Fisheries, Subsistence, and Habitat
Publications Searchable Database
Search Again| Division: | Sport Fish |
| Title: | Estimates of chinook salmon abundance in the Kenai River using split-beam sonar, 2002. |
| Author: | Miller, J. D., D. L. Burwen, S. J. Fleischman |
| Year: | 2004 |
| Report ID: | Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No. 04-29 |
| Abstract: | The passage of Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in the Kenai River in 2002 was estimated using side-looking split-beam sonar technology. Early (16 May-30 June) and late (1 July-10 August) runs of Kenai River Chinook salmon have been monitored acoustically since 1987. A 200 kHz split-beam sonar system has been used since 1995 to estimate numbers of adult Chinook salmon migrating into the Kenai River. From 1987 to 1994, a 420 kHz dual-beam sonar was used to generate similar estimates. In 2002, the sonar project only operated through 5 August due to budgetary constraints. Total upstream Chinook salmon passage from 16 May through 5 August was an estimated 46,110 (SE = 535) fish; 7,162 (SE = 169) fish during the early run and 38,948 (SE = 508) fish during the late run. Total late-run passage extrapolated through 10 August was an estimated 41,807 (SE = 1,353) fish. The variability associated with these estimates reflects only sampling error and not other sources of uncertainty including target detectability, species composition, direction of travel, and target tracking. The peak daily passage of the early run occurred on 9 June with 50% of the run having passed by 15 June. The daily peak of the late run occurred on 3 July, with 50% of the late run having passed by 16 July, based on estimated passage through 10 August. |
| Keywords: | split-beam sonar, dual-beam sonar, Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, acoustic assessment, Kenai River, riverine sonar, early run, late run |