FISH

Hydroacoustic Surveys          Bioenergetics       

Hydroacoustic Surveys

Repeated seasonal surveys of a given area are needed to assess intra- and inter-annual changes in sea lion prey availability (PSMFC 1999). We will assess prey resources available to Steller sea lions and other apex predators through systematic seasonal surveys on three spatial and temporal scales:

• nearshore (monthly, within 1km of a haulout)
• Marmot Bay-Chiniak Bay (MaCh; monthly, within 10 km of shore)
• Long Island Critical Habitat (LICH; quarterly, within 46km of Long Island haulout).

These surveys will allow assessment and comparison of prey availability on several scales of potential biological significance to sea lions and managerial importance to fisheries regulators.

a. Long Island Critical Habitat Area (LICH)

b. Marmot Bay Chiniak Bay Survey (MaCh)

c. Nearshore Prey Surveys (NPS)

Bioenergetics