The project’s objective is to document movement patterns and survival rates of Chinook salmon, steelhead, green sturgeon, and other fish from several sources in the Central Valley of California. Juvenile salmonids from hatcheries or wild caught are implanted with small acoustic transmitters and the location of the fish are recorded on receivers that are placed throughout the watershed from Redding to the Golden Gate. Over 70 receiver locations with over 150 receivers monitor the movement of these fish. These receivers record the date, time, and unique identification number of transmitters that pass within listening range of the receivers. The first acoustic tagging studies began in 2006 and continue today.

Orcinus spp. occur in the Pacific Ocean throughout the West Coast of North America. Data concerning their precise locations and abundance are critical to understanding their population trends and movement patterns. The Pacific Orcinus Distrbution Survey provides such data, allowing scientists and managers to better understand and manage Orcinus spp. Pacific Orcinus distribution.

Orcinus spp. occur in the Pacific Ocean throughout the West Coast of North America. Data concerning their precise locations and abundance are critical to understanding their population trends and movement patterns. The Pacific Orcinus Distrbution Survey provides such data, allowing scientists and managers to better understand and manage Orcinus spp. Pacific Orcinus distribution.

Marine protected areas (MPAs) can be highly effective tools for conserving habitats, populations, and sustainable fisheries. The National Park Service (NPS) is hosting a collaboration of researchers assessing effectiveness of MPA boundaries, species movements, and identifying gaps in protection for a wide range of shark, turtle, and reef fish species. Building upon our previous work, we're tagging queen conch to examine time spent in protected areas, migrations to open fishing areas, spawning grounds, and nursery habitats.

Integrated acoustic and trawl surveys are used to assess the distribution, biomass, and biology of Pacific hake along the Pacific coasts of the United States and Canada. Scientists from the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) and Department of Fisheries and Oceans-Canada are responsible for conducting the survey. The survey consists of a series of transects that are oriented generally east-west, and are spaced at a nominal 10-nautical mile interval. Sea depth at the nearshore end of individual transects is typically 50 m; offshore extents are typically at a depth of 1,500 m. Geographical coverage extends from near Morro Bay, CA north to Dixon Entrance. Acoustic data are collected during daylight hours with a Simrad EK60 scientific echo sounder coupled with the ER60 software system. Trawl samples from pelagic and bottom trawls are used to classify the observed backscatter layers to species and size composition and to collect specimens of Pacific hake and other organisms. Analysis of acoustic data involves identification and delineation of backscatter layers that are attributed to Pacific hake. The biomass estimate and length-at-age composition of Pacific hake generated from this survey are used in analysis and management of the stock. This survey is conducted on a biennial basis. There is a firm deadline for producing the biomass estimate in the middle of the December following the survey. Biological data collected from FSCS during catch processing.

Critical habitat includes the stream channels within the designated stream reaches, and includes a lateral extent as defined by the ordinary high-water line (33 CFR 329.11). In areas where the ordinary high-water line has not been defined, the lateral extent will be defined by the bankfull elevation. Bankfull elevation is the level at which water begins to leave the channel and move into the floodplain and is reached at a discharge which generally has a recurrence interval of 1 to 2 years on the annual flood series. Critical habitat in estuaries is defined by the perimeter of the water body as displayed on standard 1:24,000 scale topographic maps or the elevation of extreme high water, whichever is greater.See the final rule (70 FR 52488) for descriptions of areas excluded from this critical habitat designation. Excluded Indian lands were not clipped out of the data.

We have been using and continue to use acoustic telemetry methods to monitor the movement behavior and define habitat use of groundfish species in and out of Puget Sound waters. Detections of individual fishes has been collected at small and large scales over short and long term periods. We have data on sixgill and sevengill sharks, spiny dogfish, lingcod, copper, quillback, yellowtail and black rockfish, and spotted ratfish. These data are being used to describe the spatio-temporal patterns of behaviors expressed by top predators and other important members of the groundfish community in Puget Sound and along the West Coast. We intend for this information to inform the strength of inter- and intra-specific interactions quantified by ecosystem-scale models as well as the development of models used to determine the efficacy of spatial management strategies such as Marine Protected Areas. This has been a research topic since 2003, and will continue with work on listed species such as yelloweye and canary rockfish. Acoustic telemetry data for whitespotted ratfish.

This record represents the individual vessel events detected from raw passive acoustic data. Events are identified from the long-term spectral average (LTSAs) created for each site with a 5 s, 48 kHz resolution. The LTSA is analyzed in blocks where the calibrated power spectral density estimates are averaged in user-defined low, medium and high frequency bands. These data were recorded at SanctSound Site PM02_01 between October 01, 2019 and June 01, 2020.

This record represents the individual vessel events detected from raw passive acoustic data. Events are identified from the long-term spectral average (LTSAs) created for each site with a 5 s, 48 kHz resolution. The LTSA is analyzed in blocks where the calibrated power spectral density estimates are averaged in user-defined low, medium and high frequency bands. These data were recorded at SanctSound Site OC03_04 between June 05, 2021 and October 14, 2021.

This record represents the individual vessel events detected from raw passive acoustic data. Events are identified from the long-term spectral average (LTSAs) created for each site with a 5 s, 48 kHz resolution. The LTSA is analyzed in blocks where the calibrated power spectral density estimates are averaged in user-defined low, medium and high frequency bands. These data were recorded at SanctSound Site MB03_03 between April 11, 2020 and September 21, 2020.