Mondragon, J., S. J. Taggart, A. G. Andrews, J. K. Nielsen, and J. de ...

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U.S. Department of the InteriorDIRK KEMPTHORNE, SecretaryU.S. Geological SurveyMark D. Myers, DirectorU.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2007For product and ordering information:World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprodTelephone: 1-888-ASK-USGSFor more information on the USGS--the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources,natural hazards, and the environment:World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.govTelephone: 1-888-ASK-USGSAny use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by theU.S. Government.Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners toreproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.Suggested citation:Piatt, J.F., and Gende, S.M., eds., 2007, Proceedings of the Fourth Glacier Bay Science Symposium: U.S. GeologicalSurvey Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5047, 246 p.
84 Proceedings of the Fourth Glacier Bay Science SymposiumSpatial Distribution and Abundance of Tanner and Red King Crab Inside andOutside of Marine Reserves in Glacier Bay, AlaskaJennifer Mondragon 1,3 , Spencer J. Taggart 1 , Alexander G. Andrews 1 , Julie K. Nielsen 1 and Jim de La Bruere 2Abstract. Closure of commercial fishing for Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi) and red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus)in parts of Glacier Bay National Park created a network of five protected areas. The purpose of this study was to determine therelative abundance and spatial distribution of king and Tanner crab inside and outside of the marine reserve network. Using crabpots, we systematically sampled Glacier Bay and estimated the density and relative abundance of crabs. Our data demonstratethat reserves in close proximity to each other have very different crab abundances; the majority of the Tanner crab were in tworeserves, and most (73 percent) of the king crab were in a small part of a single reserve. This study demonstrates the value ofsystematic sampling for marine reserve design and location.IntroductionIn 1999, the U.S. Congressclosed fishing in parts of Glacier BayNational Park, creating one of NorthAmerica’s largest marine reserves.Throughout the world marineprotected areas are promoted aseffective tools for managing fisherieswhile simultaneously meeting marineconservation goals and maintainingmarine biodiversity (Agardy, 1997).To evaluate marine reserve efficacyand measure population changes inresponse to protection, it is essentialto understand the abundance, age(or size) structure, and spatialdistribution of populations insideand outside the reserves (NationalResearch Council, 1999).Figure 1. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) of Tanner crab and red king crab during a systematicsurvey of Glacier Bay. Commercial fishing is closed in five areas of the Bay and remainsopen in the central Bay.The fisheries closures in Glacier Bay provide animportant opportunity to study marine reserve design andeffectiveness for high latitude species such as king and Tannercrabs. The legislation closed commercial fishing for Tannercrab (Chionoecetes bairdi) in five areas (fig. 1) in GlacierBay, forming a network of closures. The central part of theBay remains open to Tanner crab fishing, but is scheduledfor closure upon the retirement of current commercial permitholders (Department of the Interior, 1999). For red king crab(Paralithodes camtschaticus), all of Glacier Bay proper wasclosed to commercial fishing in 1999.The purpose of this study was to determine the relativeabundance and distribution of king and Tanner crab insideand outside the marine reserve network in Glacier Bay.Information from this survey will be used to (1) describethe distribution of Tanner and red king crabs in a large fjordestuarine system; (2) predict the effectiveness of the reservesin Glacier Bay; and (3) provide baseline data to measure theeffectiveness of marine reserves over time.1U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 1300 National Park Road,Juneau AK 998012U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, P.O. Box 140,Gustavus, AK 998263Current address for corresponding author: NMFS, Alaska Region, 709 W.9 th Street, Juneau, AK 99802 jennifer.mondragon@noaa.gov, 907-586-8743
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