MSI: Fish Identification & Measurements
Many FEDZ lab activities are conducted in relation to long term Southeast Coastal Monitoring (SECM) project research that targets all five species of salmon. Juvenile pink, chum, sockeye, coho, and Chinook salmon arrive at the lab either frozen for calorimetry or preserved in formalin for diet studies. Species identification is verified, length and wet weight are measured, and a scale is removed from all fish. Otoliths are extracted from chum and sockeye salmon and examined for thermal marks by Douglas Island Pink and Chum (DIPAC) labs. Coded-wire tags (CWTs) from all coho and Chinook salmon missing their adipose fins are removed and decoded.
Length and weight data provide important information on annual and seasonal growth rates and condition. Otoliths and CWTs are used to identify specific salmon stocks. Otoliths are thermally-marked with unique bar code-like patterns induced during the hatchery rearing process, whereas CWTs are implanted in fish snouts. Information on fish origin is useful for stock distribution studies. Data from decoded otoliths and CWTs is also used to select fish specimens for further processing, such as calorimetry.
Contact:
Molly Sturdevant or Emily Fergusson
Auke Bay Laboratories
Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries
Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute
17109 Pt Lena Loop Rd
Juneau, AK 99801
Molly.Sturdevant@noaa.gov
Emily.Fergusson@noaa.gov
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