Seminar Series HOMETHE COMMISSIONSEMINAR SERIES IPHC SEMINAR SERIES We look forward to seeing you at one of our IPHC seminars! Past and future seminars are listed below. Please stay tuned for upcoming events. To stay current on the Seminar Series subscribe to IPHC Media and News. 2021 Seminar Series 21 April 2021 - 11:00 am Gear modifications in groundfish bottom trawl and longline fisheries to optimize species selectivity Dr. Mark Lomeli, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, Newport, OR Abstract - The U.S. West Coast groundfish bottom trawl fishery contributes substantially to the wide variety of high-quality fishes available to regional and global markets, and the overall economic value of commercial fisheries to the region. However, bycatch of Pacific halibut can impact some fishers’ ability to efficiently harvest their quota shares of groundfishes as relatively limited bycatch quota is available to the fishery. As the Pacific halibut stock is projected to decrease between 2021 and 2023, bycatch caps are unlikely to rise above current levels, and directed mortality limits are likely to decrease. Thus, developing techniques that can reduce adverse interactions between bottom trawl gear and Pacific halibut would positively impact the West Coast groundfish fishery and the directed Pacific halibut fisheries (commercial and recreational). In this presentation, gear selectivity studies designed to reduce Pacific halibut bycatch in the West Coast groundfish bottom trawl fishery will be presented. Lastly, potential research examining how modified circle hooks with an appendage could potentially reduce the rate of yelloweye rockfish bycatch in the directed Pacific halibut longline fishery will be discussed. 17 February 2021 - 11:00 am Perspectives of depredation from fishermen, scientists, and whales Lauren Wild, University of Alaska Southeast, Sitka Campus, Sitka, AK Abstract - Sperm whales remove fish from commercial fishing gear worldwide. In the Gulf of Alaska, they are targeting sablefish caught on commercial longline fishing vessels. The Southeast Alaska Sperm Whale Avoidance Project (SEASWAP) was formed in 2003 by fishermen and scientists to study this behavior, better understand the interaction, and work collaboratively to minimize encounters. This talk will discuss the evolution of research and findings from SEASWAP, with a focus on fishermen guided research questions, scientific findings, and attempts of collaborators to “think like a sperm whale” in order to create effective deterrent options. Highlights of these collaborative efforts include increased knowledge of the population of sperm whales in the Gulf of Alaska, a better understanding of whale behavior, and testing of deterrent devices that could reduce whale-vessel interactions, such as an acoustic decoy and towed arrays. Scientists with SEASWAP have guided research using animal borne tags to explore both fine-scale and broad-scale movement of whales, attaching acoustic and video equipment directly to fishing gear to observe and track whales, and most recently analyzing diet of sperm whales in the region through stable isotope analysis. This work continues to provide incredible knowledge of sperm whales and depredation behavior to scientists and industry members alike, while often inspiring more questions than answers along the way. 10 February 2021 - 11:00 am Ageing fish at the speed of light using Fourier transform-near infrared spectra of otoliths Dr. Tom Helser, Resource Ecology and Fisheries Management Division, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Seattle, WA Abstract - Traditional methods to estimate the fish age, which have not fundamentally changed in over a century, rely on microscopic counting of otolith annuli preceded by various preparation techniques including embedding, burning, sawing or sectioning. These methods are expensive, labor intensive and inherently subjective among individual analysts, making repeatability and precision of age estimates a challenge. As part of a NOAA funded 5-year strategic initiative, we investigated the use of Fourier transform near Infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIRS), which measures energy absorbance signatures in the molecular structure of otoliths, and partial least squares regression to rapidly estimate fish age. Among the case studies to be illustrated, FT-NIR spectra of EBS walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogramma) otoliths explained 90% - 95% of the variation in traditional age estimates, predicted fish age within ± 1.0 year 90% of the time, achieved better precision and less bias, and at nearly 10x the rate compared to traditional ageing methods. We are also exploring the use of deep learning and FT-NIRS. Similar to convolutional neural networks (CNN) for image recognition we applied this interconnected node architecture to spectral vibrational frequencies in the range of 8,000 to 12,500 cm-1 as well as other fish and otolith attributes. Finally, several examples our research will illustrate how this innovative technology using FT-NIRS have applicability to fish tissues, other than otoliths, to rapidly estimate important life history attributes such as reproductive status from ovaries and energy density from muscle or liver. 2020 Seminar Series 9 December 2020 - 11:00 am Integrating adaptive genetic variation into fisheries management: An overview of the genomics program at NOAA AFSC Dr. Wes Larson, Genetics Program, Manager; Auke Bay Laboratories, Alaska Fisheries Science Center-NOAA, Juneau, AK Abstract - Genetic analysis represents a powerful tool for informing resource management and studying adaptation in wild populations. For example, genetic tools can be used to delineate conservation units and identify genes that are important for local adaptation. In this talk, I will provide an overview of some of the ways that I have used genomics to inform fisheries management and study local adaptation. These examples include improving resolution of stock structure in Chinook salmon, investigating the genetic basis of phenotypic differentiation in sockeye salmon, and using eDNA to investigate fish community composition in inland lakes. I will also discuss future plans for genomic work at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center and how this work may be complementary to ongoing and future research at the IPHC. 2019 Seminar Series 2018 Seminar Series 2017 Seminar Series © 2017 International Pacific Halibut Commission. 2320 West Commodore Way, Ste 300, Seattle, WA 98199 Contact Us Glossary Terms and Conditions Sitemap FOLLOW US Web design by efelle. TOP Menu The Commission Science & Research Fisheries Meetings Data Documents