In summer, the fish community of Simpson Lagoon and adjacent coastal waters of the Beaufort Sea was dominated by two marine species (Arctic cod, fourhorn sculpin) and three anadromous species (Arctic and least cisco, Arctic char). The anadromous species remained in the relatively warm and brackish waters near shore and demonstrated an affinity for shoreline edges, particularly the mainland shoreline where species occurrence and catch per unit effort (CPUE) were highest. Spatial segregation was low, presumably reflecting the migratory nature of these species. Marine species were less restricted to nearshore waters in summer and were typically the only species present in winter because anadromous species return to rivers, lakes and deltas to spawn or overwinter. Winter CPUE was low and consisted primarily of Arctic cod and fourhorn sculpin.
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