Genetic testing of Bering Sea pollock chum salmon bycatch is changing how Alaska fisheries manage stock sustainability, according to the Bristol Bay Science and Research Institute (BBSRI). Operating out of a one-room genetics lab in Dutch Harbor, lab manager Abby Duffy and her team extract DNA from fin clips weekly to track where harvested chum salmon originate, providing critical data to subsistence communities and federal regulators.
Inside the Dutch Harbor Genetics Lab
Every week from June to October, corresponding with the Bering Sea pollock B season, BBSRI staff process tissue samples collected from commercial catches, according to institute reports. Duffy loads extracted DNA into specialized genotyping chips using robotic pipetting machines and centrifuges to run genetic assays. Last year, they gathered over 9,000 samples and genetically analyzed almost three-quarters of them to determine stock origins before sending the raw data to federal scientists.
Did you know? In a recent monitoring season, BBSRI personnel collected tissue samples from over 9,000 chum salmon across five different seafood processors in Dutch Harbor and Akutan, according to program records.
Tracking Western Alaska Chum Stocks
Falling chum salmon numbers have devastated communities in Western Alaska that rely on them for subsistence, according to regional researchers. While climate change has been pointed to as a major reason for the declines, the amount of chums caught by Bering Sea pollock trawlers has also come under scrutiny – with calls to curb bycatch or ban it altogether. To address this, the BBSRI Western Alaska Chum Bycatch Assessment Program uses in-season genetic stock composition estimates to identify the regional origins of intercepted fish.
Comparing Annual Bycatch and Stock Origins
Data compiled by BBSRI and NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center Auke Bay Laboratories show significant fluctuations in total bycatch volume and regional stock distributions between operating years.
- The largest genetic group identified was the Eastern Gulf of Alaska/Pacific Northwest, while the total Western Alaska aggregate comprised a minor portion, according to annual report findings.
- 2025 Season: Total shoreside chum bycatch rose to 73,291 fish. The Eastern Gulf of Alaska/Pacific Northwest group accounted for 64.1% of the total, whereas the Western Alaska aggregate dropped to 6.4%, based on NOAA and BBSRI datasets.
How Fishery Managers Use Genetic Data
Raw genetic data generated in Dutch Harbor goes directly to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration lab in Juneau for stock composition analysis, according to project documentation. The resulting weekly reports are published online for public review. Earlier this year, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council utilized these real-time genetics reports to establish a Western Alaska chum bycatch limit for the Bering Sea pollock fishery, marking a shift toward rapid, science-based ocean governance.
Pro Tip: Researchers dry collected fin clippings at room temperature so that they can be stored at room temperature indefinitely before laboratory processing begins, ensuring steady workflows throughout the busy fishing season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary goal of the BBSRI genetics lab?
The lab aims to provide timely, in-season genetic stock composition estimates of chum salmon bycatch to help the pollock trawl fleet track and reduce impacts on Western Alaska runs, according to project summaries.
Where do the sampled chum salmon come from?
According to annual stock assessments, the majority of chum bycatch originates outside Western Alaska, with large contributions from the Eastern Gulf of Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and Asian stock groups.
Who funds and supports the bycatch assessment program?
The program operates through direct legislative grants from the State of Alaska and BBSRI funding, alongside in-kind technical support from NOAA and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, according to agency reports.
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