Long et al.: Effects of ghost fishing on the population of Paralithodes ccimtschaticus in Womens Bay, Alaska 
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Figure 1 
Map showing study area and sites (A) where tagged red king crabs (Paralithodes camtschaticus) were 
released in Womens Bay, Kodiak Island, Alaska, during this study in association with other projects over 
the period of 1991-2008: (A) Alaska and Kodiak Island, (Bi the northeast section of the Kodiak district, 
as defined for the westward region trawl survey of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and (C) 
Chiniak Bay. The southwestern portion of the bay is a shallow area where the red king crab does not 
occur, and no crabs were released there. In Inset A, lines are drawn to indicate Kodiak Island and the 
northeast section (N.E. section). In Inset B, lines show boundaries of the northeast section (adapted from 
the Fishery Management Report 09-25 by K. Spalinger published in 2009 by the Alaska Department of 
Fish and Game) and the rectangle around Chiniak Bay shows the extent of Inset C. In Inset C, the rect- 
angle around Womens Bay shows the extent of the main map 
fishing gear. On one occasion, 3 crabs released on the 
same day all died almost immediately for no appar- 
ent reason, and each of these crabs was recorded as a 
handling-induced mortality (hereafter “handling mor- 
tality”). There was no evidence of any latent handling 
mortality for other crabs in this study. All other causes 
of death were classified as “other mortality.” One tag 
became detached from its crab because the epoxy failed 
to adhere to the carapace and was classified as a “tag- 
ging failure.” Occasionally, surface tracking located a 
tag that had stopped moving for a long period of time 
and was not recovered because either it was in an un- 
suitable diving location or there were other logistical 
concerns (e.g., ice cover). Such tags were denominated 
as “derelict.” Generally, all tagged crabs were tracked 
and diver observations were made weekly on a sub- 
set of tags, but effort varied with season, weather, and 
availability of field personnel. 
When divers discovered ghost pots, both during 
this and other projects (effort on other projects var- 
ied throughout the study period) in Womens Bay, they 
made notes that included the type of gear, whether it 
was found intact or upside down, and the approximate 
number and species of crabs entangled or entrapped in 
the gear. Documentation of whether the pot was up- 
side down is important because Dungeness pots have 
legally mandated biodegradable release mechanisms on 
their tops (ADFG 4 ), making release ineffective if the 
4 ADFG (Alaska Department of Fish and Game). 2011. Shell- 
fish gear requirements. Accessed September 2011. http:// 
www. adfg.alaska.gov/ind ex. cfm?adfg= per sonaluseby a reasout 
heastGear.main. 
