This seminar is part of the NOAA 'Omics Seminar Series, which takes place on the third Wednesday of every month at 12pm ET / 9am PT. 'Omics describes a suite of cutting-edge tools used to analyze DNA, RNA, proteins, or metabolites.

Date: August 19, 2022

Title: Implementing genetics into fisheries management: Case studies in Alaska fisheries

Presenter: Dr. Ingrid Spies

Abstract: Successful implementation of genetic stock structure into fisheries management plans involves a series of complicated steps, from identification of genetic stock structure, to interpretation in a management context, and development of an appropriate plan for incorporating the information into management. Here I discuss how simulation studies support the use of 'Omics in catch allocation, as well as several examples where genomics has (and has not) supported implementation of new management units. For example, a genetics study published in 2012 that showed significant genetic differentiation between Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Pacific cod motivated a split between the total allowable catch (TAC) in these regions. In addition to adjusting management units, fisheries management can take advantage of genetics to answer questions that are difficult to answer through other methods; genetics recently helped explain an extreme northward shift in Pacific cod in the Bering Sea. I will present several examples of new and ongoing 'Omics studies that have provided new information on stock structure of managed fish stocks in Alaska. I will describe how future research will combine genomics with environmental indicators to better understand how commercial fish species will respond to climate change.