Field Notes with PWSSC

What happens when disease spreads through a herring population—and how do scientists track threats they can't see? Join us this week as we dive into the world of infectious diseases affecting Pacific herring in Prince William Sound. Follow a team of researchers as they investigate an important fish health concern: viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS). From collecting samples in the field to analyzin...

What microscopic creatures drift through the waters of Prince William Sound—and how can scientists study them without ever leaving shore? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Rob Campbell of the Prince William Sound Science Center to explore a remarkable ocean-monitoring system known as the Profiler. This advanced mooring is packed with instruments that continuously measure key ocean conditions, i...

It’s time to crunch the numbers! Over the past few months, we’ve explored the many pieces of the Prince William Sound Herring Research and Monitoring Program. Now, it’s time to bring the puzzle together. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Trevor Branch of the University of Washington and graduate student John, who take us behind the scenes of how decades of herring research and monitoring data a...

Did you know that fish can actually be easier to study at night? Dive into the fascinating world of fisheries science in this episode featuring Dr. Pete Rand of the Prince William Sound Science Center. As an acoustic specialist with the Herring Research and Monitoring Program, Dr. Rand uses hydroacoustic technology—essentially underwater sound waves—to help estimate the abundance of herring in Pri...

What happens when a fish gets sick—and can disease shape the future of an entire population? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Paul Hershberger of the United States Geological Survey Marrowstone Marine Field Station to explore the hidden world of fish health and disease. As part of his research on Pacific herring, Dr. Hershberger studies how pathogens and infections can affect individual fish...

For young herring, surviving their first winter can mean the difference between life and death. But what does it take for these tiny fish to make it through the coldest months of the year? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Kristen Gorman, a researcher with the Herring Research and Monitoring Program, to explore the energetic strategies of juvenile herring during their critical first winter. By...

What does it take to understand the rise and fall of a fish population? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Scott Pegau of the Prince William Sound Science Center to explore the Herring Research and Monitoring Program and the collaborative effort behind it. As the program coordinator, Dr. Pegau provides an inside look at the research priorities, monitoring efforts, and partnerships that drive th...

Imagine collecting information about thousands of tiny ocean organisms while traveling across some of Alaska’s most remote waters. How is it possible? In this episode, we’re joined by Sonia Batten of Gulf Watch Alaska to explore the fascinating world of plankton monitoring and the powerful tool known as the Continuous Plankton Recorder. Sonia explains how this unique instrument samples marine life...

Can scientists uncover the secrets of a fish population without harming the fish themselves? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Kevin Boswell of Florida International University to discuss innovative non-lethal sampling techniques being used to study Pacific herring in Prince William Sound. By collecting valuable biological information while minimizing impacts on the fish, researchers are gainin...

In this 2015 interview with Gulf Watch Alaska's John Moran from Juneau, Alaska, John discusses how humpback whale feeding habits were affecting herring populations of the Prince William Sound. John touches on various research methods used to identify what humpbacks are eating. Listeners will also get to hear hydrophone footage of a school of herring escaping humpback whales. Note: Season 1 fea...