Use of Hydroacoustic Techniques to Assess the Abundance of Salmon in the Central211 District of Upper Cook Inlet, 1995-96. Restoration Project 96255-1. EXXON VALDEZ 211 Oil Spill Restoration Project Final Report

摘要

Important commercial fisheries occur in the marine waters of Upper Cook Inlet,211u001eAlaska as adult Pacific salmon return to spawn in their natal rivers. The most 211u001evaluable harvest occurs on sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) runs to the Kenai, 211u001eKasilof, and Susitna Rivers. Fisheries management has been based on commercial 211u001ecatches, acoustic counts of fish in the rivers, and run-timing models. However, 211u001ewhen run sizes are too low for the fishery to operate, managers require 211u001ealternative information. Acoustic techniques potentially provide a fishery 211u001eindependent measure of run size. Side looking transducer orientation achieved 211u001esufficient sample coverage to provide a viable assessment. Comparisons were made 211u001ebetween acoustic and ground-truth information. The results of the surveys 211u001eindicated that the acoustic techniques are a viable alternative to traditional 211u001efisheries-based management approach.