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Chignik Lakes Research

The purpose of this work is to annually measure the relative abundance and size of juvenile sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka); relative abundance and size of potential competitor and predator species; the biological and physical environment for sockeye salmon in the lakes; and abundance, size, and age of seaward migrants, which is conducted by Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). A long-term database resulting from these measurements provides a basis from which to evaluate changes in the production of adult sockeye salmon from the Chignik Lakes and perhaps a means of stabilizing or increasing production. The choice of measurements depends on the likely impact on sockeye salmon, cost of the measurement, and the availability of past data. An annual smolt program was undertaken by ADF&G in 1993 while our main research effort was conducted in the lakes. Our 1997 field work was done in two periods: May 20 through June 19, and August 10 through September 13. The following work was done: • Water transparency (Secchi depth), phytoplankton (chlorophyll a), and zooplankton densities were measured on May 26, June 11, and August 15 and 28 to assess the summer standing crop of primary producers and zooplankton (the main source of food for sockeye salmon in Chignik Lake). • Emergent fry traps were employed along Hatchery Beach. The traps were set in mid-May and checked about every 4 days to assess the relative abundance and timing of emergent sockeye fry. • Beaches were seined weekly at seven established stations on Chignik Lake from May to June to asses the relative abundance of juvenile sockeye salmon and associated species nearshore. • Townetting was conducted in both Black and Chignik lakes during early September to assess the relative abundance and lengths of juvenile sockeye salmon in the pelagic region. This report presents statistics from limnological sampling and catch statistics from emergent fry traps, townetting, and beach seining in 1997, with comparisons to past years where available. In addition, a special study of predation on the eggs and alevins of beach spawners in Chignik Lake was completed in 1997. This work will be reported in a Master’s thesis by J. Miller in June 1998.