Marine mammal and fishery interactions on the Copper River Delta and in Prince William Sound, Alaska

• Main Author: Matkin, Craig O.
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 1980
• Subjects: Marine mammals; Alaska; Copper River Region; Salmon fisheries; Fisheries; Prince William Sound; Fairbanks; Phoca vitulina
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11122/5253

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1980 An assessment of rate of damage to netted fishes and to fishing gear caused by marine mammals, and of rate of incidental catch and kill of marine mammals by fishermen, was undertaken for the salmon drift gillnet fisheries of the Copper River-Prince William Sound area, Alaska, in 1977 and 1978. Amounts of damage to netted fishes ranged from approximately 1.8 to 8.3 percent of the total catch. Damages were attributed to Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), which also were responsible for the majority of damages to nets, and to harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). Of the approximately 1000 mammals incidentally killed in 1978, about half were harbor seals and 40% were sea lions; the remainder were harbor and Dali porpoises (Phocoena phoccoena and Phocoenoides dalli) and sea otters (Enhydra tutris). Recommendations are made for modification of fishing methods to reduce the damages by and incidental kill of marine mammals.