Distribution of Chum Salmon and Their Bycatch in the Eastern Bering Sea Walleye Pollock Fishery

Distribution and abundance patterns of chum salmon are key features that define bycatch potential in the eastern Bering Sea walleye pollock fishery.  Due to the highly migratory nature of chum salmon, distributions are not stable and vary by life-history stage, season, and year.  Dynamic shifts in their distribution and abundance can have significant effects on bycatch levels and the effort required to avoid bycatch by the fishing fleet.  Distribution, abundance, and foraging patterns of chum salmon from pelagic trawl research surveys in the Bering Sea are compared with bycatch patterns in the eastern Bering Sea walleye pollock fishery to add insight into how migratory behavior of chum salmon is related to their bycatch.