Results of the Acoustic-Trawl Survey of Walleye Pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) on the U.S. and Russian Bering Sea Shelf in June - August 2009 (DY0909). Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) Processed Report 2010-03

摘要

Eastern Bering Sea shelf walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) abundance and distribution in midwater were assessed between 9 June and 7 August 2009 using acoustic-trawl techniques aboard the NOAA ship Oscar Dyson. The survey also assessed walleye pollock in the Cape Navarin area of Russia. Results showed that ocean conditions were cold in 2009, as in the previous 3 years, compared to 2001-2005. Fewer pollock were observed east of 170DG W than in 2008, and a larger percentage of those were inside the Steller sea lion Conservation Area (SCA) than outside the SCA (79% in 2009, 70% in 2008). The majority of the pollock biomass in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) was located to the west and northwest of the Pribilof Islands between the 100 m and 200 m isobaths. Estimated pollock abundance in midwater (between 16 m from the surface and 3 m off bottom) in the U.S. EEZ portion of the Bering Sea shelf was 8.08 billion fish weighing 0.924 million metric tons (t); in the Russian EEZ, there were 9.67 million fish weighing 0.005 million t (0.6% of the total midwater biomass).