Vol. 53 - Alaska Resources Library and Information Services

density.
Such low abundance reiterates the fact that many positive
stations were still collected in marginal areas probably off the main
spawning grounds.
The highest densities of P. camtshatica larvae occurred from
western Unimak Island to Port Moller.
Densities that ranged an order of
magnitude from 5,000 - 50,000 larvae/100 m² were typical of this area.
The highest densities recorded were 67,000 larvae/100 m 2 north of Unimak
Island in May 1977, and 114,000/100 m² just northwest of the 50 m isobath
off Port Moller in May 1980 (Both values shown by star symbols in
Fig. 3.11).
The 50 m isobath is about 22-33 km (12-18 NM) offshore of
the NAS coast from Unimak Island to east of Port Moller (about Cape
Seviavin; Fig. 3.11), and marks the shoreward limit of zooplankton
collections in most years.
Virtually all high density red king larval
stations occurred along this depth contour or within a 40 km band to
seaward (Fig. 3.11, 3.12).
Occasional collections made from the PROBES
A line (Fig. 2.11) toward Port Moller revealed larval densities of a few
hundred to 3000/100 m² out to the 50 m isobath at about 57°30'N,
162°30'W.
Collections made from NOAA ships in 1981 also showed fairly
high densities of 2000-4000 larval/100 m² up to Port Heiden in Bristol
Bay (Fig. 3.11).
However, these few stations north and east of Port
Moller were the only available since 1976, so the extent and abundance
of larvae east of Cape Seniavin into Bristol Bay remains unknown; a
substantial informational gap in the picture of larval biology compiled
to date.
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