A Common Murre feeds its chick a capelin at the Gull Island breeding colony in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Capelin are an important, energy rich forage fish for many marine predators.
This is a nation-wide collaborative program, supported by the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area, through which USGS and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management staff address priority research needs identified by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. On this page, we highlight research taking place in Alaska as part of this program.
Return to Ecosystems >> Collaborative Science for Priority Information Needs
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management priorities change annually through this program and results of past studies can be found under Data and Tools and Publications on this page.
For 2020-2023, the USGS Alaska Science Center is focusing on the following science needs identified by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Alaska and Pacific Regions:
- Impact of marine fish communities on red-throated loon population trend on the North Slope of Alaska
- Monitoring recovery of seabirds and forage fish to the Pacific Marine Heatwave in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska
- GPS tagging of seabirds to obtain areas of foraging aggregations and forage fish schools in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Nearshore Fish Surveys in the Beaufort Sea
Nearshore systems provide habitat to a unique community of marine and diadromous (lives in both fresh and saltwater) fish and support high fish abundance.
Seabirds and Forage Fish Ecology
Alaska's coastal and offshore waters provide foraging habitat for an estimated 100 million birds comprising more than 90 different species; from loons and seaducks that nest inland, to petrels and puffins that breed on islands off shore. All these birds depend on the sea to provide a wide variety of food types— from clams, crabs and urchins nearshore— to krill, forage fish, and squid offshore. The...
Cook Inlet Seabird and Forage Fish Study
A massive die-off of Common Murres was documented in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) during the fall and winter of 2015-2016 in association with a record-breaking marine heat wave in the GOA.
Pacific Marine Heatwave
The USGS conducts research on marine wildlife, habitats, and ecosystem processes to provide science to inform our partners as they make decisions relative to species status, resource use, and human activities. These studies examine impacts of severe heatwaves on marine ecosystems of the North Pacific.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 23
Common Murre feeds chick
A Common Murre feeds its chick a capelin at the Gull Island breeding colony in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Capelin are an important, energy rich forage fish for many marine predators.
Common Murre holding a capelin
A Common Murre holding a capelin at a breeding colony on Gull Island, in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Capelin are an important, energy rich forage fish for many marine predators.
A Common Murre holding a capelin at a breeding colony on Gull Island, in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Capelin are an important, energy rich forage fish for many marine predators.
Pacific capelin trawl catch
Photo of Pacific capelin trawl catch in Cook Inlet Alaska. Capelin are cold water forage fish that play a key role in transferring energy between plankton and top marine predators. Seabirds, and their forage fish prey, serve as practical indicators of change in the marine environment— natural or human induced— and can be readily monitored at sea.
Photo of Pacific capelin trawl catch in Cook Inlet Alaska. Capelin are cold water forage fish that play a key role in transferring energy between plankton and top marine predators. Seabirds, and their forage fish prey, serve as practical indicators of change in the marine environment— natural or human induced— and can be readily monitored at sea.
North Pacific Marine Heatwave
In the winter of 2015, the public noticed thousands of dead seabirds washing ashore across the western coast of the United States and Canada. The USGS linked this massive seabird die-off to the North Pacific Marine Heatwave. A marine heatwave occurs when sea surface temperatures are above normal for an extended period of time.
In the winter of 2015, the public noticed thousands of dead seabirds washing ashore across the western coast of the United States and Canada. The USGS linked this massive seabird die-off to the North Pacific Marine Heatwave. A marine heatwave occurs when sea surface temperatures are above normal for an extended period of time.
Tufted Puffins on the water, Alaska
Four Tufted Puffins on the water, near their breeding colony at Gull Island in Kachemak Bay, Alaska
Four Tufted Puffins on the water, near their breeding colony at Gull Island in Kachemak Bay, Alaska
Arctic Terns in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Arctic Terns in Cook Inlet, Alaska. There is bullwhip kelp on the surface of the water.
Arctic Terns in Cook Inlet, Alaska. There is bullwhip kelp on the surface of the water.
A Bald Eagle flies off with a Black-legged Kittiwake
A Bald Eagle flies off with a Black-legged Kittiwake from Gull Island in Kachemak Bay, Alaska
A Bald Eagle flies off with a Black-legged Kittiwake from Gull Island in Kachemak Bay, Alaska
young of the year walleye pollock
Photo of young of the year walleye pollock, Prince William Sound, Alaska. Although adults are targeted in one of the largest commercial fisheries in the world, young of the year walleye pollock are important in diets of many marine predators.
Photo of young of the year walleye pollock, Prince William Sound, Alaska. Although adults are targeted in one of the largest commercial fisheries in the world, young of the year walleye pollock are important in diets of many marine predators.
Pacific herring in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Pacific herring in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Pacific herring in Prince William Sound, Alaska
A Common Murre on the water near its colony in Kachemak Bay, Alaska
Northern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and Common Murres have all been tested for and contained harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins in Alaska. Since 2015, the USGS has worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop testing methods and research projects to better understand the geographic extent, timing and impacts of algal toxins in Alaska marine ecosystems.
Northern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and Common Murres have all been tested for and contained harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins in Alaska. Since 2015, the USGS has worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop testing methods and research projects to better understand the geographic extent, timing and impacts of algal toxins in Alaska marine ecosystems.
A Black-legged Kittiwake with two chicks at Gull Island, Alaska
A Black-legged Kittiwake with two chicks at Gull Island, Alaska.
A Black-legged Kittiwake with two chicks at Gull Island, Alaska.
Key forage fish, Cook Inlet, Alaska
Key forage fish in Alaska (from top to bottom): Pacific capelin, Pacific herring, Pacific sand lance, and juvenile walleye pollock. Cook Inlet, Alaska
Key forage fish in Alaska (from top to bottom): Pacific capelin, Pacific herring, Pacific sand lance, and juvenile walleye pollock. Cook Inlet, Alaska
A Bald Eagle disturbs nesting Black-legged Kittiwakes
A Bald Eagle disturbs Black-legged Kittiwakes nesting on Gull Island, Alaska.
A Bald Eagle disturbs Black-legged Kittiwakes nesting on Gull Island, Alaska.
Glaucous-winged Gulls grab eggs abandoned by breeding Common Murres
Glaucous-winged Gulls capitalize upon a disturbance at the Gull Island colony in 2018 to grab eggs abandoned by breeding Common Murres. One lone Common Murre continues incubation despite the rest of the colony flushing.
Glaucous-winged Gulls capitalize upon a disturbance at the Gull Island colony in 2018 to grab eggs abandoned by breeding Common Murres. One lone Common Murre continues incubation despite the rest of the colony flushing.
Scientists process catch from a mid-water trawl
USGS scientists John Piatt and Mayumi Arimitsu process the catch from a mid-water trawl to collect forage fish and zooplankton in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
USGS scientists John Piatt and Mayumi Arimitsu process the catch from a mid-water trawl to collect forage fish and zooplankton in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
Scientists deploy a mid-water trawl
USGS scientists Mayumi Arimitsu and John Piatt deploy a mid-water trawl to collect forage fish and zooplankton in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
USGS scientists Mayumi Arimitsu and John Piatt deploy a mid-water trawl to collect forage fish and zooplankton in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
Black-legged Kittiwakes and Common Murres flush from a Bald Eagle
Black-legged Kittiwakes and Common Murres flush from a Bald Eagle at their breeding colony at Gull Island, Alaska.
Black-legged Kittiwakes and Common Murres flush from a Bald Eagle at their breeding colony at Gull Island, Alaska.
Common Murres with visibly protruding keels
Common Murres with visibly protruding keels flush from Gull Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska.
Common Murres with visibly protruding keels flush from Gull Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska.
Juvenile Chum salmon
Image of the juvenile Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) that first confirmed successful reproduction of Pacific salmon in the North American Arctic. This fish was captured on August 10, 2017, in Jago Lagoon, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Beaufort Sea, Alaska, U.S.A.
Image of the juvenile Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) that first confirmed successful reproduction of Pacific salmon in the North American Arctic. This fish was captured on August 10, 2017, in Jago Lagoon, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Beaufort Sea, Alaska, U.S.A.
Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging for fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging for fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging for fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
Setting up a time-lapse camera, Alaska
Jonathan Felis sets up a time-lapse camera on the top of Gull Island to monitor the reproductive success of breeding Common Murres. Gull Island is located in Kachemak Bay, Alaska.
Jonathan Felis sets up a time-lapse camera on the top of Gull Island to monitor the reproductive success of breeding Common Murres. Gull Island is located in Kachemak Bay, Alaska.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Nearshore Fish Surveys in the Beaufort Sea
Nearshore systems provide habitat to a unique community of marine and diadromous (lives in both fresh and saltwater) fish and support high fish abundance.
Seabirds and Forage Fish Ecology
Alaska's coastal and offshore waters provide foraging habitat for an estimated 100 million birds comprising more than 90 different species; from loons and seaducks that nest inland, to petrels and puffins that breed on islands off shore. All these birds depend on the sea to provide a wide variety of food types— from clams, crabs and urchins nearshore— to krill, forage fish, and squid offshore. The...
Cook Inlet Seabird and Forage Fish Study
A massive die-off of Common Murres was documented in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) during the fall and winter of 2015-2016 in association with a record-breaking marine heat wave in the GOA.
Pacific Marine Heatwave
The USGS conducts research on marine wildlife, habitats, and ecosystem processes to provide science to inform our partners as they make decisions relative to species status, resource use, and human activities. These studies examine impacts of severe heatwaves on marine ecosystems of the North Pacific.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 23
Common Murre feeds chick
A Common Murre feeds its chick a capelin at the Gull Island breeding colony in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Capelin are an important, energy rich forage fish for many marine predators.
A Common Murre feeds its chick a capelin at the Gull Island breeding colony in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Capelin are an important, energy rich forage fish for many marine predators.
Common Murre holding a capelin
A Common Murre holding a capelin at a breeding colony on Gull Island, in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Capelin are an important, energy rich forage fish for many marine predators.
A Common Murre holding a capelin at a breeding colony on Gull Island, in Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Capelin are an important, energy rich forage fish for many marine predators.
Pacific capelin trawl catch
Photo of Pacific capelin trawl catch in Cook Inlet Alaska. Capelin are cold water forage fish that play a key role in transferring energy between plankton and top marine predators. Seabirds, and their forage fish prey, serve as practical indicators of change in the marine environment— natural or human induced— and can be readily monitored at sea.
Photo of Pacific capelin trawl catch in Cook Inlet Alaska. Capelin are cold water forage fish that play a key role in transferring energy between plankton and top marine predators. Seabirds, and their forage fish prey, serve as practical indicators of change in the marine environment— natural or human induced— and can be readily monitored at sea.
North Pacific Marine Heatwave
In the winter of 2015, the public noticed thousands of dead seabirds washing ashore across the western coast of the United States and Canada. The USGS linked this massive seabird die-off to the North Pacific Marine Heatwave. A marine heatwave occurs when sea surface temperatures are above normal for an extended period of time.
In the winter of 2015, the public noticed thousands of dead seabirds washing ashore across the western coast of the United States and Canada. The USGS linked this massive seabird die-off to the North Pacific Marine Heatwave. A marine heatwave occurs when sea surface temperatures are above normal for an extended period of time.
Tufted Puffins on the water, Alaska
Four Tufted Puffins on the water, near their breeding colony at Gull Island in Kachemak Bay, Alaska
Four Tufted Puffins on the water, near their breeding colony at Gull Island in Kachemak Bay, Alaska
Arctic Terns in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Arctic Terns in Cook Inlet, Alaska. There is bullwhip kelp on the surface of the water.
Arctic Terns in Cook Inlet, Alaska. There is bullwhip kelp on the surface of the water.
A Bald Eagle flies off with a Black-legged Kittiwake
A Bald Eagle flies off with a Black-legged Kittiwake from Gull Island in Kachemak Bay, Alaska
A Bald Eagle flies off with a Black-legged Kittiwake from Gull Island in Kachemak Bay, Alaska
young of the year walleye pollock
Photo of young of the year walleye pollock, Prince William Sound, Alaska. Although adults are targeted in one of the largest commercial fisheries in the world, young of the year walleye pollock are important in diets of many marine predators.
Photo of young of the year walleye pollock, Prince William Sound, Alaska. Although adults are targeted in one of the largest commercial fisheries in the world, young of the year walleye pollock are important in diets of many marine predators.
Pacific herring in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Pacific herring in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Pacific herring in Prince William Sound, Alaska
A Common Murre on the water near its colony in Kachemak Bay, Alaska
Northern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and Common Murres have all been tested for and contained harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins in Alaska. Since 2015, the USGS has worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop testing methods and research projects to better understand the geographic extent, timing and impacts of algal toxins in Alaska marine ecosystems.
Northern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and Common Murres have all been tested for and contained harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins in Alaska. Since 2015, the USGS has worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop testing methods and research projects to better understand the geographic extent, timing and impacts of algal toxins in Alaska marine ecosystems.
A Black-legged Kittiwake with two chicks at Gull Island, Alaska
A Black-legged Kittiwake with two chicks at Gull Island, Alaska.
A Black-legged Kittiwake with two chicks at Gull Island, Alaska.
Key forage fish, Cook Inlet, Alaska
Key forage fish in Alaska (from top to bottom): Pacific capelin, Pacific herring, Pacific sand lance, and juvenile walleye pollock. Cook Inlet, Alaska
Key forage fish in Alaska (from top to bottom): Pacific capelin, Pacific herring, Pacific sand lance, and juvenile walleye pollock. Cook Inlet, Alaska
A Bald Eagle disturbs nesting Black-legged Kittiwakes
A Bald Eagle disturbs Black-legged Kittiwakes nesting on Gull Island, Alaska.
A Bald Eagle disturbs Black-legged Kittiwakes nesting on Gull Island, Alaska.
Glaucous-winged Gulls grab eggs abandoned by breeding Common Murres
Glaucous-winged Gulls capitalize upon a disturbance at the Gull Island colony in 2018 to grab eggs abandoned by breeding Common Murres. One lone Common Murre continues incubation despite the rest of the colony flushing.
Glaucous-winged Gulls capitalize upon a disturbance at the Gull Island colony in 2018 to grab eggs abandoned by breeding Common Murres. One lone Common Murre continues incubation despite the rest of the colony flushing.
Scientists process catch from a mid-water trawl
USGS scientists John Piatt and Mayumi Arimitsu process the catch from a mid-water trawl to collect forage fish and zooplankton in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
USGS scientists John Piatt and Mayumi Arimitsu process the catch from a mid-water trawl to collect forage fish and zooplankton in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
Scientists deploy a mid-water trawl
USGS scientists Mayumi Arimitsu and John Piatt deploy a mid-water trawl to collect forage fish and zooplankton in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
USGS scientists Mayumi Arimitsu and John Piatt deploy a mid-water trawl to collect forage fish and zooplankton in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
Black-legged Kittiwakes and Common Murres flush from a Bald Eagle
Black-legged Kittiwakes and Common Murres flush from a Bald Eagle at their breeding colony at Gull Island, Alaska.
Black-legged Kittiwakes and Common Murres flush from a Bald Eagle at their breeding colony at Gull Island, Alaska.
Common Murres with visibly protruding keels
Common Murres with visibly protruding keels flush from Gull Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska.
Common Murres with visibly protruding keels flush from Gull Island, Kachemak Bay, Alaska.
Juvenile Chum salmon
Image of the juvenile Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) that first confirmed successful reproduction of Pacific salmon in the North American Arctic. This fish was captured on August 10, 2017, in Jago Lagoon, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Beaufort Sea, Alaska, U.S.A.
Image of the juvenile Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) that first confirmed successful reproduction of Pacific salmon in the North American Arctic. This fish was captured on August 10, 2017, in Jago Lagoon, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Beaufort Sea, Alaska, U.S.A.
Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging for fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging for fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
Black-legged Kittiwakes foraging for fish in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
Setting up a time-lapse camera, Alaska
Jonathan Felis sets up a time-lapse camera on the top of Gull Island to monitor the reproductive success of breeding Common Murres. Gull Island is located in Kachemak Bay, Alaska.
Jonathan Felis sets up a time-lapse camera on the top of Gull Island to monitor the reproductive success of breeding Common Murres. Gull Island is located in Kachemak Bay, Alaska.