Rep16 - Bering Sea - Technology

## Technology

Technological advancements in bio-optical, acoustic, and chemical sensors may allow more refined and comprehensive sampling in both time and space. While some of these instruments may be commercially available, the need exists for development and/or application, of technologies for specific program tasks under the conditions imposed by the extreme subarctic environment. Further, the technological development needs to commence when this program starts so that a viable product results prior to when the program ends. At present, Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP) with calibrated backscatter (Flagg and Smith 1989) are moored in trawl resistant cages. Using artificial intelligence and a profiling package replete with temperature, optical and sample collecting abilities, one can envision directly sampling zooplankton whenever dramatic changes occur in backscatter strength to provide ground truth.

Technologies also need to be developed for more direct biological applications. Theilacker et al. (1996) developed indices of the physiological condition and feeding of larval pollock in Shelikof Strait based on changes in molecular (biochemical), cellular and tissue characteristics. While these technologies may easily be transferred to larval pollock in the Bering Sea, similar development may be required for other zooplankton predators.