Survey Progress and Bottom Temperatures
The goal of the Gulf of Alaska Bottom Trawl Survey is to collect data on the distribution and abundance of fish and other bottom-dwelling species found around the Gulf of Alaska. Temperature heavily influences these ranges and populations, so ocean bottom temperatures are recorded from all the areas the survey collects catch samples. Here we share these temperatures in near real-time. NOAA Fisheries has conducted this standardized survey since 1990 in most odd-numbered years, culminating in 14 survey-years of data over 3 decades of sampling!
Learn more about this survey and view maps from previous years. All data collected on these surveys are and will be publicly accessible from:
View static maps of each day's progress and bottom temperatures (degrees Celsius; °C) will be available when the survey begins. The last page includes a regional map of the Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey and Shumagin, Chirikof, Kodiak, Yakutat, and Southeastern subregions.
Survey Dates
This year, the Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey is scheduled to run from May 25 to August 3 aboard the F/V Ocean Explorer and the F/V Alaska Provider. This year, start dates are staggered for the two vessels conducting the surveys, the F/V Ocean Explorer (departing Dutch Harbor on May 25) and the F/V Alaska Provider (departing Dutch Harbor on May 26). Tentatively, the vessels will be in port on the following dates:
- Kodiak on June 18 between legs 1 and 2
- Seward on July 11 between legs 2 and 3
- Juneau on August 2 at the end of the final third leg
Once in Juneau, both vessels demobilize and the survey scientists return to Seattle and Alaska to finalize and report the data collected.
We will keep the communities informed of our survey progress by posting regular updates via the website and social media (Facebook and Instagram). Watch for preliminary results from the survey in the September Joint Groundfish Plan Team presentation.
Survey Location
The Gulf of Alaska forms the northeastern border of the Pacific Ocean and consists of complex bathymetric features ranging from jagged, mountainous pinnacles to flat, muddy areas. These features provide a variety of habitats resulting in a complex ecosystem. The Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey progresses east from the Islands of Four Mountains to Dixon Entrance, sampling around the Shumagin Islands, Kodiak Island, in lower Cook Inlet, and Southeast Alaska. Trawl samples are collected from the continental shelf and upper slope down to 700 meters.
Pictures from the field
What does survey life and research look like? Explore this year's photo gallery to see this current survey’s photos from scientists in the field. These photos show the incredible places that NOAA scientists go and showcase our mission in ways that words cannot.
