NMFS Auke Bay Laboratory Marine Ecology and Stock Assessment (MESA) Program Activities and Accomplishments, April 1, 2008 through April 1, 2009

摘要

The Auke Bay Laboratories (ABL), located in Juneau, Alaska, are a division of the NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC). In 2006, what was formerly called ABL's Groundfish Assessment Program changed its name to the Marine Ecology and Stock Assessment Program (MESA), a name which more accurately reflects the varied tasks and research of this group. The MESA Program is primarily involved with research and assessment of sablefish and rockfish in Alaska and with the study of fishing effects on the benthic habitat. Presently, the program is staffed by 17 scientists, including 16 permanent employees and 1 term employee. One personnel change in 2008 was that a former MESA staff member, Pat Malecha, transferred back to the MESA Program from ABLs Marine Salmon Program. Four employees in other ABL programs have also been involved with groundfish-related research in the past year. In 2008 field and laboratory research, ABL's MESA Program, in cooperation with the AFSC's RACE Division, conducted the annual NMFS sablefish longline survey in Alaska.