Port Moller Test Fishery
To be added to the list of email recipients for all PMTF updates, send an email to pmtf@bbsri.org or use the form at the bottom of this page.
Project Overview
The Port Moller Test Fishery (PMTF) is conducted each year to help processors, fishermen, and fishery managers assess the timing, composition, and abundance of sockeye salmon returning to commercial fishing districts in Bristol Bay. BBSRI has chartered two research vessels to conduct test fishing since 2018. R/V Ocean Cat and F/V Miss Leona are the current vessels fishing the program.
BBSRI manages the project, provides technicians and gear to sample fish, and prepares all analyses and reports to managers, industry, and the public.
The PMTF is approximately 150 to 200 miles southwest of the Bristol Bay inshore fishing districts; sockeye salmon typically take 6 to 9 days to travel this distance. Because of this travel time, we are able to deliver data about the run to onshore industry and management partners about 3-4 days before the fish reach the inshore districts.
Data from our at-sea genetics and scale labs is used to produce genetic stock and age composition estimates in-season, and provides valuable information to managers about run demographics.
Test fishing stations spaced 10 nmi apart (i.e., even-numbered stations; see map), and are each fished for one 30 minute set per day. Up to six stations are fished each day, with each project vessel fishing half of the transect per day.
Test fishing occurs from approximately June 10 through July 12-15. Stations 2-12 range from 30 to 80 nmi offshore from Port Moller, on a line stretching from Port Moller towards Cape Newenham. Station 26 is ~ 150 nmi from Port Moller.
Test Fishing Stations
Data Collection
Picking and Sorting
As the nets are being hauled in, fish are picked and sorted into marked totes based on the mesh size they were caught in (4 1/2" or 5 1/8"). Each fish is cleaned to prevent genetic cross-contamination.
Sampling
Once all the gear has been hauled in, technicians sample each fish as the boat steams to the next station. Sockeye are counted, measured for mid-eye fork length, and scale and fin clip samples are collected.
Sample Processing
Every 2-3 days, scale cards and fin clip cards are exchanged between vessels and processed. The at-sea labs produce genotype data and digital scale images, which are sent to ADF&G for analysis.
PMTF Timeline
1967
ADF&G begins Port Moller Test Fishery
The project was started to predict the run strength of sockeye one week prior to their arrival in the inshore fishing districts. Drift gillnetters caught sockeye at lower stations as they passed Port Moller.
1988
University of Washington reintroduces PMTF
The project was restored with funding from Bristol Bay processors.
2002
BBSRI takes over PMTF operations
After the test fishery was almost abandoned, the Bristol Bay Science & Research Institute took control of the project with funding from BBSRI, the State of Alaska and BBRSDA.
2006
Gene Conservation Lab begins post-season stock composition estimates
Tissue samples collected during the test fishery season are sent to ADF&G's Gene Conservation Lab and used to produce genetic stock composition estimates of the season's sockeye run.
2011
Multi-Mesh nets introduced
To study the effects of mesh size on size selectivity in the fishery, the old 5.125" mesh net was replaced with nets with alternating panels of 4.5" and 5.125" mesh.
2018
Second vessel added to project
A second vessel, F/V Icelander, was contracted to fish the upper half of the transect (Stations 12-26) for the first time between June 15-22. Discovery of fish in the upper stations during this period prompted the R/V Pandalus to fish further offshore for the rest of the season, and the project has since been operated with two vessels.
2019
Project expands to cover entire transect
Suspecting that sockeye were passing through the northern half of Bristol Bay, the project expanded from fishing the lower half of the transect (Stations 2-12) to fishing the entire transect (Stations 2-26). Two vessels, R/V Pandalus and R/V Ocean Cat, were contracted to fish the entire transect.
2020
Net depth increased
After observing fish passing underneath the nets during certain conditions, project net depths were increased from 60 meshes deep to 100 (5.125")/111 (4/5") meshes deep. Catchments in the upper and lower halves of the new net were tracked so that data from the new net could be compared to data from the old net.
2022
At-sea laboratories onboard vessels
Following a successful trial period in 2021, onboard genetics and scale imaging laboratories were installed on one of the project vessels, F/V Half Moon Bay. These allowed scale and tissue samples to be processed onboard the vessels, rather than having them sent to shore and delivered to Anchorage every two days. Both labs produced excellent results and the at-sea laboratories became a permanent fixture of the project.
Project Data
BBSRI distributes four types of information from the PMTF:
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Daily Catch Updates
Report raw catches by panel, set duration, average fish size, weather and seastate, and the PMTF Index
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Interpretations of PMTF Data and developing run
Periodic forecasts of the entire year’s run and its relative strength to various districts (every 3 to 7 days)
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Stock Composition Estimates of the PMTF catches
Released by ADF&G Gene Lab up to 11 times per season
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Age Composition Estimates
Released by ADF&G multiple times per season
All are available for download on our Inseason Data Page
Receive daily catch updates
Send an email request to pmtf@bbsri.org to be added to the list of email recipients for all PMTF updates.
or
Use the form below.
Each series of updates are consecutively numbered and delivered by email to everyone on the BBSRI email listserv, then posted to the web page. There is no cost to be on the list serve and email addresses are not shared with anyone. Those on the list from the past year will automatically be included in the upcoming season's update list (no need to re-request). Although not mandatory, it is helpful if you could let us us know your affiliation with the fishery (e.g., harvesting, processing, fish buyer, shipper, supplier of gear, scientist, state or federal government biologist or manager).
To receive a brief summary of daily indexes by text message, text PMTF to 833-612-1053. You will automatically be added to our text distribution list.
Prior Annual Reports from PMTF, 2010-2023
These reports include a compilation of the in-season updates that were sent to the distribution list, including the stock and age composition updates, and describe the test-fishing sampling protocol. We also provide some performance metrics associated with the updates that were issued.