In response to the growing concerns among Chugach communities, contaminant body burden and histopathological condition of chum and sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus keta and Oncorhynchus nerka) and the shellfish cockles and softshell clams (Clinocardium nuttallii and Mya arenaria) were assessed. The fish and shellfish were collected from traditional subsistence harvest areas in the vicinity of Nanwalek, Port Graham and Seldovia, AK, and were analyzed for trace metals and residues of organic contaminants. Additionally, the fish and shellfish were histologically characterized for the presence, prevalence and severity of tissue pathology, disease, and parasite infections. Data served under this project include measurements of trace elements, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls, DDTs, chlorinated hydrocarbons and histopathology parameters, which include an array of about 30 parasitic taxa (e.g. bucephalus, chlamydia, ciliates, cestodes and nematodes) and 11 diseases (e.g. tumors, neoplasm and necrosis). This project provides invaluable baseline data that is georeferenced and served on the internet through the NOAA's National Status and Trends data portal.

NOAA Fisheries is a cooperator with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Lummi, Nooksack, and Stillaguamish Tribes in a 10-year program to rebuild the South Fork Nooksack River spring Chinook and Stillaguamish River fall Chinook stocks through a captive broodstock program. Information on the number of juveniles received into the program is maintained and summarized by year. The production of prespawning adults transferred to Tribal Facilities for spawning is also annually summarized.

To evaluate effects of human influence on the health of Puget Sound's pelagic ecosystems, we propose a sampling program across multiple oceanographic basins measuring key attributes of the pelagic foodweb. We will quantify seasonal abundance and composition of pelagic biota from lower trophic levels (e.g., bacteria and phytoplankton) to middle trophic levels (e.g., zooplankton, small pelagic fishes, and jellyfish), as well as assess the individual condition of forage fish and juvenile salmon. The goals of this program: 1) Determine how foodweb endpoints vary across natural and anthropogenic gradients. 2) Determine how these characteristics vary across Puget Sound. 3) Evaluate a number of biological metrics for monitoring ecosystem health. These outputs will improve our basic understanding of pelagic ecology in Puget Sound, better define what comprises a healthy pelagic ecosystem in Puget Sound, determine foodweb-relevant indicators that are sensitive to human influence, and help prioritize regional protection and restoration efforts. Work is conducted by NOAA personnel and contractors in collaboration with tribal partners (Squaxin, Port Gamble/S'Klallam), undergraduate research interns, and citizen volunteers. Access database containing all conductivity/temperature/depth (CTD) casts.

Each year, a number of seafood samples are exported from the US to Europe, including edible tissues collected from high trophic level marine fish species such as dogfish. Obtaining information on concentrations of potentially toxic environmental contaminants [e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls, mercury] in these samples is important to ensure that these export products are safe for human consumption. As part of a pilot study, edible tissues (back and belly muscle) of spiny and smooth dogfish collected during fleet study and dockside surveillance operations in the Northeast Region of the US were analyzed at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center for a suite of persistent organic pollutants including PCBs, DDTs and other chlorinated pesticides to determine the influence of biological factors (e.g., length, sex) and geographical collection region on contaminant levels. Persistent organic pollutants, stable isotopes, and lipids in smooth and spiny dogfish from the northwestern Atlantic.

Long-running science support for the agency (Office of Protected Resources, others) related to the use of modern pesticides throughout the United States as a limiting factor for endangered species conservation and recovery. This work is currently supporting several national ESA Biological Opinions, and is under review by the National Academy of Sciences. The NAS panel recommendations are expected in the summer of 2013, and these will guide additional research in FY14 and beyond. Analyses of water and tissue samples for pesticides.

Puget Sound and the Northwest Straits have experienced a long history of commercial fishing activity. Although much of this fishing activity no longer takes place, there remains lost and abandoned fishing gear throughout Puget Sound and the Northwest Straits. Derelict gear has the potential to impact marine fauna through entanglement and trapping. Collaborative work of federal, state and tribal agencies with local and regional non-governmental agencies, specifically the Northwest Straits Foundation, has recovered thousands of derelict nets and pots since 2002 and documented their impacts on marine fauna, many of which are of commercial and/or conservation concern. Marine fauna.

This project seeks to develop and apply an assessment of shellfish growing area (SGA) vulnerability to closures caused by watershed- and marine-derived pathogens. Using empirical data and quantitative models, we will examine the impacts of alternative watershed management strategies, nearshore protection, and climate on the vulnerability of three SGA. Outputs include the following: 1) Maps of the spatial distribution of terrestrial and marine-derived sources of nutrients and pathogens. 2) Validated model estimates of transport of nutrients and pathogens to SGA under future climate and restoration strategies. 3) Assessments of the fate of nutrients and pathogens in terms of changes in ecosystem service values provided by SGA--filtration, food web support, and socio-economic impacts due to harvest closures. Outcomes include improvements in the ability of shellfish growers and managers to classify vulnerability of SGA according to risk of future closures, and to prioritize strategies for improving delivery of shellfish-related ecosystem services and values. Nitrogen nutrient data for three shellfish growing areas in the Puget Sound.

Over one half of the worlds fish production for human consumption currently comes from aquaculture, while wild fisheries yields are either stable or declining. Recurring threats from the raphidophyte, Heterosigma akashiwo Hada (Sournia) have caused extensive damage ($2-6 million per episode) to wild and net-penned fish of Puget Sound, Washington, and are believed to be increasing in scope and magnitude in this region, and elsewhere in the world over the past two decades. The mechanism of H. akashiwo toxicity is not well understood. The toxic activity of H. akashiwo has been attributed to the production of reactive oxygen species, brevetoxin-like compound(s), excessive mucus, or hemolytic activity; however these mechanisms are not confirmed consistently in all fish-killing events or cultured strains. The difficulty of conducting research with active, toxin-producing field populations of H. akashiwo have resulted in conflicting findings from those obtained in lab culture studies, thereby limiting the ability of fish farmers to respond to these episodic blooms. Collaborators in this project are: Vera Trainer (NWFSC), William Cochlan (San Francisco State University), Charles Trick (University of Western Ontario), and Mark Wells (University of Maine). The overall goal of this project is to identify the primary toxic element and the specific environmental factors that stimulate fish-killing H. akashiwo blooms, and thereby provide managers with the fundamental tools needed to help reduce the frequency and toxic magnitude of these harmful algal events. Studies to date have provided incomplete and conflicting observations on the mode of toxicity and the environmental stimulation of toxification. We propose a three-pronged approach to study the environmental controls of H. akashiwo growth and toxin production; laboratory culture experiments, field observations, and bottle and mesocosm manipulation experiments.The project objectives are to: 1. identify the element(s) of toxic activity (inorganic, organic, or synergistic) associated with blooms of H. akashiwo and the various cellular morphologies of this alga, 2. determine the environmental parameters that stimulate the growth success and expression of cell toxicity in the H. akashiwo populations of Puget Sound. Because previous studies have used H. akashiwo cultures with little or no toxic activity, our approach is to use a living laboratory to study H. akashiwo bloom ecology and toxicity using natural assemblages. Using a mobile lab at field sites where H. akashiwo cells are regularly found will enable us to fully characterize the toxic element(s) responsible for fish mortality, and the environmental factors influencing toxicity. Findings from annual field studies in June and two rapid response deployments during major bloom events will be confirmed using laboratory studies with fresh ( 6 mo. old) isolates. The expected results are: 1. determination of the key elements of toxicity of H. akashiwo, 2. characterization of the environmental variables that influence either the induction or depression of elements of toxic activity in H. akashiwo, 3. characterization of environmentally-induced metabolites corresponding to condition of toxin production (metabolomics) and 4. design of a strategy for realistic mitigation of H. akashiwo activities in Puget Sound, Washington. This is a stand-alone project funded for 3 years through the NOAA/NSF ECOHAB program. Contains oceanographic parameters such as temperature, salinity, density, fluorescence and nutrient concentrations. Also contains information on the toxic elements of Heterosigma akashiwo and physiological conditions related to observed toxic effects.

Research support for various organizations in NOAA (Northwest Regional Office (NWR), HQ Office of Protected Resources, National Ocean Service (NOS) Coastal Services Center) for copper related to the harmful impacts of urban stormwater runoff, pesticide use, antifoulant use, and mining (e.g., proposed hardrock mining in Alaska). This has been a core focus of Ecotoxicology research for years, and may redirect to address key and high-profile data gaps specific to salmon habitat threats in Alaska. Analyses of water samples for water chemistry (e.g., pH) and metals.

The NWFSC OA team will model the effects of ocean acidification on regional marine species and ecosystems using food web models, life-cycle models, and bioenvelope models. Spreadsheet.