Longest fishery-independent survey of sharks in the U.S. Atlantic Ocean, every 2-3 years since 1986.

This data set contains catch and effort for fishing trips that are taken by vessels with a Federal permit issued for the swordfish and sharks under the Highly Migratory Species (HMS) fishery management plan. Fishermen that own vessels with permits in these fisheries are required to complete a vessel logbook for every trip in which any species in the Highly Migratory Species fishery management plans are caught and landed. Fishermen are not required to report fishing trips in which other than these species are caught. However, fishermen are required to submit a no-fishing report if they did not fish for or catch any HMS species during a calendar month. In 1986, the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) initiated a logbook program for vessels that held a federal vessel permit to fish for swordfish in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. In 1993, a similar program was initiated for vessels with a federal permit to fish for sharks that are included in the HMS fishery management plan. In order to provide sufficient level of detail for fishing effort by the longline vessels, the catch and effort data need to be reported for each longline set. Consequently, a single logbook form was designed for the fishermen to record the catch (numbers of animals caught) and effort, which includes data on the length of the longline, the number of hooks and the duration of the set. To reduce the number of times that fishermen need to record certain pieces of information, e.g., location of unloading, duration of trip, number of crew, a trip summary form was designed in 1999 that includes the trip-related information that is the same for every set. This redesign of the logbook form resulted in two forms, the trip summary and the set forms. Only one trip summary needs to be completed for each trip, but a separate set form needs to be completed for each longline set made during the trip. At the same time, additional questions were added to the trip summary form to collect information on the expenses that the vessels incurred during the trip. Initially, this information was voluntary and the fishermen did not have to provide the cost data whereas the catch and effort data are mandatory and the vessels permit will not be renewed if logbooks are not received for every trip where swordfish and/or sharks are caught and landed.

Photos of catch, methodology, scientists, and habitat organized by year and month, 2003-current.

The Northern Shrimp Survey was initiated in 1983 by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and monitors the relative abundance (number of shrimp), biomass (weight of shrimp), and composition of the northern shrimp stock throughout the Gulf of Maine. The data give an understanding of year class strength and sex stage and maturity of shrimp in the population. The survey focuses its efforts in offshore waters (in depths greater than 50 meters) and is timed to sample both males and females during the summer when they are expected to be offshore. The data it collects forms the basis of the annual northern shrimp assessment, which in turn, is used by fishery managers from Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts to set each year’s fishing regulations.

The Southeast Fisheries Science Center Mississippi Laboratories conducts standardized fisheries independent resource surveys in the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and U.S. Caribbean to provide abundance and distribution information to support regional and international stock assessments. A shark/snapper/grouper bottom longline survey is conducted every year from July through September. The survey covers waters between 5-200 fm from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to West Palm Beach, FL, and the U.S. northern Gulf of Mexico from southwest Florida to Brownsville, TX. During each survey approximately 300 randomly selected stations are sampled in both state and federal waters. Survey sites for bottom longline effort were selected at random within three depth strata: 9 – 55 m, 55 – 183 m, and 183 – 366 m in the Gulf of Mexico only. Most bottom longline sets are conducted parallel to depth contours unless survey conditions (i.e., current, sea state, wind) necessitated a different orientation. The number of randomly selected survey sites occupied within 60 nm contiguous sampling zones is proportionally allocated based on the amount of continental shelf area within each of the depth strata. In the Atlantic, 60% of stations were allocated between 9 - 55 m and 40% between 55 -183 m. In the Gulf of Mexico, 50% of stations were allocated between 9 - 55 m, 40% between 55 - 183 m, and 10% were allocated between 183 - 366 m (or at least 1 per sampling zone). Standardized gear utilized during the survey includes one mile of mainline and 100 15/0 circle hooks baited with Atlantic mackerel. Soak times are limited to one-hour to minimize mortality rates of all captured organisms and sampling occurs during day and night. All live sharks are tagged and released unless biological samples are needed for life history studies. Life history data pertaining to age, growth and reproduction are obtained from all captured reef fishes. All other fishes are measured and weighed prior to being released.

Gill Netting data collected during cruises of NOAA R/V John R Manning in 1956 and 1957 and Hugh M Smith in 1959 in the central North Pacific Ocean. Collected data include date, position, gear configuration, species, fork length, weight, and sex-maturity.

Survey of inshore areas used by sharks for pupping and nurseries. Various locations have been surveyed, from the U.S. Virgin Islands to Massachusetts, most in partnership with state or academic institutions; the NEFSC only regularly surveys Delaware Bay.

This data set contains annual quantities and value for all seafood products that are landed and sold by established seafood dealers and brokers in the Southeast Region (North Carolina through Texas). These types of data, referred to as the general canvass landings statistics, have been collected by the NOAA Fisheries Service, National Marine Fisheries Service and its predecessor agency, the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. The data are available on computer since the early 1960's. The quantities and values that are reported in this data set include the annual landings that were initiated in 1962. Beginning in 1976, the data were collected monthly. See the sections on Links for the reference to the monthly general canvass landings. The annual general canvass landings include quantities and value for all living marine species and are identified by species (usually the local or common name). These data were collected by field agents employed by the National Marine Fisheries Service or the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries and assigned to local fishing ports. The agents contacted the majority of the seafood dealers or brokers in their assigned areas and recorded the quantities and value for each species or species category from the sales receipts maintained by the seafood dealers. In addition, information on the gear and area of capture is available for most of the landings statistics in the data set. Based on their knowledge of the fishing activity in the area, the agents would estimate the type of fishing gear and area where the fishing was likely to have occurred. More detailed information on the caveats associated with these data is provided in the Characteristics, Caveats and Issues section. However, because these data are summaries, they do not contain information on the quantities of fishing effort or identifications of the fishermen or vessels that caught the fish or shellfish.

Fish captured in trawls by the SWFSC Fisheries Resources Division during surveys for coastal pelagic species. Most tows were targeted for sardine using a Nordic trawl on the surface at night. The database includes identification to various taxonomic levels depending on species, length frequencies, biomass data, and some age data for sardine based on analysis of otoliths.