Fish Assemblages and Genetic Stock Determination of Salmon in Bering Land Bridge National Preserve

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Using National Park Service (NPS) and Bering Land Bridge National Preserve (BELA) directives for guidance, this project will establish baseline information of fish assemblages, with an emphasis on Pacific salmon, in drainages flowing through the Preserve so managers can identify and understand changes in species distribution. This information is required for effective land use, conservation, and restoration planning to identify sensitive and important habitats. As the coastal environment of BELA is rapidly changing, improved understanding of genetic relationships among salmon populations can inform prioritization of conservation efforts with potential loss of habitat and abundances. The project will collect the necessary information about unique salmon populations and salmon assemblages in BELA to be able to provide proper stewardship to the resources and subsistence opportunities in the face of environmental changes. The long-term goal is to create a baseline inventory of subsistence fish assemblages, and salmon genetic stock structure in major rivers flowing through BELA. The measurable and achievable objectives for this three (3) year collaborative field study project will investigate the Serpentine, Nuluk, Arctic, and Nugnugaluktuk rivers to: 1) document fish species assemblages, with emphasis on Pacific salmon; 2) evaluate genetic variation within salmon species and potential for mixed stock analysis, and 3) collect age, sex, and length (ASL) on salmon species identified and sampled for genetics.

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