  
Images from March 2010 Juvenile Herring Cruise.
PWSSC personnel conducted a cruise with a juvenile herring emphasis from March 17 to 24, 2009. Objectives were to measure fish densities in several areas of Prince William Sound that typically are habitat for juvenile herring, investigate seabird and marine mammal foraging and obtain biological samples of juvenile herring. The survey covered Simpson Bay, Port Gravina, Zaikof Bay, Sawmill Bay, Whale Bay, Eaglek Bay and Port Fidalgo from Porcupine Point into Two Moon Bay (Fig. 1). Day and night acoustic series, daytime visual counts of birds and mammals and nighttime sampling with a variable mesh gill net were conducted at all locations. The acoustic and visual surveys were conducted aboard the MV Auklet (Fig. 2). The capture sampling was conducted from the FV Montague.
PWSSC personnel conducted a cruise with a juvenile herring emphasis from November 5 to 13, 2008. Objectives were to measure fish densities in several areas of Prince William Sound that typically are habitat for juvenile herring, investigate seabird and marine mammal foraging and obtain biological samples of juvenile herring. The survey covered Simpson Bay, Port Gravina, Zaikof Bay, Sawmill Bay, Whale Bay, Eaglek Bay and Port Fidalgo from Porcupine Point into Two Moon Bay. Day and night acoustic series, daytime visual counts of birds and mammals and nighttime sampling with a variable mesh gill net were conducted at all locations. The acoustic and visual surveys were conducted aboard the MV Auklet. The capture sampling was conducted from the FV Kyle David.
The Prince William Sound herring population plays a key role in the Prince William Sound ecosystem, but has not recovered since its crash in 1993. To enhance our understanding of the pressures faced by herring, researchers are studying the potential impact of predation by seabirds and marine mammals, with funding from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council . The effect of predation on herring recruitment may be especially important in winter when juveniles gather to form large schools in fjords and bays in PWS.
The herring survey effort during spring 2008 consisted of two cruises. The first cruise had a juvenile herring emphasis and was a two-vessel survey. The MV Auklet served as the acoustic survey vessel, while the FV Kyle David was the biological sampling vessel. The second cruise was a single-vessel survey on the Kyle David and focused on adult herring.
The 2004 drifter experiment was developed to
facilitate the identification of operational needs within the PWSNF system, as well as the
development of external partnerships for long-term operational
interactions. In the event of an oil spill, NOAA scientific staff
advise the U.S. Coast Guard on probable spill trajectories
based on modeled scenarios using available wind and current
data. While the models developed through the PWSNF are
intended to assist research and planning efforts prior to spills,
they do not replace the existing spill response process.
We conducted back-to-back surveys of herring off the west and east sides of Kodiak Island during February 2003. Science Center personnel Dick Thorne and James Thorne participated along with ADF&G biologists Kevin Brennan, Matt Foster, and Mark Witteveen. Acoustic and optical observations were conducted aboard the F/V Captain Kidd, while the purse seiner, F/V Natalia conducted direct sampling.
The annual assessment of herring and pollock in Prince William Sound was conducted from March 18 to 27, 2003. Prince William Sound Science Center Personnel, Richard Thorne, James Thorne and Gary Thomas conducted the assessment aboard the FV KyleDavid. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game vessel RV Montague, from Cordova, participated in the herring survey from March 20-27, while the ADF&G vessel RV Pandalus came to PWS from Homer to sample for pollock during the last few days of March.
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