young of the year walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus), an important prey item for murres, were found in lower numbers in larval surveys in 2015 than in any other time within the last 15 years. We plan to further investigate other potential causes for this die-off, including testing for the presence of marine biotoxins, which may have contributed to murre mortality.

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Abstracts - Posters

Marine Mammal Monitoring in the Offshore Waters Near Kodiak, Alaska, under US Navy funding, 2009-2015Andrea Balla-Holden, US Navy, Bremerton, WA, [email protected] Johnson, US Pacific Fleet, San Diego, Ca, [email protected] (presenter)

The US Navy continues to fund extensive marine mammal monitoring within the Gulf of Alaska. Two ship-based visual and passive acoustic surveys were conducted in April 2009 and June-July 2013 (5,260 km effort; 898 sightings of 13 species).From July 2011 through May 2015 up to five bottom-mounted passive acoustic devices (10 Hz to 160 kHz) were deployed within the Gulf of Alaska. One device was at the continental slope southeast of Kodiak, Alaska. Over 89,000 hours of passive acoustic data were analyzed from all five devices through May 2015. The Kodiak slope device (200 m) recorded over 9,270 hours of passive acoustic data detecting blue whales, fin whales, gray whales, humpback whales, sperm whales, Risso’s dolphin, killer whales, an unidentified porpoise, as well as am-bient ocean sound measurements.Finally, a field test of an underwater glider with passive acoustic sensors (15Hz-90 kHz) was conducted over a 32 day period from July to August 2015. The glider was deployed approximately 200 km east-southeast of Homer, Alaska, and traveled southwest parallel to the continental slope and retrieved south-east of Kodiak, Alaska, having completed 755 km of effort (170 discrete dives from surface to depth of 1,000 m). Over 680 hours of passive acoustic data was collected (315 detections of six species, concurrent with collecting measure-ments of oceanographic conditions).Additional results from the Kodiak slope passive acoustic device and glider will be described.

Hunting Seals by Kasheveroff Mountain

Patrick Saltonstall, Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository, Kodiak, AK, [email protected]

The Kashevaroff Site (7,000 to 100 years before present) lies on the shoulder of Kashevaroff Mountain, overlooking the grassy meadows at the head of Wo-mens Bay. This large settlement includes a 4-5,000 year-old hunting camp. Geological observations suggest that the site once overlooked a brackish lake, fed by Salonie Creek and emptying into the bay. Archaeological data suggest that site residents pursued seals in the lake and processed their catch at the Kashevaroff Site. Large numbers of slate lances and net weights suggest that hunters used spears to kill seals tangled in nets. Numerous cutting tools and special purpose features, filled with wood charcoal, gravel, and bits of burned sea mammal bone, hint that seal meat was dried for future use.

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Abstracts - Posters

The Seven Principles of Sustainability

Lori Swanson, Marine Conservation Alliance, Poulspo, WA, [email protected] Julie Bonney, Alaska Groundfish Data Bank, Kodiak, AKJohn Gauvin, Alaska Seafood Cooperative, Seattle, WAAnne Vanderhoeven, Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation, Anchorage, AKDonna Parker, Arctic Storm Inc., Seattle, WA

An interactive website outlines seven key principles for managing fisheries sus-tainably, and demonstrates how these principles are applied in North Pacific federal fisheries. The website includes sections on habitat protection, bycatch management, food webs, and environmental change. It also covers community protections and protections against overfishing. Interactive tools allow users to view areas closed to fishing in the North Pacific, explaining how each closure applies and why it was developed. The link is http://ebfm.marineconservation-alliance.org/.

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Contents

Key Note PresentationSeabirds, Citizen Science and a Warming World ............................................................................................................... 8 Julia Parrish, University of Washington, Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team, Seattle, WA

Session 1 - Ecosystem AnomoliesMaking Sense of a Complicated Ecosystem: Gulf of Alaska dynamics from an Integrated Perspective ............................ 9 Olav OrmsethTwenty Years of Observations Along the Gulf of Alaska’s Seward Line: Impact of Continued Warm Conditions ................ 10 Russell R. Hopcroft, Kenneth O. Coyle, Seth Danielson, and Suzanne L. Strom2015 Gulf of Alaska Large Whale Unusual Mortality Event ............................................................................................. 11 Kate Savage, Deborah Fauquier, Stephen Raverty, Kathy Burek Huntington, John Moran, Mandy Migura, Paul Cottrell, Kate Wynne, Bree Witteveen, and Fran VanDolahDead Birds on Beaches, the Seabird Die-off of 2015-16: A Kodiak Perspective ............................................................. 12 Robin CorcoranMurres, Puffins and the Blob: How Alaska Seabird Populations May Respond to Global Warming ............................... 12 Julia ParrishCurrent State of Knowledge of Climate Change Effects on Alaska’s Fisheries ................................................................. 13 Terry Johnson

Session 2 - Habitat and ProcessDelineating the Footprint of Commercial fisheries: Working Backwards to Examine Effects on Habitat ....................... 13 John OlsonAlaska Essential Fish Habitat Research Plan 2017-2022: A Research Plan for the NOAA Fisheries ................................. 14 Mike Sigler, Matthew Eagleton, Tom Helser, John Olson, Jodi Pirtle, Chris Rooper, Samantha Simpson, and Bob Stone,Characterization of the Buskin River Nearshore Area: Bathymetry, Salinity, Marine Ecological Succession, and Human Use ............................................................................................................................................................... 15 Leyla Arsan, Kelly Krueger, and Tom LanceUnderwater Archaeology in the Kodiak Archipelago and Beyond ................................................................................... 15 Jason Rogers Kayaks and Supersacks: Marine Debris Removal on Shuyak Island ................................................................................. 16 Tom Pogson and Andy SchroederSocioeconomic Risks and Impacts of Military Training Events in Gulf of Alaska .............................................................. 16 Christina Hendrickson and Emily StolarcykSteller Sea Lions: A Natural Ecosystem Management System ......................................................................................... 17 Olivia Winters, Naomi Daniher, Hanna Clary, Matthew Wald, Lars Bodnar, Jane Eisemann, and Switgard DuesterlohKodiak Youth Leaders in Science Education with Kodiak Refuge Summer Science and Salmon Camp ........................... 17 Shelly Lawson, Nia Pristas, and Joshua Barnes

Session 3 - Dynamic MethodsThe Molting Process in Golden King Crab, Lithodes aequispin ........................................................................................ 18 Daniel Urban and Andrew NaultIt’s Complicated: The Reproductive Biology of the Shortraker Rockfish in Alaska ......................................................... 18 Christina ConrathZooarchaeological Analysis of Central Alaskan Fish Fauna .............................................................................................. 19 Holly McKinney, Carrin Halffman, Ben Potter, Joshua Reuther, and Chuck HolmesExperimentally Wrangling with Fish Parasites ................................................................................................................. 19 Brian Himelbloom and Christopher SannitoChignik River Post-Weir Enumeration with DIDSON ........................................................................................................ 20 Mary Beth LoewenHunting Seals with Nets 5000 Years Ago ......................................................................................................................... 20 Patrick Saltonstall

Session 4 - Community and MonitoringBuilding Networks to Bridge Information and Action on Alaska’s Coasts ........................................................................ 21 Davin HolenWhat are the “Best Practices” for Community-Based Monitoring of Alaska’s Coastal and Ocean Environment? .............. 21 Marilyn SigmanA World Bridge: Kodiak Island Borough School District Project Activitiesin the Gulf of Alaska ...................................... 22 Mr. Searaphim McGann, Kiae Shin, Daniel Johnson, and Tiger Oka

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The Coastal Community Ocean Observers (C202) Program ............................................................................................ 23 Peter Winsor, Seth Danielson, Tuula Hollmen, and Glen CloughMonitoring Paralytic Shellfish Toxins to Provide Sustainable Access to Traditional Resources ....................................... 24 Chris WhiteheadMonitoring Ocean Acidification and the Sustainability of Crab Fisheries in Alaska ........................................................ 25 Robert FoyParalytic Shellfish Poisoning and Community Involvement: Working Toward Safe Shellfish Harvest on Kodiak Island .............................................................................................................................................................. 25 Julie MatweyouFrom Collection to Practical Use: Integrating and Visualizing Coastal and Marine Data ................................................. 26 Will Koeppen, Molly McCammon, and Rob BochenekKodiak Tribes Seafood Consumption Assessment: Final Report ..................................................................................... 27 Kathy Drabek, Thomas Lance, Kelly Krueger, Sean Hales, Erica McCall Valentine, and Shubha Pandit

Session 5 - Marine and Coastal SystemsElectrofishing and Kick Seining Efforts for Invasive Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) on Kodiak Island, Alaska . 28 Kelly Krueger and Tom LanceHow Many Fish are in this Barrel? Sustainably Harvesting Two Easily Caught Skate Species ......................................... 29 Thomas J. Farrugia, Gordon H. Kruse, Ian G. Taylor, Olav A. Ormseth, Keith R. Criddle, and Andrew C. SeitzKodiak National Wildlife Refuge Marine Bird Monitoring and Research ......................................................................... 30 Robin CorcoranThe Next Generation of Fishermen in the Kodiak Archipelago: Exploring Dynamics Contributing to the Graying of the Fleet in Alaska’s Commercial Fishing Industry ................................................................................................................. 31 Danielle Ringer, Courtney Carothers, Jesse Coleman, Paula Cullenberg, and Rachel DonkerslootAn Archaeological Investigation of a 3800 Year Old Fishery in the Kodiak Archipelago .................................................. 32 Justin Hays How Old is that Crab? Progress on an Age Old Question ................................................................................................ 33 April Rebert, Joel Webb, Kevin McNeel, and Gordon KruseTanner Crab Population in the Kodiak District of the Westward Region ......................................................................... 34 Kally SpalingerA World Bridge: Kodiak Island Borough School District Upcoming Projects Research and Development ............................................................................................................................................ 35 Mr. Searaphim McGann, Kiae Shin, Daniel Johnson, and Tiger OkaRecent Chemical Dispersant Research and Policy Changes in the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Region ................................... 36 Lisa Matlock, Wayne Donaldson, and Brooke TaylorHow Does Release Density Affect Enhancement Success for Hatchery-Reared Red King Crab? ..................................... 36 W. Christopher Long, Peter A. Cummiskey, and J. Eric Munk

PostersImplementation of Community Based PSP Testing for Subsistence and Recreational Shellfish Harvesting In Southwestern Alaska – A Project Description ................................................................................................................. 37 Julie A. Matweyou, R. Wayne Litaker, Steven R. Kibler, Bruce A. Wright, Donnie R. Hardison, and Patricia A. TesterClimate Change and Ocean Acidification: A Middle School Tutorial ............................................................................... 38 Switgard DuesterlohIntertidal and Subtidal Colonization of New Rock at the Kodiak Airport ......................................................................... 38 Leyla Arsan, Kelly Krueger, and Tom LanceSASAP - State of Alaska’s Salmon and People .................................................................................................................. 39 Ian Dutton, Peter Westley, Frank Davis, Katherine Schake, and Jorge Cornejo-DonosoTufted Puffins Succeed Despite High Variability in Diet and Marine Habitat .................................................................. 40 Sarah Schoen, John Piatt, Mayumi Arimitsu, Gary Drew, Brielle Heflin, David Douglas, Martin Renner, and Erica MadisonFood, Disease, and Migration: How Emperor Geese Fare in the Kodiak Archipelago ..................................................... 41 Brian Uher-Koch, Robin Corcoran, and Joel SchmutzOngoing Investigation of the Size and Scope of the 2015/2016 Die-Off of Common Murres in Alaska .......................... 42 Sarah Schoen, John Piatt, Robin Corcoran, Tony DeGange, David Irons, Julia Parrish, Brielle Heflin, Robert Kaler, Kathy Kuletz, Elizabeth Labunski, Heather Coletti, Anne Schaefer, and Mary Anne BishopMarine Mammal Monitoring in the Offshore Waters Near Kodiak Alaska under U.S. Navy Funding 2009-2015 ............... 43 Andrea Balla-HoldenHunting Seals by Kashevaroff Mountain .......................................................................................................................... 43 Molly Odell and Patrick SaltonstallThe Seven Principles of Sustainability ............................................................................................................................. 44 Lori Swanson, Julie Bonney, John Gauvin, Anne Vanderhoeven, and Donna Parker

kodiak area marine - alaska sea grant · kodiak area marine science symposium - 2017 april 18 ......

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