Mobile Northern Pike Suppression Crew – 2024-2026

Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association (CIAA) will remove invasive northern pike (Esox lucius) from Whiskey, Hewitt, and Shell lakes, which support significant populations of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) as well as coho (O. kisutch), chum (O. keta), and pink (O. gorbuscha) salmon. A crew will conduct suppression by gillnetting and hook and line fishing. During the open water season the crew will spend some time at each lake, rotating between them from approximately mid-May to mid-September.

This project will benefit sockeye, coho, chum, and pink salmon as well as resident fish species in Whiskey, Hewitt, and Shell lakes through reduction in northern pike predation. Increased salmon runs into Whiskey, Hewitt, and Shell lakes will also benefit terrestrial species (e.g., brown bear), avian species (e.g., bald eagle, glaucous gull, Arctic tern), and marine mammal species (e.g., harbor seal, beluga whale) that feed on salmon and will increase the transfer of marine-derived nutrients through decaying salmon carcasses to further boost the productivity of the ecosystem. Early detection surveys for elodea will drastically reduce the eradication expense of this deleterious submersed aquatic invasive, if it is detected.