Angler preferences and behavior in the Mongolian taimen fishery
Taimen, Hucho taimen, is an endangered trout that exists only in Siberia, China, parts of Kazakhstan, and northern Mongolia. As the largest salmonid in the world, it is targeted by fly fishermen who travel from around the globe to catch and release this endangered fish, as well as by local fishermen. My research focuses on how angler behavior might affect the response of taimen populations to threats like climate change and habitat alteration.

Salmonid catchability under extreme water conditions

Short, intense thunderstorms are increasing in Mongolia as the climate warms. As well as harming grazing land, these storms increase runoff and erosion into rivers, causing flooding and turbid water. I am investigating how these new extreme water conditions might affect salmonids’ catchability on hook-and-line gear, which can inform us about their feeding ecology under extreme conditions and their vulnerability to overfishing if these conditions intensify.

Photo: David Putnam

Evaluating mechanisms of complexity in recreational fisheries
​In theory, recreational fisheries can exhibit negative feedback loops that produce sustainable dynamics even in the absence of management. However, a wide variety of mechanisms can disrupt this self-regulating potential. I use mathematical modeling to evaluate the impacts of some of the best-understood biological and social mechanisms of complexity in recreational fisheries.

Contact:
abigolden AT gmail.com
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School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences
University of Washington
1122 NE Boat St
Seattle, WA 98195