Development of the Geoduck Fishery Management in Southeast Alaska

The Southeast Alaska geoduck fishery and stock assessment program has developed significantly since 2000 as a result of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and geoduck fishermen working together to develop new fisheries.  Reconnaissance surveys conducted by industry divers to define new fishing areas and better define geoduck beds in existing fishery areas has expanded the fishery, improved stock assessment surveys, and has resulted in more precise estimates of standing stock biomass.  This is turn has led to increased harvest opportunity for the Southeast Alaska geoduck fishery as a whole. The stock assessment surveys are designed in GIS using: 1) commercial fishery logbook data submitted by fisherman, 2) previous ADF&G survey data, and 3) reconnaissance information provided by industry divers. Additionally, the department’s stock assessment method has changed from a model based on geoducks per linear length of shoreline to one based on geoducks per unit of area. This change has also improved precision for estimates of density and biomass.  In the next couple of years, other improvements to stock assessment are planned, such as studying recruitment by conducting juvenile surveys.