Spring 2011 California Current Ecosystem Survey. The spring 2011 California Current Ecosystem (CCE) survey was conducted aboard one NOAA research vessel and a chartered fishing vessel. The NOAA ship Bell M. Shimada (March 23-April 27) covered the area off of the west coast of US from Cape Flattery, Washington to San Diego, California with most of the stations off California located within the area from San Francisco to San Diego (CalCOFI lines 63.3 to 93.3 from March 27 to April 25). The F/V Frosti (March 26-April 28) covered the area from San Francisco to San Diego, California (CalCOFI lines 61.7 to 95, data collected April 1-26). Within the CCE survey the Shimada occupied the primary CalCOFI lines, 76.7 to 93.3, from April 10 to 25 for the spring CalCOFI cruise. During the CCE and the CalCOFI surveys, CalVET tows, Bongo tows, CUFES and trawls were conducted aboard both vessels. Data from both CCE and CalCOFI surveys were included in the estimation of spawning biomass of Pacific sardines.

Rockfish Recruitment and Ecosystem Assessment

2010 California Current Ecosystem Survey. Measurements of volume backscattering strength (Sv; dB re 1 m) and target strength (TS; dB 1 m2) were made using four calibrated Simrad EK60 general purpose transceivers (GPTs) configured with split-beam transducers at frequencies of 38, 70, 120, and 200 kHz. To index the data by time and geographic position, a GPS receiver provided navigational data to the echosounder software (ER60). The echosounder system was tested and calibrated while FROSTI was anchored at Elliot Bay Anchorage (Washington) two days prior to the start of the cruise. EK60 data was collected to 250 m depths by transmitting 1024-µs pulses of the four frequencies simultaneously, every 0.5 seconds. The depth range was chosen to accommodate the depth distribution of CPS (i.e., ca. 70 m depth) and krill (i.e., ca. 250 m depth), and the fast pulse repetition allows multiple insonification of relatively small fish schools at the sampling speed of 8 kts. The echoes were received with bandwidths of 2.425, 2.859, 3.026, and 3.088 kHz, respectively, and digitized every 256 µs (ER60; .raw data format) in a laptop computer. All the EK60 frequencies were triggered simultaneously, and all other echosounders, speed logs, and sonars operating at or near the survey frequencies were secured during survey operations. Exceptions were made during directed trawl operations when a net sounder was activated.

Kona Integrated Ecosystem Assessment Survey (SE1401, EK60). This cruise accomplished the following objectives: Oceanographic data were collected from a total of 6 CTD casts and continuous TSG measurements along a predefined grid off the west coast of Hawaii to assess the influence of physical dynamics on the region's biological productivity. CTD-mounted fluorometer measurements were carried out by two fluorometers. Biological backscatter was monitored using the EK60 echosounder system, both during trawl operations and along 7 acoustic transects (including at least one daytime and one nighttime transit of each transect). One nighttime oblique mid-water trawl was conducted prior to the net being damaged beyond repair by contact with the seafloor. Four casts of a DIDSON imaging sonar were conducted to collect high resolution information on the density of high sonic scattering layers. An ROV was deployed 5 times to investigate acoustic scattering layers and adjacent layers. Deep handline jigging was accomplished during day and night to investigate scattering layer macrofauna. Data on cetacean distribution, school size, and school composition were collected via daytime visual surveys on 9 days of transects coupled with several days of small boat survey effort. Two HARP units were deployed for passive autonomous detection of cetaceans and several sonabuoys were also deployed during daytime operations for cetacean detection and identification.

2009 Winter CalCOFI. CalCOFI 75 Sta PatternThe California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) are a unique partnership of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, NOAA Fisheries Service and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The organization was formed in 1949 to study the ecological aspects of the sardine population collapse off California. Today our focus has shifted to the study of the marine environment off the coast of California, the management of its living resources, and monitoring the indicators of El Nino and climate change. CalCOFI conducts quarterly cruises off southern and central California, collecting a suite of hydrographic and biological data on station and underway. Data collected at depths down to 500 m include: temperature, salinity, oxygen, phosphate, silicate, nitrate and nitrite, chlorophyll, transmissometer, PAR, C14 primary productivity, phytoplankton biodiversity, zooplankton biomass, and zooplankton biodiversity.

Leeward Oahu Pelagic Ecosystem Characterization (LOPEC-1) (SE1703, EK60). The first primary component of LOPEC-1 on SE1703 was to perform a midwater trawl and bongo net survey from the Oscar Elton Sette to compare to a series of trawl and bongo net surveys from 1951-1978 off leeward Oahu, henceforth referred to as the baseline surveys. The baseline surveys estimated fish composition and abundance for 4 different components of the pelagic community, notably the mesopelagic fish assemblage, shorefish larvae, tuna larvae, as well as a suite of zooplankton taxa from 2 forage availability studies and an early trawl survey. Comparison of current composition and abundances to the baseline composition and abundances after 39-66 years will be a valuable scientific finding to ascertain how the pelagic ecosystem has changed, or not, over that extended time period. The sampling gears used in the baseline surveys from 1951-1978 are 10’ Isaacs-Kidd midwater trawl (IKMT), Cobb trawl, and 70cm bongo nets, all of which are available and deployable on Oscar Elton Sette. The second primary component of LOPEC on SE17-03 was to establish a time series of micronekton and plankton for the leeward Oahu area for ecosystem monitoring. Some operations from the baseline comparison component will be part of the new time series with additional surveys of plankton using other sampling gear such as ring nets and other configurations (different mesh sizes) of bongo nets during both the daytime and the nighttime.

2013 Joint U.S.-Canada Integrated Acoustic and Trawl Survey of Pacific Hake and Pacific Sardine (SaKe 2015) (SH1507, EK60). The 2015 SaKe survey will span the west coasts of the U.S. and Canada from approximately lat 32.8°N (San Diego) to approximately lat 54.65°N (Dixon Entrance, Canada). Eastern and western extents will primarily range from the 20-m isobath or as close to shore as is safely navigable, to either the 1,500-m isobath or a point 35 nmi west of the inshore waypoint, whichever is farther offshore. The primary goal of the survey is to estimate the biomasses, distributions, and biological compositions of populations of Pacific hake and CPS using data from an integrated acoustic and trawl survey off the west coasts of the U.S. and Canada from approximately San Diego, California (lat 32°48.02’N) to the Dixon Entrance, Canada (lat 54°39.00’N). Besides Pacific sardine, the other CPS of interest for the SWFSC are those comprised in the Pacific Fisheries Management Council Fisheries Management Plan (PFMC, 2011) including: Northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax), Pacific Mackerel (Scomber japonicus), Jack Mackerel (Trachurus symmetricus). The NWFSC and SWFSC are interested in all species of euphausiids found within the U.S.’ West Coast EEZ. The current sampling resolution will probably not allow for a comprehensive assessment of all anchovy sub-populations. In particular, those residing in the Southern California Bight and off the Columbia River plume might require additional effort given their patchy distribution. SaKe 2015 will continue to monitor the populations of Ecosystem Component Species (ECS; PFMC, 2011), in particular Pacific Herring (Clupea pallasii). Continuously sample multi-frequency acoustic backscatter data using the ship’s Simrad EK60 scientific echosounder system. These data will be used to estimate the distributions and abundances of hake and the CPS assemblage. Conduct daytime trawling to classify observed backscatter layers to species and size composition and to collect specimens of hake and other organisms. Conduct nighttime (i.e., between sunset and sunrise) surface trawling to collect specimens of coastal pelagic fishes (CPS) and other organisms. These data will be used to classify CPS backscatter to species and their size distributions. Nighttime sampling operations will conclude in time for the ship to resume running east-west acoustic transects by sunrise. Image fish using a portable X-radiograph machine for the purpose of target strength modeling and estimation. Collect a variety of other acoustic, biological, and oceanographic samples relevant to hake and CPS distributions. These data are vital for the surveys and assessments of hake and CPS. Continuously sample sea-surface temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll-a using the ship’s thermosalinograph and fluorometer. These data will be used to estimate the physical oceanographic habitats for each target species. Continuously sample air temperature, barometric pressure, and wind speed and direction using the ship’s integrated weather station. Continuously sample pelagic fish eggs using the Continuous Underway Fish Egg Sampler (CUFES). The data will be used to estimate the distributions and abundances of spawning hake, and multiple CPS. Sample profiles of temperature and salinity using a combination of an underway conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) system during the day or a standard CTD system with water-sampling rosette and other instruments at nighttime stations, as time allows. Sample plankton using a Vertical Ring Net net at nighttime stations, as time allows. These data will be used to estimate the distribution and abundance of ichthyoplankton and zooplankton species. Continuously sample multi-frequency acoustic backscatter data using the ship’s Simrad ME70 multibeam echosounder system, synchronized and configured to not interfere with the EK60s. Optically verify CPS backscatter while underway conducting acoustic transects,

2009 Fall CalCOFI. The California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) are a unique partnership of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, NOAA Fisheries Service and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The organization was formed in 1949 to study the ecological aspects of the sardine population collapse off California. Today our focus has shifted to the study of the marine environment off the coast of California, the management of its living resources, and monitoring the indicators of El Nino and climate change. CalCOFI conducts quarterly cruises off southern and central California, collecting a suite of hydrographic and biological data on station and underway. Data collected at depths down to 500 m include: temperature, salinity, oxygen, phosphate, silicate, nitrate and nitrite, chlorophyll, transmissometer, PAR, C14 primary productivity, phytoplankton biodiversity, zooplankton biomass, and zooplankton biodiversity.

The primary goals of the survey are to characterize the winter distribution of hake, the hake aggregations, and the fish within those aggregations in order to support an evaluation of the feasibility of a future winter hake biomass survey. The project will use data from an integrated acoustic and trawl survey off the west coast of the U.S. from approximately south of San Diego, CA (latitude 31.6°N along the U.S. EEZ) to approximately Newport, OR (latitude 44.6°N). Our objectives are to: - Conduct 24-hour acoustic, trawl, oceanographic, and zooplankton operations. - Continuously sample multi-frequency acoustic backscatter data using the ship’s Simrad EK60 scientific echosounders (18, 38, and 120 kHz) system. Simrad EK80 broadband echosounders will operate at 70 and 200 kHz. Collectively, the acoustic data will be used to characterize the distribution of hake and describe hake aggregations. -- Collect acoustic data along pre-planned diagonal transects along the coast (hereafter “transects”). -- Collect acoustic data over hake aggregations, where the design will be determined based on the observed aggregation (hereafter “adaptive transects”). - Collect stationary acoustic data 1 hour before sunrise/sunset to 1 hour after sunrise/sunset to evaluate migration (vertical and/or horizontal) of hake aggregations. - Conduct daytime and nighttime trawling (Appendices 3 and 4) to verify hake aggregations and obtain specimens for biological data (length, sex, maturity, age, ovaries, diet, genetics, etc.). -- Multiple trawl samples may be taken on a single hake aggregation to evaluate heterogeneity in sex, maturity, etc. -- Record data from shipboard net mensuration gear to evaluate trawl performance - Use a portable x-ray system (Appendices 5 and 6) to take radiographic images of fish swimbladders - Optically verify the presence of non-hake scatterers during trawling using a video camera and light(s) attached to the upper panel of the midwater trawl approximately 20-30 meters forward of the codend. - Conduct vertical casts with the ship’s CTD rosette, outfitted with a dissolved oxygen sensor and Niskin bottles, at pre-planned stations along transects and/or at trawl locations (Appendix 2, Table 2, Table 4, and Table 5). These data will be used to describe the vertical and horizontal distributions of hake relative to oceanographic conditions. Niskin water collections will be filtered for evaluation of environmental DNA (eDNA). - Conduct underway CTD (uCTD) casts at pre-planned stations along transects (Appendix 2, Table 6). These data will be used to supplement oceanographic information obtained from the CTD rosettes and will be used to describe the distribution of hake relative to ocean conditions - Continuously collect Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) data along transects. These data will be used to describe the distribution of spawning hake relative to currents. - Conduct vertical ring net zooplankton tows at pre-planned stations along transects (Appendix 1, Figure 1; stations are listed in Appendix 2, Table 2) and bongo net tows (Appendix 1, Figure 1; stations are listed in Appendix 2, Table 3). These data will be used to describe the winter distribution of zooplankton species. - Continuously sample sea-surface temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll-a using the ship’s thermosalinograph and fluorometer. These data will be used to estimate the physical oceanographic habitats for spawning hake. - Continuously sample air temperature, barometric pressure, and wind speed and direction using the ship’s integrated weather station. - Collect broadband acoustic data with EK80 echosounders operating at central frequencies of 70 and 200 kHz. The use of the EK80s will require temporary modification to the ship’s EK60 set-up.

2016 Spring CalCOFI. The California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) are a unique partnership of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, NOAA Fisheries Service and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The organization was formed in 1949 to study the ecological aspects of the sardine population collapse off California. Today our focus has shifted to the study of the marine environment off the coast of California, the management of its living resources, and monitoring the indicators of El Nino and climate change. CalCOFI conducts quarterly cruises off southern and central California, collecting a suite of hydrographic and biological data on station and underway. Data collected at depths down to 500 meters include: temperature, salinity, oxygen, phosphate, silicate, nitrate and nitrite, chlorophyll, transmissometer, PAR, C14 primary productivity, phytoplankton biodiversity, zooplankton biomass, and zooplankton biodiversity.