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U.S. Beaufort Sea Fish Communities

This report discusses key findings from multiple fish surveys conducted in the Beaufort Sea from 2010 to 2012. Coordinated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks' School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, the surveys involved significant collaboration with Canadian fisheries scientists. Through three cruises, a total of 5,500 to 68,000 fish were captured using various sampling gears, revealing species diversity, depth-related patterns, and distinct fish communities. Future surveys are also outlined, emphasizing improved methodologies and concurrent studies.

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U.S. Beaufort Sea Fish Communities

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  1. U.S. Beaufort Sea Fish Communities Brenda L. Norcross and Lorena E. Edenfield School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences University of Alaska Fairbanks US – Canada Northern Oil and Gas Research Forum Anchorage, AK November 2012 Photo credit: S. Carroll

  2. UAF Beaufort Sea surveys • 3 cruises • 2010: WWW1004 (6 days, Westward Wind) • 2011: BeauFish (21 days, Norseman II) • 2012: US Transboundary (10 days, Norseman II) • Sampling gears: • Benthic nets: Fish and Invertebrates • Midwater nets: Fish and Zooplankton • Oceanography • Sediments and Infauna

  3. Canadian 3-m beam trawl Otter trawl 3-m plumbstaff beam trawl Modified 3-m PSBT for complex substrate Photo credit: S. MacPhee Photo credit: C. Cano Photo credit: BOEM

  4. 2010

  5. 2010 • Small sampling area, mostly shallow • Camden Bay, “Sivuliq area” • Funded by Shell Exploration and Production Co. • 17 stations from 20-100 m • Captured approximately 800 fish total • 600 in bottom gear Photo credit: T. Foster Photo credit: S. Carroll

  6. 2010- small area, shallow

  7. 2011

  8. 2011 • Large area, mostly shallow • BeauFish cruise, from Camden Bay to Pt. Barrow • Funded by BOEM • 79 stations from 15-200 m • Captured approximately 17,000 fish • 13,000 in bottom gear Photo credit: I. Rutzen

  9. 2011- large area, shallow

  10. All fish Captured 13,000 Size range: 1 -12 inches

  11. Snailfish Captured 750 Size range: 1 -8 inches Photo credit: K. Mecklenburg

  12. Sculpins Captured 2,700 Size range: 1 -9 inches Photo credit: B. Sheiko

  13. Photo credit: B. Sheiko Cod Captured 68,000 Size range: 1 -7 inches

  14. From Gallaway et al., submitted

  15. 2012

  16. 2012 Collaboration Norseman II Frosti US Beaufort Canadian Beaufort

  17. 2012- US Beaufort • Small area, shallow and deep depths • US Transboundary cruise, central US Beaufort • Funded by BOEM • 18 stations from 20-1,000 m • Captured approximately 5,500 fish • 4,700in bottom gear Photo credit: S. Atchison

  18. 2012- small area, deep

  19. Percent composition of catch at depth

  20. Average length at depth

  21. Species List 43 confirmed species from 12 families

  22. Length differences 2010-2011 vs 2012

  23. Shelf vs. slope • Average length • Shelf = small • Slope = big • Catch composition • Shelf- sculpins, snailfishes, and cod • Slope- eelpout, rays, and flatfishes • Different species within families

  24. East vs. West Density of all fishes is greater in west Larval cod density high in east

  25. Future transboundary surveys • US and Canadian Beaufort • 10 planned transects on US and Canadian side of border • collaboration between scientists • 2013: Norseman II (UAF) and Frosti (DFO) • 2014: Sikuiliaq • Both US and DFO scientists Photo credit: C. Cano

  26. Potential enhancements to future transboundary surveys • Ichthyoplankton • Hydroacoustics • ROV/gliders • Primary productivity • Marine mammal surveys • Seabird observations Image courtesy of Kate Stafford, 2012 RUSALCA Expedition, RAS-NOAA Photo credit: C. Cano

  27. Thanks! • The crews of the Westward Wind (2010) Norseman II (2011 and 2012) • UAF Fisheries Oceanography Lab students and technicians • BOEM and Shell Exploration and Production Co. for funding • Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans Photo credit: S. Carroll

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