Arctic Fish Ecology and Assessment Research

Arctic fisheries are of local, regional, national and international importance due to their sport, subsistence, commercial, and conservation values. The role of the Arctic Fish Ecology and Assessment Research (AFEAR) Section is to develop knowledge in this area by conducting scientific research, to provide a better overall understanding of arctic fish populations, and to place management of Arctic fisheries on a firm scientific footing.

The AFEAR Section approaches project management from an integrated perspective. Four critical areas of biological study have been identified:

Stock Identification:

Definition of what the management unit is.

Population Dynamics:

How the stock acts to produce more fish.

Population Abundance:

How many individuals exist at a given time.

Response to Disturbance:

How population abundance and dynamics are affected by human actions.

AFEAR is organized by scientific disciplines corresponding to these four areas, rather than along organismal lines. This means problems relevant to marine, anadromous or freshwater fish species can be addressed by staff in the relevant areas of expertise. Research is conducted to study site-specific issues or stocks, as well as to address more general problems of fishery management.

Contact:

Dr. Jim Reist - (204) 983-5032