MESA: Estuaries
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Example of estuary sampling site in southeast Alaska. |
Estuarine wetlands are among the most productive habitats that sustain marine fisheries worldwide, yet little is known about their role in the productivity of Alaska fisheries. Research on Alaska’s estuaries is being done to gain knowledge of the role of estuaries in Alaska fisheries and coastal health. The objectives are to 1) identify and describe habitat for fish species that use estuarine wetlands throughout Southeast Alaska; and 2) develop means of estimating and predicting effects on estuarine habitat as coastal development takes place.
Estuaries throughout southeast Alaska have been sampled with various gear types to assess fish habitat utilization. Some estuaries were sampled multiple times to determine temporal patterns of fish use. Habitat types identified include emergent marsh wetlands, mud flats, sloughs, and sand and gravel beaches. A demonstration geographic information system (GIS) was developed for the Mendenhall Wetlands near Juneau to test the use of existing digital imagery and maps in identifying estuarine essential fish habitat (EFH). Digital photography, NOAA charts, and National Wetland Inventory maps have been integrated with data on fish abundance and habitat classification. A GIS to evaluate the extent and value of fish habitat in the Mendenhall Wetlands was developed from those data. The methods developed can be used to generate a regional GIS for estuarine EFH. Relationships between the distribution of marine fish and environmental variables will be used to help develop a classification system for estuaries that is compatible with ShoreZone inventories.
Contact:
Mitch Lorenz
Auke Bay Laboratories
Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries
Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute
17109 Pt Lena Loop Rd
Juneau AK 99801
Mitch.Lorenz@noaa.gov
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