Ecosystems Surveys Branch

The Ecosystems Surveys Branch collects fishery-independent data during standardized research vessel surveys from Cape Hatteras to the Scotian shelf. These surveys and other data collection programs also provide oceanographic and plankton data for monitoring the health and status of marine resources and their habitat. The branch gathers data on abundance, distribution, feeding ecology, and size and age composition of stocks of economically and ecologically important species.

The data collected are vital for assessment, management, and a wide variety of research programs.

The branch designs, builds, and tests much of its sampling gear and evaluates hydroacoustic sensing systems. Branch staff also conduct vessel and gear standardization studies to ensure comparability of survey indices over time and to perform statistical evaluations of sampling adequacy.

Available to qualified researchers.

1. Formal request in writing usually to the data owner/contact or Center Director.

2. Requester is contacted by data owner to review and verify the request content and details for data delivery options.

3. If data is confidential then owner will determine is the data may be released to the requester.

4. If data can be released, the data is downloaded and packaged for delivery electronically; or the requester may be directed to where the data is available online.

If data is stored on an internal NEFSC network, the requester may not have direct access to query the data unless they are also authorized for network access.

User must read and fully comprehend the metadata prior to use. Applications or inferences derived from the data should be carefully considered for accuracy. Acknowledgement of NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC, as the source from which these data were obtained in any publications and/or other representations of these, data is suggested.

RDBMS: Oracle