Mixed Methods Approaches for Evaluating Temporal Changes in Target Species Portfolios in Small-Scale Alaska Fisheries

Fishers may respond to changes in regulations or the quality of their fishing experience by targeting alternative species. These adaptations are important for maintaining subsistence and recreational opportunities in the face of regulatory and environmental change. However, management measures implemented for one species can unintentionally shift fishing effort to other species or habitats. In this study, we examined patterns of resource use by the halibut sport charter fleet in Alaska to evaluate whether the portfolio of targeted species has shifted over a period of marked regulatory change. I will present an analysis of temporal trends in the portfolio of species harvested on charter trips using interviews with charter operators and catch records from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. We found support for our hypothesis that increasing restrictions in allowable halibut harvest since the early 2000s led to increased retention of historically less-preferred species, including rockfishes. Additional interviews in spring 2015 will allow us to evaluate whether species preference and use patterns differed between Southeast and Southcentral Alaska, which have been subject to different management measures for halibut. This is part of a broader study examining temporal changes in resource use patterns in Alaskan sport and subsistence fisheries.