Southeast Alaska Spot Prawn Sex Ratio Distribution and Habitat Preferences

Abstract

Spot prawns (Pandalus platyceros) are a commercial commodity in Southeast Alaska. They are an important industry and essential to marine ecosystems. There has been a significant decline in the numbers of wild shrimp found around the Juneau area, leading to concerns from fisherman and scientists. This project will determine a frequency distribution for spot shrimp size in different depth and substrate conditions in Chatham straight and Lynn Canal. This project aims to gain information about the benthic preferences between the different sexes of spot shrimp. This study will use technology and netted pots to observe and sample bottom fauna and gain a better understanding of the role spot shrimp have in the marine environment. Information gained from this study may help explain the patterns of decline we are noticing in the Southeast Alaska spot prawn populations.