Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund Statement of Work

Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund Statement of Work I. Project Title: Pasagshak Escapement Monitoring Phase 3 II. Project Number: III. Principal Investigator Michelle Wattum, Fishery Biologist II Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Commercial Fisheries 351 Research Ct. Kodiak, AK 99615 907-486-1855 michelle.wattum@alaska.gov Mark Witteveen, former PI IV. Project Period: 5/15/16 11/30/18 V. AKSSF Objective: 2A-1 PCSRF Objective: RM&E VI. Project Description 1. Synopsis The Pasagshak River, located on the Kodiak road system, currently supports one of the largest sockeye salmon subsistence fisheries for Kodiak Island residents. This project will enumerate Pasagshak River sockeye salmon, collect age, sex, length (ASL) data, and gather inseason subsistence harvest data. The data gathered through this project will enable inseason management adjustments and more precise evaluation of the escapement goal to maintain the sustainability of this important subsistence run. 2. Introduction From 1968 to 2010, sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka escapement to the Pasagshak watershed was estimated with aerial surveys by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). Surveys took place on the spawning grounds because fish were not visible when holding in the lake. As a result, estimates of the escapement were not made until well after the fish escaped the subsistence, sport, and commercial fisheries. Since escapement estimates could not be made inseason, no management action to regulate harvests was possible and severe overharvest could occur undetected until any action was too late. With AKSSF funding, an aluminum picket weir located near the outlet of Lake Rose Teed was installed in 2011 through 2015, providing timely and accurate escapement and ASL information (AKSSF projects 44525, Pasagshak Escapement Monitoring Phase 1, and 44730, Pasagshak Escapement Monitoring - Phase 2). Data collected also made a review of the current escapement goal of 3,000 fish possible. These past Pasagshak Escapement Monitoring Phase 3 Page 1 of 6

projects have proved successful and have garnered a large amount of local support. Management action to conserve this stock is now possible inseason and information about the age structure, timing, and fish size is available. For example, during the 2014 season, low escapements counted at the weir made it clear that management action was necessary to conserve Pasagshak River sockeye salmon. The subsistence, sport, and commercial fisheries in the area were closed to preserve escapement. Without inseason weir counts, this crucial management action would not have been possible and sustainability of this stock would have been jeopardized. In addition to the installation of the weir, annual escapement monitoring, and ASL data collection, information on subsistence effort at the Pasagshak River will be collected through harvester interviews conducted by ADF&G technicians. ASL data obtained from subsistence harvests augments ASL data obtained from the weir trap, especially during the early part of the run when the fish are prone to trap avoidance, and provide valuable information on the harvest composition, size selectivity, and magnitude relative to escapement. 3. Location Pasagshak River Weir, Kodiak Island Latitude: 57. 468524 N 4. Related Projects 44525, 44730 Longitude: 152. 458889 W VII. Objectives 1. Estimate Pasagshak River system sockeye salmon escapement 2. Estimate the ASL composition of sockeye salmon escaping to Lake Rose Teed 3. Describe the inseason harvest, timing, ASL, and effort data of Pasagshak sockeye subsistence fisheries and estimate the overall harvest rate 4. Refine current sockeye salmon escapement goal VIII. Methods Objective 1. Estimate Pasagshak River system sockeye salmon escapement Task 1: A PVC floating weir will be installed approximately 0.5 miles from the outlet of Lake Rose Teed. Task 2: The project leader will train technicians in proper species identification of sockeye, pink, chum, and coho salmon and Dolly Varden, the species expected to be encountered at the weir. Technicians will monitor the weir daily between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. and enumerate salmon by species visually through a counting gate built into the weir, recording the counts with tally-counters. Technicians will monitor the weir at two to four hour intervals during this time period. Escapement counts will be reported to Kodiak finfish management staff on a daily basis and posted to the internet. Success will be measured by having the weir in place and enumeration estimates occurring June 15 through August 15. Pasagshak Escapement Monitoring Phase 3 Page 2 of 6

Objective 2: Estimate the ASL composition of sockeye salmon escaping to Lake Rose Teed Task 1: A trap will be constructed as part of the weir that will enable weir technicians to sample 600 sockeye salmon during the summer for ASL. The preferred scale (located on the left side of the fish, two rows above the lateral line on the diagonal from the posterior insertion of the dorsal fin to the anterior insertion of the anal fin) will be removed with forceps and mounted on a gum card. The sex and length of the fish (fish length in millimeters from mid eye to tail fork) will be recorded to rugged digital assistants and the data will be downloaded to laptop computers daily. Ideally, fish will be sampled in proportion to their escapement levels. If fish cannot be trapped in sufficient abundance, a beach seine will be used to capture fish behind the weir. Task 2: Scales will be read for age composition and ASL will be recorded into a database via the Kodiak office intranet salmon aging utility. These samples provide the foundation for preseason run forecasts, escapement goal evaluation, and measurement of sockeye salmon productivity within Lake Rose Teed and its tributaries. Success will be measured by estimation of the ASL composition of the escapement throughout the run. Objective 3: Describe the inseason harvest, timing, ASL, and effort data of Pasagshak sockeye subsistence fisheries and estimate the overall harvest rate Task 1: The traditional areas of subsistence harvest and level of effort at Pasagshak River will be documented. ADF&G technicians will opportunistically contact sockeye salmon subsistence fishermen on the fishing grounds in front of the Pasagshak River and alternatively at the Pasagshak State Recreation Area boat landing. Following a set of brief introductory remarks by the technician, all subsistence users who agree to be interviewed will be asked a short series of questions to determine their traditional subsistence fishing location(s) (e.g., Pasagshak River, Buskin River, or elsewhere), likely location of subsistence fishing in the near future, and level of effort at Pasagshak River. An effort will be made to conduct interviews in a weekly quantity proportional to subsistence effort. It is anticipated that approximately 150 such interviews will be conducted throughout the duration of the subsistence fishery, providing a representative sample of subsistence effort. Task 2: All sockeye salmon harvested by interview participants will be sampled for ASL data. The total Pasagshak River subsistence harvest will be estimated postseason from returns of completed permits received by the ADF&G Westward Region Division of Commercial Fisheries (CF) office. Annual return rates of completed permits are usually between 85-90% of participants. Task 3: Data from subsistence, sport, and commercial harvests will be combined with escapement data to estimate harvest rate so the level of harvest can be compared to other years and to other salmon populations, ensuring appropriate harvest levels are maintained. Pasagshak Escapement Monitoring Phase 3 Page 3 of 6

Success will be measured by estimation of the ASL composition of the subsistence harvest throughout the run and by developing an estimate of harvest rate. Objective 4: Refine current sockeye salmon escapement goal Task 1: All data will be synthesized to determine the most appropriate analysis for escapement goal estimation. The sustainable escapement goal (SEG) will be reanalyzed depending on the type of data, data contrast, and data quality. Data will be analyzed during 2016 in conjunction with the Board of Fisheries meeting for the Kodiak Management Area. Success will be measured by completion of an escapement goal analysis with updated data. IX. Benefits The Pasagshak River sockeye salmon run is the largest subsistence salmon fishery on Kodiak Island. A more accurate assessment of its escapement will support inseason management of its fisheries, benefiting subsistence users and ensuring the health and sustainability of this stock. X. Products, Milestones, and Timelines June 15, 2016: Install fish counting weir on Pasagshak River June 15, 2016 August 15, 2016: Enumerate all fish passage by species in Pasagshak River; sample escapement for ASL; sample subsistence fishery for ASL; conduct interviews August 15, 2016 September 15, 2016: Analyze fish passage; analyze and summarize ASL data; write project report; review escapement goal June 15, 2017: Install fish counting weir on Pasagshak River June 15, 2017 August 15, 2017: Enumerate all fish passage by species in Pasagshak River; sample escapement for ASL; sample subsistence fishery for ASL; conduct interviews August 15, 2017 September 15, 2017: Analyze fish passage; analyze and summarize ASL data; write project report June 15, 2018: Install fish counting weir on Pasagshak River June 15, 2018 August 15, 2018: Enumerate all fish passage by species in Pasagshak River; sample escapement for ASL; sample subsistence fishery for ASL; conduct interviews August 15, 2018 September 15, 2018: Analyze fish passage; analyze and summarize ASL data; write project report November 30, 2018: Provide final report to AKSSF XI. Budget ADF&G CF Total 100 Personnel $235,169 200 Travel $0 300 Contractual $9,000 400 Supplies $29,375 Pasagshak Escapement Monitoring Phase 3 Page 4 of 6

500 Equipment $0 Subtotal $273,544 Expenses subject to indirect $235,169 600 Indirect $49,385 Total $322,929 ADF&G CF Budget Narrative: Line 100: Personnel ($235,169) The State of Alaska salary calculator was used to estimate personnel costs. Mark Witteveen, Fishery Biologist II, will oversee the field operations of the weir, write the progress report, and perform post season analysis: FY16: 1.5 months @ $10,312/month = $15,468 FY17: 3.5 months @ $10,647/month = $37,265 FY18: 3.5 months @ $10,993/month = $38,475 FY19: 2 months @ $11,354/month = $22,708 Molly McFarland, Fishery Biologist I, will aid in logistics and weir installation, age scales, and enter and coordinate all database entry: FY16: 0.5 months @ $6,969/month = $3,485 FY17: 1 month @ $7,157/month = $7,157 FY18: 1 month @ $7,372/month = $7,372 FY19: 0.5 months @ $7,587/month = $3,793 Sara Ashcraft, Fish and Wildlife Technician III, will act as crew leader at the weir site, coordinate sampling and enumeration, and direct the efforts of the crewmember: FY16: 1 month @ $6,702/month = $6,702 FY17: 2.5 months @ $6,850/month = $17,125 FY18: 2.5 months @ $7,014/month = $17,535 FY19: 1.5 months @ $7,154/month = $10,731 Brianna Gibbs, Fish and Wildlife Technician II, will act as crewmember at the weir site and will participate in enumerating and sampling salmon: FY16: 1 month @ $6,091/month = $6,091 FY17: 2.5 months @ $6,208/month = $15,520 FY18: 2.5 months @ $6,380/month = $15,950 FY19: 1.5 months @ $6,528/month = $9,792 Line 300: Contractual ($9,000) Cabin rental at Pasagshak River area: 3 months/season @ $1,000/month x 3 seasons = $9,000 Line 400: Supplies ($29,375) Gasoline for truck and ATV: 27 weeks @ $125/week = $ 3,375 Pasagshak Escapement Monitoring Phase 3 Page 5 of 6

Field supplies (sample gum cards, waterproof notebooks, tweezers, raingear, boots, etc): $4,000 Groceries: 225 days @ $30/day x 2 people = $13,500 Weir maintenance (sandbags, lumber, bolts, nails): $4,000 Camp maintenance and supplies (lumber, nails, tools, cooking supplies, propane): $4,500 Line 600: Indirect ($49,385) ADF&G s federally negotiated indirect rate through June 30, 2016, is 22.80% on total direct salaries and wages, including fringe benefits; however, indirect will be recovered at a reduced rate of 21% for this project. XII. Match Budget ADF&G CF (35%) Total 100 Personnel $113,026 200 Travel $0 300 Contractual $0 400 Supplies $0 500 Equipment $0 Total $113,026 ADF&G CF Match Budget Narrative: Line 100: Personnel ($113,026) Birch Foster, Fishery Biologist III, will oversee the project, aid in analysis and publications, and aid in camp installation: FY16: 1.42 months @ $11,236/month = $15,955 FY17: 3.178 months @ $11,605/month = $36,882 FY18: 3.156 months @ $11,989/month = $37,842 FY19: 1.804 months @ $12,387/month = $22,347 Pasagshak Escapement Monitoring Phase 3 Page 6 of 6