December 17, 2021
Watch NOAA scientists present the Gulf of Alaska Ecosystem to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (presentation minute 55 - 1:44).
Highlights include:
- 2nd consecutive non-marine heatwave year, with average ocean temperatures at surface and depth
- Mixed trends in prey abundance
- Zooplankton — below-average to average (spatially-variable)
- Forage fish — above-average
- Reduced abundance of groundfish apex predators (Pacific cod, arrowtooth flounder, Pacific halibut)
- Adult salmon returns improved from the lows of 2020 (abundant pink salmon)
- Biological community experiencing continued impacts from the 2014-2016 and 2019 marine heatwave periods