Interannual and regional variations in body length, weight and energy content of age‐0 Pacific herring from Prince William Sound, Alaska

Abstract

Age‐0 Pacific herring were surveyed in October of 4 years in a large northern Gulf of Alaska estuary, to determine the range of variations in length, weight and whole body energy content (WBEC). These parameters reflect their preparedness for surviving their first winter's fast. During the surveys there were distinct regional and interannual variations in all three parameters for individual groups of herring in Prince William Sound. Likewise, with each collection there was typically a large range of size and WBEC values. The average standard length was (±S.D.) 80±13 mm (range=40–118), the mean whole body wet weight was 5·7±3·0 g (range=0·7–29·2) and the average WBEC of all age‐0 herring captured, regardless of year or site (n=1471), was 5·4± 1·0 kJ g−1 wet weight (range=2·4–9·4). The large range of WBEC and size indicates that age‐0 herring at different capture sites were not all equally prepared for surviving their first winter.