Region Shellfish Research

The Westward shellfish research program dates back to 1953 when investigations on red king crabs in the Kodiak area were initiated. As commercial interest in the region’s abundant shellfish resources expanded during the 1960s and 1970s, major research programs were developed to collect and evaluate basic life history data, characterize stock distribution and abundance, and to compile and analyze fishery statistics. With a few exceptions, these investigations were conducted around Kodiak Island and the Alaska Peninsula, focusing on king crab, Tanner crab, pink shrimp, and to a lesser extent, Dungeness crab and razor clams.

As shellfish stocks in the Gulf of Alaska declined through the 1970s, commercial interest focused on Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) shellfish, most notably, king, Tanner, and snow crabs. At this time research efforts by the department focused on issues related to the development and implementation of fishery management plans for BSAI crab stocks. Establishment of ADF&G’s Mandatory Shellfish Observer Program in 1988 and the Bering Sea Crab Test Fishery Program in 1990 provided a means for conducting research on selected species, and the directly applying research results to topical fishery management and regulatory issues in the BSAI. During the last several years a number of Westward Region research projects have been centered on investigating ways to avoid the occurrence of crab and other marine life bycatch during the directed commercial fisheries. Other recent studies continue exploring poorly understood aspects of basic shellfish biology and behavior.

Even though over time many different areas of importance have surfaced and which have led to the development of more and more different projects and activities, the ADF&G Westward Region shellfish research program remains dedicated to the single overall goal of sustaining and preserving Alaska’s valuable shellfish resources.