NEFSC 2003 Spring Bottom Trawl Survey (DE0303, EK500). The NEFSC bottom trawl survey is a fisheries independent, multi-species survey that provides the primary scientific data for fisheries assessments in the U.S. mid-Atlantic and New England regions. Two bottom trawl surveys are conducted each year, one in the spring and one in the autumn. The survey is a standardized, stratified random design, with stratification based on bathymetry and multiple trawl sites within each stratum. Trawl sites are selected randomly, but the overall ship path is south to north. The survey covers the continental shelf and U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina into the Canadian EEZ. The primary gear is a bottom trawl, with CTD, multifrequency echosounder, and a host of other scientific sensor data collected ancillary to the bottom trawl catches. The bottom trawl survey was normally conducted on the AL IV, but due to mechanical issues, the DE II was used for 2003 spring.

NEFSC 2003 Atlantic Herring Acoustic/Midwater Trawl Survey (DE0308, EK500). The NEFSC Atlantic herring acoustic survey is a fisheries independent survey that provides scientific data for Atlantic herring assessments in the U.S. mid-Atlantic and New England regions. The survey is conducted in the fall on pre-spawning and spawning herring primarily in the Georges Bank region, but with other historical sites in the Gulf of Maine surveyed. The survey is a systematic design with parallel transects oriented perpendicular to bathymetric features. Midwater trawl sites are selected on an ad hoc basis to sample acoustic backscatter attributed to Atlantic herring as well as backscatter by other organisms. The primary gear is multifrequency Simrad echosounders, but midwater trawl, CTD, and a host of other scientific sensor data are collected ancillary to the acoustic data.

Halifax Sound Range Trials (DE0301, EK500). Radiated sound measurements of vessels are important for monitoring the noise characteristics of fishing and research vessels. A vessel's radiated noise can have behavioral effects on marine life which in turn can influence abundance and distribution estimates collected by these vessels. During this cruise, acoustic data were collected on the transit to and from Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Northern Right Whale Survey (DE0306, EK500). The right whale and cetacean survey primarily focuses on right whales in the coastal and continental shelf areas, with the following objectives: 1) Develop a better understanding of right whale habitat use and site fidelity for abundance and monitoring of critical areas, 2) Determine the distribution and relative abundance of plankton and prey species, 3) When possible, collect identification photographs and biopsy samples.

NEFSC 2002 Atlantic Herring Acoustic/Midwater Trawl Survey (DE0208, EK500). The NEFSC Atlantic herring acoustic survey is a fisheries independent survey that provides scientific data for Atlantic herring assessments in the U.S. mid-Atlantic and New England regions. The survey is conducted in the fall on pre-spawning and spawning herring primarily in the Georges Bank region, but with other historical sites in the Gulf of Maine surveyed. The survey is a systematic design with parallel transects oriented perpendicular to bathymetric features. Midwater trawl sites are selected on an ad hoc basis to sample acoustic backscatter attributed to Atlantic herring as well as backscatter by other organisms. The primary gear is multifrequency Simrad echosounders, but midwater trawl, CTD, and a host of other scientific sensor data are collected ancillary to the acoustic data.

NEFSC Small Pelagics Acoustic/Midwater Trawl Survey (DE0201, EK500). The small pelagics cruise will map the distribution of small pelagic species such as Atlantic mackerel, Atlantic herring, silver hake, butterfish, and squid, in the mid-Atlantic and Gulf of Maine regions of the northeast US. Acoustic data are the primary data and midwater trawl sites are selected on an ad hoc basis to sample acoustic backscatter attributed to small pelagic species. The primary gear is multifrequency Simrad echosounders, but midwater trawl, CTD, and a host of other scientific sensor data are collected ancillary to the acoustic data.

NEFSC 2002 Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Survey (DE0206, EK500). The 2002 region-wide survey for Atlantic surfclam (Spisula solidissima) and Ocean Quahog (Arctica islandica) was conducted in continental shelf waters, from Delmarva Peninsula to Georges Bank aboard the FRV DELAWARE II. The survey, conducted by the NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center, provides indices of abundance and recruitment for both species. In addition, tows were made at 25 non-random sites during the survey to support on-going scientific studies.

NEFSC Small Pelagics Acoustic/Midwater Trawl Survey (DE0101, EK500). The small pelagics cruise will map the distribution of small pelagic species such as Atlantic mackerel, Atlantic herring, silver hake, butterfish, and squid, in the mid-Atlantic and Gulf of Maine regions of the northeast US. Acoustic data are the primary data and midwater trawl sites are selected on an ad hoc basis to sample acoustic backscatter attributed to small pelagic species. The primary gear is multifrequency Simrad echosounders, but midwater trawl, CTD, and a host of other scientific sensor data are collected ancillary to the acoustic data.

NEFSC 2004 Atlantic Herring Acoustic/Midwater Trawl Survey (DE0413, EK500). The NEFSC Atlantic herring acoustic survey is a fisheries independent survey that provides scientific data for Atlantic herring assessments in the U.S. mid-Atlantic and New England regions. The survey is conducted in the fall on pre-spawning and spawning herring primarily in the Georges Bank region, but with other historical sites in the Gulf of Maine surveyed. The survey is a systematic design with parallel transects oriented perpendicular to bathymetric features. Midwater trawl sites are selected on an ad hoc basis to sample acoustic backscatter attributed to Atlantic herring as well as backscatter by other organisms. The primary gear is multifrequency Simrad echosounders, but midwater trawl, CTD, and a host of other scientific sensor data are collected ancillary to the acoustic data.

NEFSC 2004 Deepwater Biodiversity (DE0408, EK500). The primary objective is to collect fish, cephalopod, and crustacean specimens from the bottom and midwaters at maximum depths possible with available trawl wire. These collections will be used for tissue samples, photographs of freshly collected specimens and systematic characters, and voucher specimens in museum collections at the National Museum of Natural History, Peabody Museum, the Museum of Comparative Zoology, and the Delaware Museum of Natural History. These collections and observations contribute to ongoing research on biodiversity of deepwater nekton and other megafauna in the western North Atlantic. Additionally, the cruise will provide educational experience in deep-sea biology to students several institutions.