The 2005 Joint U.S.-Canada Integrated Acoustic and Trawl Survey of Pacific Hake (Merluccius productus) (MF0509, EK500). Scientists from the Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring (FRAM) division at the NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) and the Pacific region of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) conducted the Joint 2005 Integrated Acoustic Survey (IAT) survey aboard the NOAA Ship Miller Freeman, a stern trawler equipped for fisheries and oceanographic research. Pacific Hake (Merluccius productus) aggregations were targeted along the continental shelf and upper slope of the entire survey area. Hake populations were surveyed along a series of parallel line transects that in general were oriented east-west, spaced at an interval of 10 nmi apart, and traversed sequentially in alternating directions; The survey began from north of Point Piedras Blancas, CA (35.7°N) to the Dixon Entrance area, Canada (54.5°N) between June 20 and Aug. 19. All transects up to the Dixon Entrance and along the west coast of Haida Gwaii were completed. Sea depth at the inshore end of individual transects was nominally 50 m. Offshore extent of individual transects was typically at a depth of 1,500 m.

The 2003 Joint U.S.-Canada Integrated Acoustic and Trawl Survey of Pacific Hake (Merluccius productus) (MF0316, EK500). Scientists from the Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring (FRAM) division at the NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) and the Pacific region of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) conducted the Joint 2003 Integrated Acoustic Survey (IAT) survey aboard the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) W.E. Ricker, a stern trawler equipped for fisheries and oceanographic research. Pacific Hake (Merluccius productus) aggregations were targeted along the continental shelf and upper slope of the entire survey area. Hake populations were surveyed along a series of parallel line transects that in general were oriented east-west, spaced at an interval of 10 nmi apart, and traversed sequentially in alternating directions; The survey began from south of Monterey, CA (36.1°N) to the Dixon Entrance area, Canada (51.4°N) between June 29 and Sep. 1. All transects up to the Dixon Entrance and along the west coast of Haida Gwaii were completed. Sea depth at the inshore end of individual transects was nominally 50 m. Offshore extent of individual transects was typically at a depth of 1,500 m.

Acoustic-Trawl Surveys of Walleye Pollock in the Central Gulf of Alaska (DY0904, EK60). The Midwater Assessment and Conservation Engineering (MACE) program of NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) conducted acoustic-trawl (AT) stock assessment surveys in the central Gulf of Alaska (GOA) during the late winter/early spring of 2009 to estimate the distribution and abundance of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma). The vessel departed Kodiak, Alaska on 19 March and conducted a survey along the central Gulf of Alaska shelf east of Chirikof Island 20-22 March. The vessel then surveyed Shelikof Strait 23-28 March and performed an acoustic equipment calibration on 29 March. The Marmot Bay survey was conducted 29-30 March followed by fisheries research equipment testing on 31 March. The vessel ended the cruise in Kodiak, Alaska on 1 April. The survey was conducted aboard NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson, a 64 meter stern trawler equipped with acoustic and oceanographic instrumentation.

The 2007 Joint U.S.-Canada Integrated Acoustic and Trawl Survey of Pacific Hake (Merluccius productus) (MF0710, EK500). Scientists from the Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring (FRAM) division at the NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) and the Pacific region of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) conducted the Joint 2007 Integrated Acoustic Survey (IAT) survey aboard the NOAA Ship Miller Freeman, a stern trawler equipped for fisheries and oceanographic research. Pacific Hake (Merluccius productus) aggregations were targeted along the continental shelf and upper slope of the entire survey area. Hake populations were surveyed along a series of parallel line transects that in general were oriented east-west, spaced at an interval of 10 nmi apart, and traversed sequentially in alternating directions; The survey began from north of Point Piedras Blancas, CA (35.8N) to the Dixon Entrance area, Canada (54.9N) between June 20 and Aug. 21. All transects up to the Dixon Entrance and along the west coast of Haida Gwaii were completed. Sea depth at the inshore end of individual transects was nominally 50 m. Offshore extent of individual transects was typically at a depth of 1,500 m.

Gulf of Alaska Acoustic-Trawl Surveys of Walleye Pollock (DY0901, EK60). The Midwater Assessment and Conservation Engineering (MACE) program of NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) conducted acoustic-trawl (AT) stock assessment surveys in the western Gulf of Alaska (GOA) during the winter of 2009 to estimate the distribution and abundance of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma). The vessel departed Kodiak, Alaska on 12 February and conducted acoustic echosounder system calibrations in Three Saints Bay, Kodiak Island, Alaska on 12-13 February. The vessel conducted the Shumagin Islands survey (including Shumagin Trough, Stepovak Bay, Renshaw Point, Unga Strait, and West Nagai Strait) 15-18 February. The vessel then surveyed Sanak Trough on 18-19 February, followed by a survey of the continental shelf break from Sanak Island to Unalaska Island 19-20 February. The vessel conducted equipment research operations utilizing a lowered target strength transducer system 21-22 February and arrived in Dutch Harbor, Alaska on 22 February. The primary acoustic echosounder system for this survey was a Simrad EK60; a Simrad ME70 multibeam echosounder system was also operated for the duration of the cruise. The survey was conducted aboard NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson, a 64 meter fisheries research stern trawler equipped with acoustic and oceanographic instrumentation.

2009 Joint U.S.-Canada Integrated Acoustic and Trawl Survey of Pacific Hake (Merluccius productus) (MF0903, EK60). Scientists from the Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring (FRAM) division at the NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) and the Pacific region of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) conducted the Joint 2009 Integrated Acoustic Survey (IAT) survey aboard the NOAA Ship Miller Freeman and the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) W.E. Ricker, both are stern trawlers equipped for fisheries and oceanographic research. Pacific Hake (Merluccius productus) aggregations were targeted along the continental shelf and upper slope of the entire survey area. Hake populations were surveyed along a series of parallel line transects that in general were oriented east-west, spaced at an interval of 10 nmi apart, and traversed sequentially in alternating directions; The survey on Miller Freeman (US portion) began from north of Point Piedras Blancas, CA (35.8°N) to the northwest tip of Washington state (48.4°N) between June 30 and Aug. 22, while the survey on W.E. Ricker began from near US/Canada border (48.55°N) to the Dixon Entrance area, Canada (54.9°N) between Aug. 13 to Sep. 7. All transects up to the Dixon Entrance and along the west coast of Haida Gwaii were completed. Sea depth at the inshore end of individual transects was nominally 50 m. Offshore extent of individual transects was typically at a depth of 1,500 m. However, this package includes only the EK60 raw data from the US portion only.

2009 Sardine Acoustic Survey. The Simrad EK60 depth sounder was operated, at 18, 38, 120, and 200 kHz and interfaced to a data acquisition system to estimate micronekton and preliminary estimates of small pelagic fish relative biomass between 0 and 250 m.

2005 Joint U.S.-Canada Integrated Acoustic and Trawl Survey of Pacific Hake (Merluccius productus) (MF0509, EK60). Scientists from the Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring (FRAM) division at the NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) and the Pacific region of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) conducted the Joint 2005 Integrated Acoustic Survey (IAT) survey aboard the NOAA Ship Miller Freeman, a stern trawler equipped for fisheries and oceanographic research. Pacific Hake (Merluccius productus) aggregations were targeted along the continental shelf and upper slope of the entire survey area. Hake populations were surveyed along a series of parallel line transects that in general were oriented east-west, spaced at an interval of 10 nmi apart, and traversed sequentially in alternating directions; The survey began from north of Point Piedras Blancas, CA (35.7°N) to the Dixon Entrance area, Canada (54.5°N) between June 20 and Aug. 19. All transects up to the Dixon Entrance and along the west coast of Haida Gwaii were completed. Sea depth at the inshore end of individual transects was nominally 50 m. Offshore extent of individual transects was typically at a depth of 1,500 m.

Assessment of Rockfish Species in Untrawlable Habitat in the Gulf of Alaska (DY0912, EK60). The Midwater Assessment and Conservation Engineering (MACE) program of NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) conducted an assessment of northern rockfish (Sebastes polyspinis) and dusky rockfish (Sebastes variabilis) in untrawlable habitat areas of the Gulf of Alaska using advanced acoustics, optical, and trawl technologies, 3-13 October 2009. The primary survey site was a shallow bank along the GOA shelf break known as Snakehead. The survey was conducted aboard NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson, a 64 meter stern trawler equipped with acoustic and oceanographic instrumentation. The primary acoustic instruments for this survey were the Simrad EK60 split beam echosounder and the Simrad ME70 multibeam echosounder. The vessel departed Dutch Harbor, Alaska on 3 October and ended the cruise on 13 October in Kodiak, Alaska. The survey was conducted 4-12 October with a weather delay on 10 October.

California Current Ecosystem Survey. 1. Each coast-wide survey station included the following: a. A CTD/Rosette consisting of four 2.5 liter hydrographic bottles lowered to 500 meters (depth permitting) to measure physical parameters and collect water at discrete depths for analysis of salinity. b. A CalBOBL (CalCOFI Bongo) standard oblique plankton tow with 300 meters of wire out, depth permitting, using a 505 µm mesh net paired with a 333 µm mesh net with 71 cm diameter openings. The technical requirements for this tow were: Descent wire rate of 50 meters per minute, held at terminal depth for 30 seconds and retrieved at a wire rate of 20 meters per minute. . A 45° wire angle was closely maintained during the ascent and descent of the net frame. All tows with ascending wire angles lower than 38° or higher than 51° in the final 100 meters of wire were repeated. c. A Manta net (neuston) tow, using a 505 µm mesh net on a frame with a mouth area of 0.133 m². The frame was towed for 15 minutes at a target speed of 60-70 cm/sec or an angle of stray between 20-25 degrees. d. Weather observations. e. A Pairovet (vertical) plankton tow was taken at all stations. The Pairovet net was fished from 70 meters to the surface (depth permitting) using paired 25 cm diameter 150 µm mesh nets. The technical requirements for Pairovet tows were: Descent rate of 70 meters per minute, held at depth for 10 second duration then an ascent rate of 70 meters per minute. All tows with wire angles exceeding 15° during the ascent were repeated. f. A surface tow using a Nordic 264 pelagic trawl was conducted during nighttime operations. Each tow was fished for a 30 minute duration at a towing speed of approximately 3.5 knots. The catch of each tow was processed in the following manner: Sardines collected in each trawl were randomly sub-sampled. Standard length and body weight were measured, otoliths were collected, and ovaries preserved in buffered formalin. These fish were assigned a maturity code based on a four stage system developed during a previous Tri-national Sardine Forum. 3 g. During daylight hours marine mammal and seabird observations were conducted enumerating and identifying all seabirds and marine mammals encountered. Mammals were not quantitatively surveyed on Leg II. 2. While underway during the coast-wide sardine survey, the following operations were conducted: a. Directed adaptive sampling of pelagic fish eggs using the following protocol: Water was continuously sampled using the CUFES (Continuous Underway Fish Egg Sampler) from a depth of six meters. Approximately 640 liters/minute was sent through a concentrator which filters all material larger than 505 µm. The sieved sample was collected and identified. All fish eggs were identified to lowest taxa, counted and entered into the data acquisition software. Each sample entry is coupled with sea surface temperature, geographical position, wind speed and direction, date and time, and surface salinity. Sampling intervals varied in length, depending on the number of fish eggs seen, from two to sixty minutes with an average interval of thirty two minutes. When two consecutive samples had a concentration of Pacific sardine eggs equal to or greater than 1 egg per minute, the ship stopped to conduct a Pairovet tow. Pairovet tows continued at four mile intervals until a concentration of less than one egg per minute was observed in two consecutive samples. All Pairovet samples were taken concurrently with a CUFES sample in addition to sampling continuously between Pairovet samples. b. Once underway, the Freeman’s Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP, RDI 150 kHz model) was sampling at all times. Data was periodically backed up to a writable DVD. c. Once underway, the scientific sounder (Simrad EK-60, 38, 120, and 200 kHz split beam transducer) was sampling at all times. Data was periodically backed up to a writable DVD. d. Once underway, the Freeman’s thermosalinometer (TSG) was