Event
Sheefish: What we have learned
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Free.Dates & Times
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Type of Event
Alaska Standard Time
Description
Straddling the Arctic Circle in a remote corner of northwestern Alaska lies Selawik Refuge, a special place of extreme climate, free-flowing rivers, abundant wildlife and an iconic Arctic fish – the sheefish. The upper Selawik River is one of two spawning areas in the region for sheefish, known as Sii in the local Inupiaq language. A large permafrost thaw slump began sliding into the river in 2004 releasing so much sediment that it turned the clear Selawik River muddy like the Yukon for nine straight summers. Fish biologists and local people were concerned about the effect on the spawning grounds. Come hear from Bill Carter, Selawik Refuge fish biologist, about what they learned about sheefish and this slump in a study spanning nearly 20 years. Find out how they determined that the impact was not what many feared but that sheefish proved to be remarkably adaptable. Join us to learn the current knowledge of Sii (aka sheefish or inconnu) in the Kotzebue Sound Region.
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