Studies of the Distribution and Abundance of Juvenile Groundfish in the Northwestern Gulf of Alaska, 1980-82. Part 1. Three-Year Comparisons

摘要

Juvenile groundfish were studied in the northwestern Gulf of Alaska to describe interannual variations in distribution and abundance, evaluate the feasibility of measuring year-class strengths, and obtain other information on this poorly understood life history stage. Bottom trawl data were collected at a total of 749 stations during three surveys conducted in the late summer periods of 1980-82. This report emphasizes comparisons of descriptive and analytical results for the study areas that received comparable sampling coverage over all 3 yr. Juveniles of at least 13 fishes were observed in these coastal nursery areas. Most abundant were: walleye pollock, Theragra chalcogramma; Pacific cod, Gadus macrocephalus; and sablefish, Anoplopoma fimbria. Each of these species was represented by the three youngest age groups.