A Bird’s Eye View of Fisheries Discharge in Alaskan Waters

A Bird’s Eye View of Fisheries Discharge in Alaskan Waters Ann Edwards, PhD Shannon Fitzgerald Alaska Fisheries Science Center – NOAA Seattle, WA

Questions of Interest: All questions refer to characteristics of the biomass made available to birds by the Alaskan Groundfish Fishery (BSAI + GOA). ۞-- Quantity? From which fisheries, and which processing methods? ۞-- Characteristics? Whole, Macerated, Fishmeal -- Spatial Distribution? -- Energetic Content? -- Consumption Rates by Birds?

METHODS • NOAA Regional Databases: • Catch Accounting System Database Products Database 2003-3004: All data are presented Annually • Data for each Gear Type and Species: • Round Wt Landed Wt Primary Product Wt Ancillary Product Wt • Product Recovery Rates

Midwater Pollock Trawl

Bottom Trawl

Longline

OTHR ROCK ARTH 600,000 YSOL PLCK RSOL Primary Products Produced At-Sea 2004 POPA PCOD 500,000 FSOL AMCK 400,000 Round Weight (mt) 300,000 200,000 100,000 0 Whole Fillet Mince Whole Discards H &G Surimi Meal

Primary Products Produced At-Sea 2004 600,000 500,000 400,000 Midwater Pollock Trawl Bottom Trawl 300,000 Round Wt. (mt) Longline 200,000 100,000 0 Whole Fillet Mince Whole Discards H&G Surimi Meal

AT-SEA CATCHER / PROCESSOR Discarded Catch Total Catch Retained Catch Offal Final Products Market AT-SEA SHORESIDE

AT-SEA CATCHER / PROCESSOR Lost Fish Discarded Catch Total Catch Whole Fish Macerated Whole Fish Fishmeal Plant AT-SEA SHORESIDE

AT-SEA CATCHER / PROCESSOR Macerated Offal Unmacerated Offal Retained Catch Offal Final Product Fishmeal Plant AT-SEA SHORESIDE

AT-SEA CATCHER / PROCESSOR Discarded Catch Total Catch Retained Catch Offal Final Products AT-SEA SHORESIDE

Discharge from At-Sea Processors 600,000 Longline 500,000 Bottom Trawl Midwater Pollock Trawl – Fishmeal Plant 400,000 Midwater Pollock Trawl – NO Fishmeal Plant metric tons - wet wt. 300,000 200,000 100,000 0 Parts Whole Parts Whole Returned to Sea Made into Fishmeal

Midwater Pollock Trawl Bottom Trawl Longline Pot Initial Processing - Catcher Vessel Deliveries to Shoreside Processors 2004 800,000 700,000 96% 600,000 500,000 400,000 Round Weight (mt) 300,000 200,000 100,000 99% 97% 0 Discard - Fishmeal Discard - Sea Discard -Shore Whole Bled H & G

SHORESIDE PROSSESSOR Catcher Vessels Fishmeal Plant Discarded Catch Total Catch Offal Retained Catch Discards Offal Landed Catch Landed Catch Final Products AT-SEA SHORESIDE

At-Sea Processors Shoreside Processors Disposal of Fish Parts At-Sea vs Shoreside 600,000 500,000 400,000 300,000 metric tons - wet wt. Shoreside Processors: With Fishmeal Plant: 8 No Fishmeal Plant: 58 200,000 100,000 0 Returned to Sea Made into Fishmeal

Bird’s Eye View: Summary of Shoreside Processing Small proportion of discharge is returned to sea, and that is usually discarded within a few nautical miles of the coast. Catcher Vessels Black Cod heads are a bird delicacy.

Bird’ At-Sea Processing

Acknowledgements Funding: National Research Council Research Associate Program Alaska Fisheries Science Center - NOAA Doug DeMaster, Julia Parrish Mary Furuness, Dave Ackley, John Payne Observer Program

A Bird’s Eye View of Fisheries Discharge in Alaskan Waters