Physical oceanographic data in the Gulf of Alaska/Shelikof Strait, May - June 2001

Fisheries-Oceanography Coordinated Investigations (FOCI) is an effort by NOAA and associated academic scientists. At present, FOCI consists of a Shelikof Strait (western Gulf of Alaska) walleye pollock project, and a NOAA Coastal Ocean Program project: Southeast Bering Sea Carrying Capacity. FOCI also supports associated projects, such as the Arctic Research Initiative, U.S. GLOBEC and North Pacific Marine Research Program, that address scientific issues related to FOCI. FOCI's goal is to understand the effects of abiotic and biotic variability on ecosystems of the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in order to discern the physical and biological processes that determine recruitment variability of commercially valuable finfish and shellfish stocks in Alaskan waters. The objectives of this cruise are to conduct an ichthyoplankton survey and process-oriented studies in the region between Kennedy Entrance and Shelikof Strait to Unimak Pass to estimate the abundance of young walleye pollock larvae, their transport, and factors influencing their survival. We also intend to occupy stations on Line 8 to continue our 15 yr. time series of environmental and biological conditions in Shelikof Strait.