Project Information

Title: HRM Program: Expanding Acoustic Array Infrastructure 16160111-S

Project Year and Number: 2016: 16160111-S

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: None

Principal Investigator (PI): Mary Anne Bishop

Managing Agency: NOAA

Assisting Personnel: None

Project Website: https://pwssc.org/tracking-seasonal-movements-of-adult-pacific-herring/

Research Location: Prince William Sound

Restoration Category: Monitoring

Injured Resources Addressed: Pacific Herring

Abstract:

One of the important knowledge gaps for the Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) population in Prince William Sound (PWS) is understanding adult herring annual migration movements between spawning, summer feeding, and overwintering areas. In 2013 we documented post-spawn migration of herring from Port Gravina to the PWS entrances by acoustic tagging adult herring and collecting data from the Ocean Tracking Network acoustic arrays. The 2013 study, however, could not verify if herring were migrating out into the Gulf of Alaska and then returning to PWS because of the layout of the Ocean Tracking Network arrays. The goal of this herring study is to clarify the annual migration cycle of PWS adult herring. The objectives of this FY16 proposed project are to 1) purchase and deploy additional acoustic receivers at the Ocean Tracking Network arrays so that the direction of herring movements (into or out of PWS) can be determined; and 2) purchase acoustic tags. Achieving these objectives in FY16 will then allow us in FY17 to begin to address objectives aimed at 1) documenting adult herring migration movements out from and into PWS; and 2) understanding factors that influence migration patterns including age, condition, spawning location, and residency in PWS. Because it takes several months from the start of funding to get tags and equipment purchased, prepared, and deployed, completing these activities during FY16 will allow us to initiate acoustic tracking studies in 2017 when herring are aggregated on their spring spawning grounds. With the batteries of the Hinchinbrook Entrance and Montague Strait acoustic arrays expiring around March 2020, a tagging program starting in 2017 provides a larger time window (three seasons, FY17, 18, 19) for collecting high quality data and increases the feasibility of monitoring herring aggregations in the three major spawning areas: Port Fidalgo, Port Gravina, and Montague Island. In addition, by using acoustic tag programmed at low power only, battery life on acoustic tags would be increased to of ~400 days. This would allow us to monitor acoustic-tagged herring from one spawning season to the next.


Proposal: View (720 KB)

Reports:
Final Report: View (208 KB)

Publications from this Project: None Available