Project Information

Title: Coded Wire Tagging of Wild Pinks for Stock Identification 94185

Project Year and Number: 1994: 94185

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: None

Principal Investigator (PI): Tim Joyce (City of Cordova)

Managing Agency: ADFG

Assisting Personnel: None

Research Location: Prince William Sound

Restoration Category: General Restoration

Injured Resources Addressed: Pink Salmon

Abstract: Wild pink salmon stocks in Prince William Sound (PWS) are a critical component of the ecosystem. Extensive seaward migrations of fry serve as both the dominant predators of zooplankton populations and as important prey for other fish and birds. In the years following the EVOS, the number of adult pink salmon returning to PWS has dramatically declined. Wild pink salmon stocks from oiled areas of the southwest district of PWS have experienced higher egg mortalities, larval deformities, and lower juvenile growth rates than stocks from unoiled streams and hatcheries. Evidence indicates that oiled stocks may have persistent genetic injury resulting in reduced egg survival in generations following the EVOS. Restoration efforts based on in season evaluation and manipulation of the commercial fishing fleet depends on the manager’s ability to identify and selectively reduce harvest on injured stocks. This project will provide marked wild fish of known origin for recovery in the commercial catch, natal and non-natal spawning streams, and hatchery brood stock collections. Stock specific harvest information from coded wire tag recoveries will provide in season estimates of stock abundance, timing, and eventually total return and survival for tagged stocks. Information will be used to establish optimal harvest rates, investigate straying, and evaluate current and future restoration efforts.


Proposal: Not Available

Reports:
Final Report: Not available. For current status, please contact us.

Publications from this Project: None Available

Datasets:
EVOSTC Data Archive: Release data containing species location, release year, brood year, stock, tag code, release dates, number tagged, number released, tag expansion factors. RBase: Note work was done during 1990 and 1991. Availability: Available as ASCII files. Aggregate data available in F/S1, R/S9