(Top left) Stage C1 Juvenile Red King Crabs (photo credit: Hank West)
(Bottom Left) Stage C1 Juvenile Red King Crabs (photo credit: Hank West)
(Bottom Right) Red King Crab carapace filled with eggs (photo credit: Chelsea Kovalcsik)

This report summarizes red king crab production science performed at the Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery (APSH) from September 30 2019 through May 28, 2020 as part of the AKCRRAB project. It summarizes all aspects of red king crab research from broodstock acquisition through larval rearing.

Red king crab ovigerous females (broodstock) were captured off Kodiak Island, Alaska in mid September 2019 and held for about two weeks at the NOAA lab in Kodiak. Two shipments of a total of 12 females were made from NOAA Kodiak to APSH. Of the twelve crabs shipped  two died within the first two months, likely due to shipping stress. Shipping survival of the broodstock was 85%.

The surviving 10 individually tagged broodstock were placed in a holding tank and received continuous flow-through filtered, ambient seawater. Seawater temperature averaged 4.73 C (range  4.0-5.8 C). 

Following the arrival of  ovigerous females at the hatchery, health assessments and embryonic measurements useful for estimating hatch timing were made on each females’s clutch of eggs on January 3, 2020.  Based on these measurements we predicted sufficient numbers of larvae to stock the larval rearing bins would occur in the first week of February.

On February 2, 2020, broodstock were moved from their holding tank into individual hatching bins.  While in the hatching bins from February 2-March 8, seawater temperature averaged 4.71 C. Hatching was complete by March 8, 2020. This was the earliest hatching has ever ended for red king crab females in the history of the AKCRRAB program. One unusual but recurring  occurrence was a large number of
“stillborn” larvae observed in the hatching bins. Instead of the typical pattern where newly hatched larvae swim vigorously up in the water column, large numbers of larvae from over half the broodstock died during the mornings after hatching. The cause of this is unknown.

Larval rearing was conducted in 11 cylindrical hatching bins. The larval hatching bins were stocked from February 4 through March 8, 2020.The eleven hatching bins were stocked with an average of 22,000 per bin and averaged 316 larvae per liter. A total of 243,730 stage 1 zoea larvae (Z1s) were stocked after 32 days. Larval rearing temperature was  4.7 C and salinity held steady at 31 ‰. The larvae were fed a diet of Easy DHA Selco enriched Great Lake strain ​Artemia​ to satiation at a concentration of 2 per ml per day at Z1 increasing up to 4 per ml per day at stage Z4. Seawater exchange was semistatic flow-through, conducted daily from 5 PM until 8 AM the following  morning at a constant flow rate of 6 liters per minute.

At the conclusion of the larval run the Z4s metamorphosis into the glaucothoe stage. The larvae which survived to the glaucothoe stage were harvested from the larval rearing bins from March 17 to April 18. Survival from stocking of Z1s to the glaucothoe averaged 6.48% (range .64 to 23%) and a total of 107,000 glaucothoe were produced. The harvested glaucothoe were transferred to nursery rearing bins with 100 μm mesh bottoms and containing gillnet as substrate and reared at 4.7 C. The glaucothoe are morphologically distinct from the zoeae. At this stage they seek out substrate on which to attach and they stop feeding. They subsist on energy reserves accumulated and stored as lipids during the zoeal stages of development. Molting to the first juvenile crab stage (C1) began after a period of around 25 days in the glaucothoe rearing bins. A total of 4,930 C1s were produced and shipped to the NOAA lab in Kodiak to be used for outstocking research on  May 28, 2020.

The ANTHC made a call for art to be included in their Tribal Capacity and Training Program’s Climate Change Adaptation Workbook. In this workbook, ANTHC wanted photos to show what healthy environments and communities look like hoping that they will inspire future climate adaptation leaders!

CRRC’s “Least Wanted” List! 

This week on CRRC’s Least Wanted list is Alaska’s first documented aquatic invader, European Green Crab!

The European green crab is not known to occur in Alaska, yet it is an invasive species in the Pacific Northwest, as far north as British Columbia. The European green crab is also known as the European shore crab. It is a small, aggressive marine shore crab found in rocky intertidal and estuarine areas. Although the crab’s common name would lead one to believe they are always green in color, in fact, their coloration varies. Additionally, since there are crabs native to Alaska that can have green shells, such as Dungeness crab, kelp crab, and helmet crab, color is not a good feature by which to identify unknown crabs. The dorsal (top) shell or carapace is often multicolored and mottled, ranging in color from dark or olive green to brown or grey, with yellow patches. The ventral surface (underside) color may change from green to orange and to red during the molting cycle. Also useful are the three rounded lobes (bumps) between the eyes. The carapace width of an adult European green crab is typically about 2.5 inches long, but can range up to 4 inches (5.5 – 8 cm) outside of its native range.

The European green crab is not known to occur in Alaska, yet it is an invasive species in the Pacific Northwest, as far north as British Columbia. The European green crab is also known as the European shore crab. It is a small, aggressive marine shore crab found in rocky intertidal and estuarine areas. Although the crab’s common name would lead one to believe they are always green in color, in fact, their coloration varies. Additionally, since there are crabs native to Alaska that can have green shells, such as Dungeness crab, kelp crab, and helmet crab, color is not a good feature by which to identify unknown crabs. The dorsal (top) shell or carapace is often multicolored and mottled, ranging in color from dark or olive green to brown or grey, with yellow patches. The ventral surface (underside) color may change from green to orange and to red during the molting cycle. Also useful are the three rounded lobes (bumps) between the eyes. The carapace width of an adult European green crab is typically about 2.5 inches long, but can range up to 4 inches (5.5 – 8 cm) outside of its native range.

Potential impacts:

• May have negative impacts on local commercial, personal use and subsistence fisheries and cause habitat disturbance
• The species composition of rocky shore and soft-bottom communities, and the distribution, abundance, size, morphology, and behavior of prey populations can be dramatically altered when green crabs are present
• Eelgrass beds can be damaged – Since eel grass beds are valuable habitat and provide refugia for juvenile salmonids, among other species, the establishment of green crab in Alaska waters could result in detrimental changes in intertidal ecosystem dynamics
• Newly settled juvenile green crabs prey heavily on the infauna, such as tubeworms, juvenile clams and juvenile crabs
• Native clams, cockles, mussels, and snails are preferred prey for green crab

Characteristics:

• Dungeness crabs have 10 small spines, whereas European green crabs have 5 larger spines.
• The European Green Crab can measure from 2.5 to 4 inches in length.
• The most identifiable characteristic of European green crabs is the set of five triangular teeth, or spines, evenly spaced on each side of the carapace margin, located between the eyes and the widest part of the shell.

Range:
The European green crab is native to coastal Europe and North Africa, including the Baltic Sea in the east and Iceland and central Norway in the north. It is the most common crab throughout much of its range. Its feeding habits and tolerance of a wide variety of environmental conditions have enabled it to occupy numerous coastal communities outside its native range. Populations are now established on both coasts of North America

REPORT IT!
1-877-INVASIV (468-2748)
or contact Dan Coleman
Invasive Weeds and Agricultural Pest Coordinator

1-907-745-8721 

In 2019, the Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery successfully developed the techniques to produce the soft-shelled clam Mya arenaria. Staff noticed the increased prevalence of the clams in Resurrection Bay and other locations such as Seldovia and Port Graham.  The Hakai Institute one of the partners with ocean acidification research at APSH suggested the clams have a different mechanism for depositing calcium in their shells and would like to continue research on this phenomenon. APSH wanted to be able to produce these clams for their research.

The clams did very well in the hatchery with high survivals and growth rates.  Based on the experience APSH has received permits to work with the clams again in 2020 and will do trial out-stocking experiments in Resurrection Bay in 2021.

The CRRC team, in collaboration with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Tribal Management Program, held an online course titled “An Introduction to Fish & Wildlife Management.” This course was held in lieu of in-person instruction, as the coronavirus concerns prevented CRRC and UAF from delivering the material on site. Instead, the group held online classes over the course of 6 days where instructors provided material, facilitated discussions, and examined case studies. This course was offered for credit to participants, and was advertised to CRRC Member Tribes, students of the UAF Tribal Management Program, and other partners that showed interest.
Throughout the course, the group received instruction by Dr. Jim Simon and Carrie Stevens on the broad landscape, history, and timing of fish and wildlife management in Alaska and specifically on the Board of Fish and Board of Game agencies. Dr. Courtney Carothers presented on the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council and CRRC’s own Patty Schwalenberg provided instruction on the Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council.
Many participants shared their own experiences with these regulatory agencies or concerns they have with fish and wildlife management that they’d like to address through the proper regulatory channels. These examples were valuable contributions to the course, allowing the entire group see how to address the appropriate agency and gain traction in resolving the issue.

The CRRC staff have been working diligently with committee members of the Tribal Climate Camp 2020, on behalf of the Affiliated Tribes of the Northwest Indians, to make the event a success. There are two working groups, the curriculum group and the planning group, that Willow, Chelsea, and Rachel are all involved with. Each group meets every other week, staggered, and discusses next steps in preparing for the climate camp. Some of the tasks have involved choosing a location from a variety of options, doing outreach to find interested tribal delegates from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, building curriculum in line with the values at the core of the event.

In hopes to ensure the safety and health of our TCC delegates, invited elders, instructors, facilitators, and all of our families (upon our return) in regards to COVID-19, we have begun to make plans to reschedule the Camp for May 23-28, 2021 (instead of the planned dates of September 7-11, 2020). While we are disappointed that this is necessary, we sincerely believe that this is the responsible decision to make at this time. We hope that these new dates will still work for everyone. Applications submitted to attend the camp will be reviewed starting on June 26, 2020. Everyone who applies to attend the camp should hear from the planning team regarding a decision by mid-July.

In light of these revised plans, the TCC team is considering hosting online introductory conversations in the months prior to the camp scheduled in May. This would allow us to invite a few more speakers to engage the TCC delegates.  We are working with a very special group of speakers, elders, and instructors for the Camp, but Alaska has so many great options that we would all benefit from being able to invite a few more.  

For those of you that missed the May 27^th, 2020 webinar titled: “Opportunities for Developing and Funding Wetland Programs across Alaska”, we are happy to announce that we have the presentation recording available on Chugach Regional Resources Commission’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/UA_kNORZacI and on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/crrcalaska/. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Environmental Protection Agency and Chugach Regional Resources Commission collaborated to deliver an open webinar to inform Alaskans about the importance of wetland inventories and grant programs to support both landscape and local planning activities. 

Wetlands serve important ecological roles that support habitat for species Alaskans depend on for food, fuel and shelter.  Additionally, due to their importance, there are guidelines that must be followed when developing infrastructure such as water treatment plants, roads and subdivisions.  It is estimated that over 43% of Alaska is covered by wetlands (Hall 1994).  However, less than 50% of these wetlands have been mapped.  We hope you are able to join us to learn more about Alaska’s wetlands and what they mean to your community.

Please share this information with others you think would be interested in viewing the webinar, thank you!

On March 18th, 2020 Willow Hetrick and Chelsea Kovalcsik were asked to present about Chugach Regional Resources Commission’s programs and projects at the Prince William Sound Natural History Symposium, hosted by the PWS Stewardship Foundation, PWS Regional Citizens Advisory Council, and City of Whittier. The Chugach National Forest is assisting with coordination and providing several expert speakers. The online symposium featured 18 local speakers and explored Prince William Sound’s natural science, history, culture, land management and more.  Originally conceived for guides, naturalists, and other educators the symposium has become popular with anyone who wants to learn more about Prince William Sound.
 
Willow Hetrick provided a brief history of their four Tribes located in Prince William Sound of Tatitlek, Chenega, Eyak (Cordova) and Valdez and showcases environmental monitoring efforts and natural resource management initiatives in the Prince William Sound and the greater Chugach region and CRRC’s food sovereignty and wetlands projects. Chelsea Kovalcsik presented on the Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery’s community water quality sampling program and CRRC’s approach to aiding co-management of Tribal subsistence resources. There were over 200 attendees during the presentation and a video recording of the presentation can be found here!

CRRC Regional Environmental Coordinator,
Chelsea Kovalcsik

1. Moving Closure reviews from the non-consent agenda to the consent agenda.  2020 was the last year that closure reviews will automatically be placed on the non-consent agenda. From 2021 on, it will be important to look at the consent agenda items to ensure any included closure reviews for our region align with Tribal interests. In the past, these closure reviews would be discussed individually at each Board meeting and there would be opportunity for public input. Now, if someone disagree with maintaining a closure, they will need to request the closure review be moved from the consent to the non-consent agenda to be discussed individually.

    

2. Positioning. The Bristol Bay Subsistence Regional Advisory Council submitted two proposals, WP20-26 and WP20-27, that addressed the use of snow machines in subsistence hunting. The RAC submitted these proposals after a local hunter was cited for using a snow machine to illegally position an animal. WP20-26 and WP20-27 specifically allow hunters to position themselves and shoot from a non-moving snow machine, in accordance with ANILCA which allows the use of modern tools in subsistence harvest.  Both proposals passed. 
3. Attempts to open up hunting for non-subsistence use.  Tribal members from across the state rallied to testify in opposition to WP20-49, a proposal to open up the Arctic Village Sheep Management Area in unit 25A to non-Federally qualified subsistence users. This proposal was submitted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game but was voted down by the Federal Subsistence Board members. CRRC is building expertise on subsistence management to become part of a network that helps defend subsistence and Tribal food sovereignty state-wide. 
4. Request for clarification of conflicting Federal law and agency policy.  During Tribal Consultation sessions, Alaska Native groups revisited a question they had brought up in previous meetings regarding what takes precedence when ANILCA and agency policy contradict each other. Sometime proposals create a direct conflict between agency-specific regulations and ANILCA and there has been no action taken to resolve these conflicts. Gene Peltola, BIA representative on the Board, issued a formal motion to resolve this question, which will likely require input from the Secretary of Interior. Clarifying this question could have impacts on how Board members make decisions in the future.

Help us understand how climate change is affecting your environment and your community

Survey link:  https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5670176/Copy-of-Chugach-Vulnerability-Assessment

APSH has a water quality monitoring program with state-of-the-art monitoring equipment and easy to utilize field kits. The monitoring program is expanding to include not only the CRRC tribes that we serve but also to villages outside our regional coverage area. The intention is to collect baseline data to characterize a locales seawater quality over time, such as a subsistence clamming beach. The data will be openly shared to the villages and may serve to help predict and perhaps forecast seawater quality.  Characterizing the carbonate minerals available for shell producing marine life in a specific location over time could facilitate successful clam restoration.

Jacqueline Ramsay the program’s director along with technician Vanessa Verhey, trained Environmental Coordinators from King Cove, Chenega, Pt. Graham, Nanwalek and Eyak. This two-day training was a part of the IGAP FY19 work plan and encompassed training on the YSI, sampling protocol, the Burke-o-Lator, chemical hygiene and guidelines for using fixative, and collecting and sending in samples for testing. APSH community sampling program is in it’s 5^th successful year sampling around the Chugach region and has been slowly expanding around the rest of Alaska. Continued success depends on community samplers feeling validated in their great work, understanding the process and importance of sampling, and having a platform for information exchange, which were some of the goals of this training. Intended for both new and experienced samplers, this training also served as an opportunity for community members from around the state to meet virtually and share concerns, successes, and failures with the sampling program.

In the early 1900’s, market hunting of migratory birds was out of control.  Many species were being decimated in part due to the popularity of using feathers as decorations in hats and other clothing.  In order to protect nesting birds, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) was enacted by Congress in 1918.  This meant no hunting between March 10 and September 1.  Bird hunting in Alaska during the spring and summer, however, continued despite prohibition.  Once Alaska became a state, enforcement of the MBTA was inevitable.  As a result, people were arrested, guns confiscated, birds seized, and fines were issued.  This enforcement action caused many hardships across the state as birds are a very important food source, particularly since it is the first fresh food to arrive after a long winter.

Alaska Natives fought to amend the MBTA after seeing the negative impacts of enforcement actions in the 60’s and 70’s.  Finally, in 1997, their hard work was rewarded when an amendment to the MBTA was passed, allowing for the legal spring and summer harvest of migratory birds for subsistence in Alaska.  In addition, treaties were signed with Japan and Russia and the U.S. negotiated protocols with both Canada and Mexico to allow for this harvest.  The Amendment protocol commits to long term conservation of migratory birds for their nutritional, social, cultural, spiritual, economic, and aesthetic value.  The amendment also provides for the customary harvest of migratory birds and their eggs for subsistence use by indigenous inhabitants of Alaska.  One of the main caveats of the amendment was not to cause significant increases in the take of birds relative to continental populations.

Another important part of the amendment protocol was that it afforded indigenous inhabitants with an effective and meaningful role in the development of regulations governing the spring-summer harvest season.  The term “meaningful role” was put into action in 2000 when the Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council was established.  This unique decision-making body is comprised of three partners: the U.S. Government represented by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), the State of Alaska, represented by the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), and the Alaska Native Caucus, represented by ten Alaska Native representatives, each representing a separate geographic region of the state where migratory birds are harvested.  All partners have an equal vote in the decision-making process.  The goal of the AMBCC is to develop consensus on issues before the Council.

Recommendations for initial regulations were submitted by each regional representative and adopted by the AMBCC.  These regulations were submitted to the USFWS for approval, and in 2003, the first legal subsistence harvest of migratory birds was officially open.

Today, proposed regulations are submitted on an annual basis to the AMBCC.  The proposals are vetted throughout the state by the ten regional organizations (also referred to as regional management bodies), deliberated by the AMBCC Technical Committee comprised of representatives from each partner organization, voted on by the AMBCC, and if approved, forwarded on to the USFWS for approval and publication in the federal register.

Since the first legal harvest season in 2003, the AMBCC has become a leader in co-management in Alaska.  It is one of the best co-management models for Tribes, as each partner has an equal vote.  Developing a good working relationship amongst the partners takes trust.  Trust in each other, trust in the co-management process, and trust in our common goals – the conservation of the migratory birds that we all depend upon, whether it be for subsistence, sport hunting, bird watching, or just to enjoy the fact that our world is much better with migratory birds in it.

Stay tuned.  Our next newsletter article will focus on another aspect of the Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council.

On June 11th, Jacqueline Ramsay, APSH Ocean Acidification Lab Manager, spoke about OA, APSH’s OA monitoring program and the hatcheries unique position to have state of the art monitoring and be able to house future research programs looking at different species thresholds when it comes to OA. Below is the agenda for the day! 

Sugt’stun = Ken’tuq

English = It is low tide

Sentence in Sugt’stun = Ken’tuq aciwarluta

Sentence in English = It is low tide, let’s go gather seafood

Translated by: Sperry and Sally Ash

Sugt’stun = Cuqlliq

English = Elder

Sentence in Sugt’stun = Cuqllirpaq pitani minartutaq’gki cuqlliminun

Sentence in English = He gave his first catch to his elders

Translated by: Sperry and Sally Ash

“Sugt’stun is the traditional language of the Sugpiaq communities across the Alaska Peninsula, Prince William Sound and Kodiak Island. This includes the villages of Port Graham and Nanwalek. Nanwalek residents Sally and Sperry Ash have collaborated with KBBI to share the Sugt’stun language with the communities of the southern Kenai Peninsula. A new word will air each week, twice a day. You can hear the Sugt’stun Word of the Week on weekdays at 7:59 a.m. and 4:59 p.m. and weekends at 9:18 a.m. and 4:18 p.m.” – KBBI.org

Interested in what CRRC is up to these next couple of months? Take a look at our calendar and stay up-to-date. Hopefully we will see you around!