Alaska King Crab Research, Rehabilitation & Biology Program An Introduction

Presented by Jeff Hetrick

Director Alutiiq Pride Shellfish

The AKCRRAB Science Team

Ginny Eckert UAF/UAS Brad Stevens U. Mass. Dartmouth Brian Allee Alaska Sea Grant Jeff Hetrick Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery Sara Persselin NOAA NMFS Celeste Leroux UAF/Alaska Sea Grant Ben Daly Alaska Sea Grant Jim Swingle Alaska Sea Grant

Background Red King Crab Fishery

Background Blue King Crab Fishery

Early Enhancement Activities in Alaska

1992 International King Crab Rehabilitation and Enhancement Symposium 1990s-2000s Extensive research by Dr. Brad Stevens in Kodiak and Japan 2000s Continued research by NMFS Kodiak 2006 Alaska Crab Stock Enhancement and Rehabilitation Workshop

Small scale experiment setup

S. Persselin and B. Stevens, Kodiak AK

AKCRRAB - Structure
Steering Committee Science Team Partnerships Research collaborators Advisory Board

Crab and Lobster Enhancement Initiatives

-A Few ExamplesSwimming crab, Japan Red King Crab, Japan

American Lobster, New England

Crab and Lobster Enhancement Initiatives

-A Few Examples Blue crab, Chesapeake Bay
Excellent model for investigating feasibility of enhancement

European lobster, Norway

Commercial sea ranching very successful

King Crab Life Cycle

Egg Day 1 Egg Day 395

Prezoea

Zoea 1

Zoea 2

Zoea 3

Zoea 4

Glaucothoe

Crab Instar 1

King Crab Life Cycle

Juvenile podding behavior

Adult solitary behavior

Mating behavior

Female with extruded eggs

Broodstock Collection

Anchorage Seward St. Paul, Pribilof Islands November 2006 Alitak Bay, Kodiak July 2006

Hatchery Setup

Seward Marine Center

Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery

Hatchery Setup Larval culture

Flow-through system Conical bottom tanks Circulation with air stones Uniform lighting of tanks

Larval Rearing Modules at APSH

Larval Rearing Food Production

Artemia sp. (brine shrimp) Algae

24 hr. old Artemia nauplius

Isochrysis galbana algae

Artemia sp. production

Algae production

AKCRRAB 2007 Experiments

Red King Crab
Larval diet study Larval density hatchery trials

Blue King Crab

Larval diet/handling stress study Larval density study Juvenile trial rearing Water quality investigation
P. Platypus ZIs swim in Petri dish

RKC Larval Rearing Diet Study

March 7, 2007 May 3, 2007

Purpose: To test effect of algae or diatom enrichment on RKC larval survival and growth to glaucothoe stage. Diet Treatments: Isochrysis galbana Tahitian strian (T-ISO) Pavlova lutheri (PAV) Thalassiosira pseudonana (3H) No enrichment, Artemia sp. only (Art.)

P. camtschaticus ZI

BKC Larval Handling Stress/Diet study

May 14, 2007 June 12, 2007

Purpose: To test effects of live algae vs. algae concentrate as dietary enrichment and effect of handling stress on BKC larval survival and growth to the glaucothoe stage. Treatments: Diet: Live T-ISO Concentrate T-ISO Handling: Once per zoeal stage No handling
P. platypus ZIs

BKC Larval Rearing - Survival

Percent survival per diet treatment -handling treatment only100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Z1 Z2 MEAN LIVE Z3 Z4 G

Percent Survival of all BKC ZI to G

100 80 60 40 20 0 Z1 G No handling, live algae No handling, algae concentrate

MEAN CONCENTRATE

Handling, live algae Handling, algae concentrate

RKC & BKC Growth

Average dry weight of larvae
1.200

Weight in milligrams

1.000 0.800 0.600 0.400 0.200 0.000 ZI ZII RKC ZIII BKC ZIV

Average Temp. of RKC Larval Rearing Tanks

10

Degrees Celcius

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 Duration of experiment

Average temperature of BKC larval rearing tanks

1 3 1 1

Degrees Celcius

9 7 5 3

Duration of experiment

Larval Rearing Survival - Discussion

Concern
Water Quality Microbiological contamination Temperature fluctuation Excessive aeration Nutritional deprivation

Course of Action
Monitor for hydrocarbons Monitor for Vibrio bacteria Improve water system Decrease aeration Fatty acid analysis & Further diet investigations

Other Hatchery Studies

Larval rearing density studies Water quality investigations Juvenile trial rearing

Ongoing&Projects Pathology Genetics

Larval fatty acid analysis Larval growth measurements

2007 Research Findings Summary

Hatchery scale red and blue king crab larval and juvenile rearing is possible. Tremendous accomplishment in areas of technology transfer, hatchery setup, preliminary research and baseline data. Need to refine setup in identified ways to improve survival, as expected.

P. camtschaticus glaucothoe

AKCRRAB Long-term vision

Artificial Propagation Habitat Studies Genetics & Pathology
Goal: Assess biological & economic feasibility of red and blue king crab population rehabilitation through ocean ranching.

ANA King Crab Rehabilitation/Enhancement Grant Goal and Objectives

The goal of this three year grant would be the development of production and operation techniques (hatchery and nursery) with a positive benefits/cost for producing juvenile king crab for release into the wild from facilities at Old Harbor

1)

Investigate and develop king crab hatchery/nursery techniques at the Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery in Seward for producing king crab juveniles with a 1 inch carapace length. This would include a preliminary marking program for identifying hatchery released crab recovered in the wild. Training for Old Harbor residents. This would include training for up to six residents in juvenile king crab hatchery and nursery production techniques to a level that would allow them to operate a hatchery/nursery system in Old Harbor under general supervision, and training for up to three residents in supervision and management duties and responsibilities. This would include training for at least one resident to become a certified diver who would assist in various evaluation work associated with the project such as habitat surveys, identifying potential release sites and monitoring the progress of released crab.

2)

3) Identify potential sites for a juvenile king crab production facility in Old Harbor and produce design criteria for constructing and equipping a hatchery/nursery system in Old Harbor with low capital and operating costs.

1)

Conduct a benefit/cost analysis for hatchery/nursery production of juvenile king crab at Old Harbor.

Thanks
Alaska Sea Grant College Program AKCRRAB Science Team & Steering Committee NOAA Aquaculture Program NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery Alaska Department of Fish and Game United Fishermans Association Central Bering Sea Fishermans Association United Fishermans Marketing Association and all of our supporters nationwide

Questions

Red king crab (P. camtschaticus) eggs, Seward, Alaska