Days at Sea and Mission Accomplishment
Our science center completed 14 of 17 planned ship-based surveys during 2022:
- Eleven accomplished more than 90 percent of their planned mission
- Three accomplished less than 90 percent of their planned mission, primarily due to availability of ship crew, equipment malfunctions, and COVID. One was canceled because of ship maintenance issues
- Two were planned but not scheduled because no sea days were available on NOAA vessels
These surveys collect data that underpin research across our scientific mission. In many cases these surveys continue decades-long data collection efforts. They are the main reason the Northeast U.S. Shelf ecosystem is one of the best understood marine ecosystems in the world. These surveys also support fishery and protected species management in the region, which directly affects some of the nation’s most valuable fisheries and endangered species.
Northeast Fisheries Science Center 2022 Ship-Based Survey Summary
Survey |
Vessel | % DAS Executed | % Mission Completed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Ecosystem Monitoring Survey | NA | 0% | 0% |
| Spring Bottom Trawl Survey | NOAA Ship Bigelow | 92% | 98% |
| Spring Ecosystem Monitoring Survey | NOAA Ship Bigelow | 94% | 92% |
Spring Gulf of Maine Bottom Longline Survey | F/V Mary Elizabeth & F/V Tenacious II |
100% |
100% |
| Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species Survey |
NOAA Ship Gunter |
0% |
0% |
| Spring Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Inshore Bottom Trawl Survey |
R/V Gloria Michelle |
100% |
98% |
| North Atlantic Right Whale Survey | R/V Warren Jr | 100% | 100% |
| Atlantic Sea Scallop Survey | R/V Sharp | 97% | 93% |
| Gulf of Maine Northeast Shrimp Survey | R/V Gloria Michelle | 95% | 97% |
| Atlantic Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Survey | F/V Pursuit | 93% | 94% |
| Deep-See Technology Development | NOAA Ship Bigelow | 87% | 35% |
| Summer Ecosystem Monitoring Survey | NA | 0% | 0% |
| Sea Turtle Survey | R/V Warren Jr | 100% | 100% |
| Fall Bottom Trawl Survey | NOAA Ship Bigelow | 77% | 83% |
| Fall Ecosystem Monitoring Survey | NOAA Ship Pisces | 56% | 40% |
| Fall Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Inshore Bottom Trawl Survey |
R/V Gloria Michelle |
100% |
97% |
Fall Gulf of Maine Bottom Longline Survey | F/V Mary Elizabeth & F/V Tenacious II |
100% |
100% |
2022 Survey Highlights
One of our most popular features during the year are the blogs submitted by scientific staff during their time at sea. This year, more than a dozen blogs revealed what researchers find interesting about being at sea:
- Wow-worthy moments from the bottom longline survey
- A glimpse of creatures from the “twilight zone”
- A record haul of young sea scallops
- A return to eDNA sampling across our survey area
Here are summaries of some of our 2022 ship-based survey activities:
