PURPOSE: Support age-structured population stock assessments and research on fish growth. DESCRIPTION: Fish otoliths are collected from scientific surveys, fisheries observers on fishing vessels and from scientific sampling of commercial fisheries. The otoliths collected are placed in paper envelopes, recorded and held in a climate-controlled storage facility. Age determination is performed yearly on available samples. Digital images of each pair of otoliths collected are captured when possible. The information made available through this metadata record is the summary of otoliths present in the collection at the Gulf Fisheries Centre in Moncton, NB, Canada. The number of otoliths available from different sources by year and month is provided for the following stocks: - Atlantic Cod NAFO Divisions 4T / 4VN (Nov. to Apr.) - White Hake NAFO Division 4T - American Plaice NAFO Division 4T - Winter Flounder NAFO Division 4T - Yellowtail Flounder NAFO Division 4T - Witch Flounder NAFO Divisions 4RST - Skate species NAFO Division 4T There is additional information of observed sex, length, weight and age information of fish specimens made by trained Fisheries and Oceans Canada technicians that can be made available upon request. PARAMETERS COLLECTED: length (biological), age (biological) NOTES ON QUALITY CONTROL: Reference collections for certain species exist and are used to train technicians and to calibrate the age readings obtained by the fisheries technicians that use the otoliths for age estimation. Digital images of the otoliths that are part of the reference collection are available and used for calibration and training purposes. The otolith images are also authoritatively annotated by fisheries technicians. PHYSICAL SAMPLE DETAILS: Fish otoliths, skate vertebrae SAMPLING METHODS: Marine fish otoliths are obtained from fish specimens collected during research surveys and during scientific sampling of commercial fisheries. The sagittal otoliths are removed from sampled specimens, recorded, placed in a protective medium and held in a climate-controlled storage facility. Digital images of each pair of otoliths collected are captured when possible. USE LIMITATION: To ensure scientific integrity and appropriate use of the data, we would encourage you to contact the data custodian.

Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) have a wide distribution along the Pacific coast, extending from Baja California to Alaska, the Bering Sea and through to the eastern coast of Japan. A unique feature of these fish is the wide variation in temperature and depth that sablefish experience throughout their life cycle, extending from depths 200m as adults to the surface as larvae and juveniles. While the landed weight of sablefish in the commercial fishery is relatively small, the exceptionally high value of this species ranks it 3rd in economic value to walleye pollock and Pacific cod. As such, sablefish are highly managed throughout the Pacific, and understanding the biology of this species is essential for proper management. The aim of this project is to characterize the reproductive life history of two populations of sablefish in coastal Washington and California. Fish will be collected from the same geographical location on a monthly basis for one year. The reproductive status will be determined from gonadal histology and plasma sex steroid levels, and age will be determined from otoliths. It is expected that data on size, age, rate of gonadal development, seasonal timing of spawning, fecundity, frequency of reproduction, and potential shifts in distribution of sexes will be obtained. This study applies directly to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act, because the data will be used to improve stock assessments and estimates of spawning biomass in this commercially important species. This project is a cooperation with the commercial fishing industry and scientists at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) and Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC). Size, sex, gonad stage, fecundity.

Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) have a wide distribution along the Pacific coast, extending from Baja California to Alaska, the Bering Sea and through to the eastern coast of Japan. A unique feature of these fish is the wide variation in temperature and depth that sablefish experience throughout their life cycle, extending from depths 200m as adults to the surface as larvae and juveniles. While the landed weight of sablefish in the commercial fishery is relatively small, the exceptionally high value of this species ranks it 3rd in economic value to walleye pollock and Pacific cod. As such, sablefish are highly managed throughout the Pacific, and understanding the biology of this species is essential for proper management. The aim of this project is to characterize the reproductive life history of two populations of sablefish in coastal Washington and California. Fish will be collected from the same geographical location on a monthly basis for one year. The reproductive status will be determined from gonadal histology and plasma sex steroid levels, and age will be determined from otoliths. It is expected that data on size, age, rate of gonadal development, seasonal timing of spawning, fecundity, frequency of reproduction, and potential shifts in distribution of sexes will be obtained. This study applies directly to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act, because the data will be used to improve stock assessments and estimates of spawning biomass in this commercially important species. This project is a cooperation with the commercial fishing industry and scientists at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) and Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC). Size, sex, gonad stage, fecundity.

Reproductive data from Atlantic sharpnose sharks were collected from specimens captured throughout the northern Gulf of Mexico on various research vessels. Data included those necessary to describe the size at maturity, reproductive cycle, mating period, gestation time and fecundity of the species.

Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) have a wide distribution along the Pacific coast, extending from Baja California to Alaska, the Bering Sea and through to the eastern coast of Japan. A unique feature of these fish is the wide variation in temperature and depth that sablefish experience throughout their life cycle, extending from depths 200m as adults to the surface as larvae and juveniles. While the landed weight of sablefish in the commercial fishery is relatively small, the exceptionally high value of this species ranks it 3rd in economic value to walleye pollock and Pacific cod. As such, sablefish are highly managed throughout the Pacific, and understanding the biology of this species is essential for proper management. The aim of this project is to characterize the reproductive life history of two populations of sablefish in coastal Washington and California. Fish will be collected from the same geographical location on a monthly basis for one year. The reproductive status will be determined from gonadal histology and plasma sex steroid levels, and age will be determined from otoliths. It is expected that data on size, age, rate of gonadal development, seasonal timing of spawning, fecundity, frequency of reproduction, and potential shifts in distribution of sexes will be obtained. This study applies directly to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act, because the data will be used to improve stock assessments and estimates of spawning biomass in this commercially important species. This project is a cooperation with the commercial fishing industry and scientists at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) and Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC). Size, sex, gonad stage, fecundity.

: Research on the U.S. Distinct Population Segment of smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) life history, abundance, habitat use, movements, and migration is necessary to promote and facilitate recovery. A multi-disciplinary approach focusing research on action items in the Smalltooth Sawfish Recovery Plan has occurred since 2009. One of the high priority tasks outlined in the plan is abundance and recruitment of juvenile sawfish. One of the most important regions for young-of-the-year and small juveniles is coastal southwest Florida. This database describes catch and environmental data taken in southwest Florida (Marco Island to Florida Bay) for 2009-current under protected species permits issued to SEFSC/NMFS 13330 (2009-2013) and 17787 (2014-2019).

Raster data are derived from species distribution models, which are based on statistical species-habitat relationships (Guisan and Zimmermann 2000; Robinson et al. 2011). For Gulf of Mexico species, these data represent either probability of occurrence (pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus duorarum, red snapper Lutjanus campechanus age-1, lane snapper Lutjanus synagris age-0, lane snapper age-1, spinner shark Carcharhinus brevipinna, blacktip shark Carcharhinus limbatus) or relative abundance (brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus aztecus, white shrimp Litopenaeus setiferus, red snapper age-0, Atlantic sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon terraenovae) given a standardized survey. For South Atlantic species, these data represent probability of occurrence for red snapper (adults), black sea bass Centropristis striata (juvenile and adults), blacknose shark Carcharhinus acronotus, sandbar shark Carcharhinus plumbeus, and tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier given a standardized survey. Shark predictions of relative abundance are in units of individuals per 100 hooks per hour of bottom longline survey. Shrimp and red snapper age-0 relative abundance predictions are in units of individuals per kilometer of trawl survey. Shark distributions are representative of spring, summer, and fall seasons combined. Other species are depicted in either summer, fall, or summer and fall seasons combined. Further details are available in Pickens and Taylor (2020).

A single database has been implemented to store catch sampling and targeted research data collected since the late 1990s. In addition, data for key species e.g. striped and bastard trumpeter, has been uploaded from historic data bases to provide a complete dataset for the key species. Commercial catch sampling plus opportunistic collections of key scalefish species provide size and age structure information for catches. Where feasible additional biological information e.g. sex and reproductive status is collected.

A single database has been implemented to store catch sampling and targeted research data collected since the late 1990s. In addition, data for key species e.g. striped and bastard trumpeter, has been uploaded from historic data bases to provide a complete dataset for the key species. Commercial catch sampling plus opportunistic collections of key scalefish species provide size and age structure information for catches. Where feasible additional biological information e.g. sex and reproductive status is collected.