Fish assemblages in nearshore habitats in Southeast Alaska

Fish populations within intertidal nearshore habitats including seagrass (Zostera marina) and understory kelp beds were assessed during summertime 2017, 2018, and 2019 (April-August) via beach seining methods. Data were collected on western Prince of Wales Island Alaska, at various sites depending on year. At each site, the coordinates, dates and times of the beach seines, fish species, and fish size were recorded. Fish were sampled once at each site. Invertebrates associated with the eelgrass bed were sometimes captured, as well, and are reported in this dataset. The purpose of these data was to characterize the fish assemblage within nearshore communities so that analysis of trophic interactions and community structure could be assessed along a gradient of sea otter occupation for an NSF-funded project: Apex Predators, Ecosystems, and Community Sustainability (APECS, http://apecs-ak.org/). Other datasets to support this work are also archived with KNB.