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| Jennifer Fisher
Graduate Student |
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Glacier
Bay, AK: A Source or a Sink for Dungeness Crab Larvae?
Dungeness crabs (Cancer magister)
comprise an important commercial fishing resource within the state
of Alaska.
Recently, commercial fishing within Glacier Bay National Park in
Southeast Alaska was closed to Dungeness crab harvest.
This closure has resulted in a unique opportunity to study benefits
of a marine reserve concept. Prior to the closure of fishing, studies were conducted to examine the distribution, abundance, sex ratio and movement of adult Dungeness crabs within and adjacent to Glacier Bay (O’Clair et al. 1990, O’Clair et al. 1993, and Leder and Shirley 1993). Although these studies help explain the distribution of adult Dungeness crabs, there is little known about larval dispersal into the Bay, or export to adjacent areas. My research involves collecting current meter data concurrent with plankton tows to explore the question of whether Glacier Bay is a potential source or a sink for Dungeness crab larvae. The results and conclusions
of this study will help resource managers assess whether Glacier Bay serves
as an effective marine reserve for Dungeness crab, and will facilitate
a better understanding of the oceanography and physical processes affecting
larval dispersal to, from, and within the bay. |
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