Bering Sea Fisheries Research Foundation

Bering sea snow crab and opilio research: a high-priority pilot field project was completed on bering sea opilio (snow crab) in the late summer of 2024 by bsfrf in collaboration with nmfs and adf&g. Two industry vessels (the fv vesteraalen and the fv confidence) were chartered to complete sampling at specified stations across the bering sea shelf opilio grounds. Portions of this sampling were conducted in coordination with the nmfs survey operating in the same time and area. The two charters used pot and trawl sampling gear for comparative catches to inform further full-scale opilio research of similar nature. In early may 2024, the bsfrf co-hosted a snow crab workshop in st. Johns, newfoundland, in collaboration with the department of fisheries and oceans (dfo), canada. Several bering sea crab resource stakeholders (bsfrf, adf&g, and nmfs) traveled to st. Johns for a three-day workshop hosted in-person by canadian snow crab researchers. The workshop was intended to hear from alaska, canada, and other international experts for advice on sustainable management of global snow crab fisheries during periods of ecosystem change and variable stock dynamics. Findings from the workshop are in press with a peer-reviewed publication.

Habitat assessment and technology development: the bsfrf collaborated on a new large-scale project in 2024 to utilize an underwater towed camera array (camsled) owned by adf&g to assess presence of bbrkc and suitable juvenile and larval habitat in bristol bay. The charter for the project (chartering the fv early dawn) was conducted in collaboration with adf&g and funded by combined support from adf&g and the north pacific research board (nprb) through bsfrf. A secondary component of this research placed modified bbrkc pots affixed with new larval collectors to remain in bristol bay over the summer period for retrieval in the fall.

Science coordination and advisory participation: the bsfrf science advisory teams other activities during 2024 included the crab plan team meetings of the north pacific fisheries management council, the alaska marine science symposium, and the bering sea crab science symposium. These activities furthered the foundations goal of supporting collaboration among industry, state, and federal partners to advance scientific research and management of bering sea crab resources.