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Call for proposals: Gulf of alaska IERP

In May 2009, after an extensive technical review by independent reviewers and the Science Panel, the Board selected a proposal by Dr. Jamal Moss et al. as the Upper Trophic Level Component of the GOA IERP.

The Board now calls for Full Proposals to the remaining three components: Forage Base, Lower Trophic Level and Physical Oceanography, and Ecosystem Modeling. Submission deadline is October 2, 2009. Find out more about the Gulf of Alaska IERP Request for Proposals

Arctic Research and Monitoring workshop reports now available

In January 2009, the Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) and NPRB sponsored a workshop on Arctic Research and Monitoring. The goal was to share information and promote collaboration among the many entities with increasing activities in marine research and monitoring in the Alaska maritime Arctic.

The Executive Summary (PDF) and a Final Report (PDF) are now available. Workshop presentations are available here.

Project 723 Team Reports Second Year of Successful Albatross Fledging

albatross breeding colony

Once the most abundant albatross in the North Pacific, the short-tailed albatross (below) was hunted to near extinction. The entire population nests on only two islands in the North Pacific near Japan. Each island is unstable due to volcanic activity or territorial disputes.

Right: Torishima Island (background) and main short-tailed albatross colony (inset) at Tsubamezaki Island.

The research team for NPRB Project 723 has been working to help the albatrosses recolonize a third, “stable” island to remove this species from the Endangered Species List (ESL).

short-tailed albatross in flight

Having used a combination of hand-rearing and relocating birds, the team now reports that all chicks have successfully fledged for the second year in a row, for a total of 25 chicks so far.

The team uses solar powered, satellite-linked GPS transmitters to compare post-fledging survival and migration behavior of hand-reared chicks vs. those that were naturally-reared (by albatross parents) and to track individual birds into U.S. waters to evaluate potential fishery interactions.

Successful establishment of new short-tailed albatross breeding colonies through translocation is expected to speed recovery of this species, resulting in its removal from the ESL in less time than if we were to await natural range expansion. (Albatross photo: Rob Suryan, PI for Project 723)

International Arctic Fisheries Symposium: Managing Resources for a Changing Arctic

October 19-21, 2009
Hotel Captain Cook, Anchorage, Alaska

This symposium is intended to initiate international discussions for conserving and managing future fisheries in the Arctic Ocean including managing migratory, transboundary and straddling fish stocks. Visit the symposium website