Navigating the Maritime Realm: A Fisheries Expedition with Chris Anderson
In the heart of Alaska, where research vessels navigate the remote seas, Chris Anderson, a fishery biologist at NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center, is making waves. For 15 years, Anderson has been part of the NOAA team, conducting research for fisheries-independent bottom trawl surveys.
Each day, Anderson and his team aim to complete four to six hauls, using a bottom trawl net to sample for 30 or 15 minutes. The data collected during these surveys are crucial for understanding fish populations and overall ecosystem health.
As Deck Lead, Anderson oversees deck operations and biological data collection. His role involves preparing equipment, managing the handling of catches once hauled, and ensuring accurate data recording using digital tablets and Oracle databases. The data collected, such as species identification, weight, size, sex composition, food habits from stomach content, and age from otolith analysis, provide essential inputs to understanding fish stock status and trends.
The work of Anderson and his team directly informs sustainable fisheries policies. The data collected during NOAA's summer bottom trawl surveys are the scientific foundation for stock assessments and sustainable management of Alaska fisheries.
Long days at sea can be challenging, but small comforts, like a box of Goldfish, help keep morale up. Moments at sea, such as watching seabirds or witnessing marine life, serve as a powerful reminder of the uniqueness and importance of their work.
Once the net is retrieved, the catch is sorted on a table, weighed by species, and size and sex composition data is obtained. Some fish are further sampled to assess food habits through stomach collection and age through otolith analysis.
After spending extended periods at sea, Anderson experiences a sense of 'land sickness'. However, the science produced by the team helps ensure future generations inherit healthy, thriving oceans. The team is responsible for transforming months of fieldwork into actionable science, contributing to stock assessments and sustainable fisheries management by collecting crucial fisheries-independent data.
Before his current role, Anderson was a North Pacific fisheries observer. Today, he co-leads cold-water survival training to ensure that every team member is prepared for emergencies at sea. The team looks forward to sharing their work with managers and the public, eager to contribute to a healthier and more sustainable future for our oceans.
[1] Source: NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center
- Chris Anderson, as a fishery biologist at NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center, utilizes science to manage fisheries in his workplace-wellness.
- Anderson's data-and-cloud-computing projects, like bottom trawl surveys, help in understanding health-and-wellness of fish populations and the overall ecosystem.
- In his role as Deck Lead, Anderson incorporates technology in managing deck operations and biological data collection, ensuring accuracy in data recording.
- The work done by Anderson and his team in fisheries management contributes significantly to the environmental-science field, aiming to create a healthier and more sustainable future for our oceans.
