Genetic Stock Composition of the Commercial and Sport Harvest of Chinook Salmon in Westward Region, 2014-2016
Author | : Kyle Shedd |
Publisher | : |
Total Pages | : 169 |
Release | : 2016 |
Genre | : Chinook salmon |
ISBN | : |
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The primary goal of this study was to estimate the stock of origin, age, size, and sex composition of Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, harvested in Westward Region commercial and Kodiak area sport fisheries during 2014--2016 as part of the larger statewide Chinook Salmon Research Initiative. Chinook salmon commercial and sport harvest in the Kodiak area were sampled from 2014 to 2016; however, budgetary constraints limited sampling of North Peninsula, South Peninsula, and Chignik commercial harvest to 2014. A total of 10,154 Chinook salmon tissue samples were collected from 4 commercial fishery areas and sport fisheries in the Kodiak area. Of these, 8,829 samples were genotyped to represent 25 spatiotemporal strata. Stock compositions were estimated with genetic mixed stock analysis for all strata using a comprehensive, coastwide Chinook salmon baseline with important local stocks defined as separate reporting groups, to the extent possible. Harvests in both the commercial and marine sport fisheries were dominated by British Columbia and West Coast U.S. stocks, followed by smaller contributions from Southeast Alaska/Northeast Gulf of Alaska, Cook Inlet, and Kodiak. Stock composition estimates were consistent among strata within commercial and marine sport harvests, although there were differences between these fisheries. In the annual commercial harvest, over 50% of the fish were from British Columbia and over 30% of the fish were from the West Coast U.S. In the marine sport fishery, the relative abundance of British Columbia and West Coast U.S. fish varied, but jointly represented over 80% of annual harvest. In both the commercial and sport fisheries, the annual harvest of Kodiak-origin Chinook salmon was below 5% of the total harvest. These results provide the most comprehensive estimates of stock composition and stock-specific harvests of Chinook salmon in the Kodiak area, supplement previous studies, and should inform fishery management and regulatory decision makers.