BY THE WATERS OF GLACIER BAY

As salmon move farther north in Glacier Bay, reestablishing populations in recently deglaciated streams, the Glacier Bay National Park Fisheries staff struggle to study, monitor, survey, research, and ultimately understand more of the ecological processes, fisheries harvest and associated efforts within Glacier Bay.  The staff during the summer of 2001 included Fish Biologist Chad Soiseth and seasonal staff Kathy Smikrud and Sue Bookless.

FISHERIES SURVEYS AND STUDIES

by Chad Soiseth, Fish Biologist

I.  BARTLETT RIVER RECREATIONAL COHO SALMN FISHERY CREEL SURVEY

A creel (or catch) survey was done on the Bartlett River to quantify and evaluate the Bartlett River coho salmon sport fishery during  September and October of 1996,97, and 98.  Angler counts and interviews were conducted at randomly selected dates and times along the lower 3.5 km section of the river.  Creel survey results suggest that up to 400 - 800 coho salmon were harvested during this study. Angler counts and interviews were also done. According to Chad Soiseth,  "The ability of the Bartlett River coho salmon population to sustain current levels of harvest is unknown.  Quantitative estimates of escapement are paramount for evaluating fishery sustainability."

II.OUTER WATERS VESSEL ACTIVITY SURVEY (OWVAS) STUDY

During the 2001 summer season (July 1 - Sept. 30, 2001) the NPS conducted a pilot study to monitor vessel activity in the Bay's outer waters.  Twenty-six 1.5 hour duration aerial surveys were flown from Excursion Inlet to Icy Point.  NPS staff recorded vessel location, type and activity using a laptop pc integrated with a global positioning system (GPS).  The NPS uses Arc View GIS software and the park-developed Inventory Census Extension (ICE) to precisely track the survey plane's route and accurately record each sighted vessel's position during surveys. Preliminary data attributes the majority of vessel activity to troll vessels although 13 different vessel types were documented.  Much variation in vessel type and corresponding size was observed, ranging from kayaks and skiffs to cruise ships, tour boats, tugs and barges.  This information will help park managers to better understand and manage vessel activities in park waters. 

ADDITIONAL PROJECTS

In conjunction with the OWVAS study, additional projects allow managers to better understand fishing effort and vessel activity in park waters.  These include:

1)  SPORTFISHING SURVEY LOGBOOK PROGRAM: 

The ongoing sportfishing survey logbook program requires charter operators fishing in park waters to report fishing effort, catch and harvest at monthly intervals.  This program has been instituted since 1995.  Six years of data have been summarized and are now undergoing analysis.  The NPS anticipates summary report completion next spring (2002).  These data enable the NPS to better quantify charter fishery effort and harvest within the park.

The following (projects 2,3, and 4) are slated to begin during the winter, 2001-2002'

2) CREEL SURVEY:

Social scientists with the USGS, in collaboration with the UW School of Fisheries, have been contracted to develop and administer a creel survey of charter vessels fishing in park waters in Elfin Cove, Gustavus, and Bartlett Cove during the summer of 2002.  This will independently verify and supplement the ongoing sportfishing survey logbook program.

3) ANGLER CATCH CARDS:

USGS and UW School of Fisheries will also develop an angler catch card for recreational fishermen in Glacier Bay-proper. Anglers will be asked to record fishing location, effort, catch and harvest at the end of each fishing trip.  Completed catch cards will be turned into the Park Service upon the culmination of visitor's trips.  These data will allow park managers to better understand recreational fisheries harvest within the park.

4) WINTER TROLL FISHING SURVEY PROTOCOL:

Fisheries scientists with the USGS Alaska Science Center in Anchorage have been contracted to plan and develop a survey protocol for the winter troll fishery in Glacier Bay proper.  This protocol would document fishing effort and sample king salmon catch from Glacier Bay troll vessels.  The catch sampling component will be voluntary, based on the cooperation of individual lifetime access permit holders.  This project will allow managers to better understand troll vessel fishing effort, harvest and origin of chinook salmon in Glacier Bay.

PUBLICATION AWARENESS:

You may be interested in the following articles regarding Glacier Bay fisheries studies.  Some are in progress and others are published as noted. 

Chemical and biological trends during lake evolution

in recently deglaciated terrain

by Daniel R. Engstrom, Sherilyn C. Fritz, James E. Almendinger, & Stephen Juggins; NATURE, VOL 408/9 November 2000/www.nature.com

Colonization and development of stream communities across a 200-year gradient in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, U.S.A.

by Alexander M. Milner, E. Eric Knudsen, Chad Soiseth, Anne L. Robertson, Don Schell, Ian T. Phillips, and Katrina Magnusson; Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 57:  2319-2335 (2000)

Ultraviolet radiation and zooplankton community structure following deglaciation in Glacier Bay, Alaska

by Craig E. Williamson, Olaf G. Olson, Steven E. Lott, Nathan D. Walker, Daniel R. Engstrom, and Bruce R. Hargreaves. 2001. Ultraviolet radiation and zooplankton community structure following deglaciation in Glacier Bay, Alaska. Ecology 82(6): 1748-1760.

Coho salmon coloniation in recently deglaciated streams in Glacier Bay

This paper is still in Progress:  Coho salmon colonization in recently deglaciated streams in Glacier Bay National Park Alaska:  implications for Pacific salmon restoration by Kim T. Scribner, George K. Sage, Chad Soiseth, Lyman Thorsteinson, Eric Knudsen, Jennifer L. Nielsen

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