DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE, AND GROWTH OF LARVAL WALLEYE POLLOCK, THERAGRA-CHALCOGRAMMA, IN AN ALASKAN FJORD

This study examines the early life history of a population of walleye pollock, Theragra chalcogramma (Pallas), that is found in Resurrection Bay, Alaska. Ichthyoplankton samples were taken at six stations in Resurrection Bay during early May and early June 1989 along with hydrographic data. Standard lengths of all walleye pollock were measured, and subsamples from two stations were aged by using otolith increments for growth rate and hatch date analysis. Abundances ranged from 60 to 575 larvae m-2 in May and from 0 to 10 larvae m-2 in June with densities of up to 12 larvae m-3 in May. The estimated growth rate was 0.18 mm/day. Back-calculated hatch dates ranged from late March until early May; the median hatch date was 22 April. Comparisons of abundance and growth rate to values from other habitats indicate that this deep fjord provides a suitable habitat for larval walleye pollock. Hydrographic data and larval size distribution suggest that advection plays a major role in determining the distribution of larvae in the fjord.