Genetics for Sustainability: Management of Bristol Bay Sockeye Salmon

How do you manage the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery? “Genetics for Sustainability" explores the use of molecular genetic data by fishery managers and stakeholders in the Bristol Bay Region of Alaska. It features Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) scientists in the Gene Conservation Laboratory who apply genetic principles and tools to support the management of commercially important fish and shellfish species statewide. The film highlights one application of these tools: real-time genetic estimates of stock composition from the Port Moller test fishery. It tracks the flow of information during the fishing season as management biologists make hour by hour decisions on when and where the fleet can fish. Tissue samples move from the test fishery to the laboratory and yield highly-valuable, time-sensitive genetic data about the relative abundance of distinct sockeye salmon populations, before their arrival on the fishing grounds. Produced by Nate Shoutis (Water Bear) with original music by Dave Francis (guitarborist.com), the film showcases how genetic data contributes to effective management that is crucial to the conservation of this highly utilized species. Shot during the 2014 fishery in Naknek, Alaska, and at the ADF&G Genetic Conservation Laboratory in Anchorage, Alaska.