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Port Moller Test Fishery

To be added to the list of email recipients for all PMTF updates, send an email to PMTF@BBSRI.org. If you could, but it is not mandatory, include your affiliation to the fishery (e.g., harvesting, processing, fish buyer, shipper, industry supplier, scientist, state or federal government biologist or manager).

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​Project Overview

The Port Moller Test Fishery (PMTF) is conducted each year to help processors, fishermen, and fishery managers assess the timing, composition, and abundance of sockeye salmon returning to commercial fishing districts in Bristol Bay.  BBSRI has chartered two research vessels to conduct test fishing since 2018. R/V Ocean Cat and F/V Miss Leona are the current vessels fishing the program.  BBSRI manages the project, provides technicians and gear to sample fish, and prepares all analyses and reports to managers, industry, and the public.

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The PMTF is approximately 150 to 200 miles southwest of the Bristol Bay inshore fishing districts; sockeye salmon typically take 6 to 9 days to travel this distance. Because of this travel time, we are able to deliver data about the run to onshore industry and management partners about 3-4 days before the fish reach the inshore districts. Data from our at-sea genetics and scale labs is used to produce genetic stock and age composition estimates in-season, and provides valuable information to managers about run demographics.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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Test Fishing Stations

Test fishing stations spaced 10 nmi apart (i.e., even-numbered stations; see map), and are each fished for 1 30 minute set per day. Up to six stations are fished each day, with each project vessel fishing half of the transect per day. 

 

Test fishing occurs from approximately June 10 through July 12-15. Stations 2-12 range from 30 to 80 nmi offshore from Port Moller, on a line stretching from Port Moller towards Cape Newenham.  Station 26 is ~ 150 nmi from Port Moller. 

1967

ADF&G begins Port Moller Test Fishery

The project was started to predict the run strength of sockeye one week prior to their arrival in the inshore fishing districts. Drift gillnetters caught sockeye at lower stations as they passed Port Moller.

1988

University of Washington reintroduces PMTF

The project was restored with funding from Bristol Bay processors.

2002

BBSRI takes over PMTF operations

After the test fishery was almost abandoned, the Bristol Bay Science & Research Institute took control of the project with funding from BBSRI, the State of Alaska and BBRSDA.

2006

Gene Conservation Lab begins post-season stock composition estimates

Tissue samples collected during the test fishery season are sent to ADF&G's Gene Conservation Lab and used to produce genetic stock composition estimates of the season's sockeye run.

2011

Multi-Mesh nets introduced

To study the effects of mesh size on size selectivity in the fishery, the old 5.125" mesh net was replaced with nets with alternating panels of 4.5" and 5.125" mesh.

2018

Second vessel added to project

A second vessel, F/V Icelander, was contracted to fish the upper half of the transect (Stations 12-26) for the first time between June 15-22. Discovery of fish in the upper stations during this period prompted the R/V Pandalus to fish further offshore for the rest of the season, and the project has since been operated with two vessels.

2019

Project expands to cover entire transect

Suspecting that sockeye were passing through the northern half of Bristol Bay, the project expanded from fishing the lower half of the transect (Stations 2-12) to fishing the entire transect (Stations 2-26). Two vessels, R/V Pandalus and R/V Ocean Cat, were contracted to fish the entire transect.

2020

Net depth increased

After observing fish passing underneath the nets during certain conditions, project net depths were increased from 60 meshes deep to 100 (5.125")/111 (4/5") meshes deep. Catchments in the upper and lower halves of the new net were tracked so that data from the new net could be compared to data from the old net.

2022

At-sea laboratories onboard vessels 

Following a successful trial period in 2021, onboard genetics and scale imaging laboratories were installed on one of the project vessels, F/V Half Moon Bay. These allowed scale and tissue samples to be processed onboard the vessels, rather than having them sent to shore and delivered to Anchorage every two days. Both labs produced excellent results and the at-sea laboratories became a permanent fixture of the project.

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BBSRI distributes four types of information from the PMTF:

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  • Daily Catch Updates

    • Report raw catches by panel, set duration, average fish size, weather and seastate, and the PMTF Index

  • Interpretations of PMTF Data and developing run

    • Periodic forecasts of the entire year’s run and its relative strength to various districts (every 3 to 7 days)

  • Stock Composition Estimates of the PMTF catches

    • Released by ADF&G Gene Lab up to 11 times per season

  • Age Composition Estimates

    • Released by ADF&G multiple times per season

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All are available for download on our Home Page

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Each series of updates are consecutively numbered and delivered by email to everyone on the BBSRI email list serve, then posted to the web page. Send an email request to PMTF@BBSRI.org to be added to the list of email recipients for all PMTF updates.  There is no cost to be on the list serve and email addresses are not shared with anyone.  Those on the list from the past year will automatically be included in the upcoming season's update list (no need to re-request).  Although not mandatory, it is helpful if you could let us us know your affiliation with the fishery (e.g., harvesting, processing, fish buyer, shipper, supplier of gear, scientist, state or federal government biologist or manager). 

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Michael Link and Jordan Head manage the PMTF project and assists with distributing the daily catch updates.  Dr. Scott Raborn takes the lead in producing the regular interpretations of the PMTF data.  Jeff Regnart provides project support across many components of the project.  All can be reached via email.

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Prior Annual Reports from PMTF, 2010-2023

These reports include a compilation of the in-season updates that were sent to the distribution list, including the stock and age composition updates, and describe the test-fishing sampling protocol.  We also provide some performance metrics associated with the updates that were issued.

PMTF Annual Reports

2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 20182017, 2016,  2015,  2014,  2013,  2012,  2011, 2010.

Interested in a technician position?

Bristol Bay Science and Research Institute

Box 1464 Dillingham

Alaska  99576

Jordan@BBSRI.org

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BBSRI is a 501(c) (3) corporation.

Contributions are tax deductible.

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