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ALASKAN LINGCOD
Lingcod in Alaska: Are
marine reserves an effective tool for conserving stocks of lingcod?
Stock assessments conducted
by the Pacific Fishery Management Council have indicated large population declines
for lingcod along the West Coast of North America. This dramatic decline in
population has led some fishery managers to suggest the use of marine reserves
as a management tool for conservation of lingcod stocks. The efficacy of a marine
reserve for lingcod, however, is dependent upon fish site fidelity and rates
of movements. We designed a project to surgically implant sonic transmitters
in lingcod to evaluate their residence time and movements in an existing marine
reserve in Southeast Alaska. The results provided evidence that marine reserves
can increase conservation and fishery yield for lingcod stocks.
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A scientist holds a lingcod, which has just
been tagged.
Fisherman
and scientists collaborate to research lingcod abundance and movements.
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