LONG-NOSE LANCETFISH RESPONSE

Title:
Response to summer strandings of long-nose lancetfish in Unalaska.

Response description:
The reason these fish are showing up on our beaches is unknown, but researchers suspect that cold water shock may have an irreversible affect on the lancetfish’s physiology. Lancetfish are found along the Pacific, Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Irish, Australian, Portuguese, Mediterranean, African and South African coastlines. They are a subtropical species that migrate as adults to the subarctic to feed and though they generally dwell in deeper waters (down to1830 meters), they will sometimes approach inshore waters. They are among the largest deepsea predatory fish yet discovered, reaching lengths of up to 7.6 feet.

Role in response
For the last two summers, morphometrics have been taken and stomach contents have been frozen from 10 fish to determine what these predators are eating in Aleutian waters. Results to be published in a peer-reviewed journal

Products:
Octopus Ink article published in the Dutch Harbor Fisherman. CLICK HERE

Sea Grant tenants addressed:
Response and Outreach

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