State Fish Health Lab’s Mission and the Health of King Salmon Across Alaska
Event Start Date: 8/5/2026 6:00 PM
Event End Date: 8/5/2026 7:30 PM
Timezone: AKDT
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Join Alaska Backcountry Hunters & Anglers for an informative discussion on the current physical health of Alaska’s king salmon stocks across diverse watersheds, presented by Jayde Ferguson.
Dr. Jayde (JD) Ferguson is the Fish Pathologist for ADF&G. He will provide an overview of the Fish Pathology Regulatory Program that monitors and controls finfish and shellfish diseases statewide. He will also present an overview to date on a recently initiated project assessing fish health for Chinook salmon stocks of concern.
JD has 15 years of experience in this role working with a diversity of species, including salmonids, other finfish species, and various types of shellfish. His recent research has been focused on investigating the impacts of Ichthyophonus on Yukon Chinook salmon and developing new tools to assess the associated mortality risk for management.
He earned his Ph.D. in 2011 from Oregon State University where he evaluated the link of multiple parasite infections on the fitness of threatened coho salmon using field and laboratory approaches. He has authored or co-authored over 25 peer-reviewed manuscripts on various fish or wildlife disease projects. He also teaches a 3-day workshop on fish health for hatchery managers and provides fish health support for these facilities and other finfish and shellfish stakeholders in Alaska. Jayde has been an active member of the AFS-FHS since 2006 and is certified as a Fish Pathologist by the section. He will be providing an overview of ADF&G’s Fish Pathology Regulatory Program that oversees fish health statewide. He will also present a short summary of a recently initiated project assessing fish health for Chinook salmon stocks of concern.
Whether you’re a salmon angler, conservationist, or simply interested in the future of Alaska’s wild fish, this event offers an opportunity to learn more about the science behind one of Alaska’s most iconic species.
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