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Bottom Trawl Surveys

Project (PRJ) | Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:22557 | Updated: August 9, 2022 | Published / External

Summary

Item Identification

Keywords

Physical Location

Project Info

Support Roles

Extents

Access Info

URLs

Tech Environment

Acronyms

Glossary

FAQs

Child Items

Catalog Details

Description

The bottom trawl surveys are the longest running, continuous time-series of bottom fish and marine invertebrate sampling in the world. These Atlantic Ocean surveys stretch from Cape Hatteras to the Canadian border in depths from 30 to 1,200 feet with more than 300 bottom-trawl tows made during each survey. Besides the biological data gathered from the fish and marine invertebrates taken in each tow, the survey collects data on water chemistry, plankton, and threatened and endangered species. Over 900 species of fish and invertebrates have been identified during these surveys, including several that were previously unknown.

Project Type
Project

Mandated By
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act

Collection Method
Biological Samples, Paper, Electronic

Type	Title
Data Set	Fall Bottom Trawl Survey
Data Set	Spring Bottom Trawl Survey
Data Set	Summer Bottom Trawl Survey
Data Set	Winter Bottom Trawl Survey

Type

Title

Data Set

Fall Bottom Trawl Survey

Data Set

Spring Bottom Trawl Survey

Data Set

Summer Bottom Trawl Survey

Data Set

Winter Bottom Trawl Survey

Point of Contact
Philip J Politis
philip.politis@noaa.gov
(508) 495-2171

Metadata Contact
Paul Kostovick
paul.kostovick@noaa.gov
(508)495-2343

Geographic Area 1

-81.24° W, -63.2° E, 44.52° N, 28.47° S

northwest Atlantic: Cape Hatteras, NC to Nova Scotia

Time Frame 1
1963 - Present

The first bottom trawl in the standard series began in the fall of 1963.

Title:	Bottom Trawl Surveys
Short Name:	Bottom Trawl Surveys
Status:	In Work
Abstract:	The bottom trawl surveys are the longest running, continuous time-series of bottom fish and marine invertebrate sampling in the world. These Atlantic Ocean surveys stretch from Cape Hatteras to the Canadian border in depths from 30 to 1,200 feet with more than 300 bottom-trawl tows made during each survey. Besides the biological data gathered from the fish and marine invertebrates taken in each tow, the survey collects data on water chemistry, plankton, and threatened and endangered species. Over 900 species of fish and invertebrates have been identified during these surveys, including several that were previously unknown.
Purpose:	Research surveys assess the status of a stock over its entire distribution range, not just in small areas of commercial or recreational concern. Fishery scientists use the data to assess 45 stocks of commercial and recreational fish and invertebrate species in the northeastern United States.

Theme Keywords

Thesaurus	Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
NMFS Data Category	age & growth
NMFS Data Category	biological measures
NMFS Data Category	fishery-independent surveys
NMFS Data Category	genotype/species identifications
NMFS Data Category	maturity data
NMFS Data Category	physical measures
NMFS Data Category	population surveys
None	age sampling
None	biological sampling
None	bottom trawl
None	distribution
None	feeding ecology
None	groundfish
None	ichthyoplantkon
None	invertebrates
None	oceanographic
None	relative abundance
None	seasonal distribution
None	size composition
None	stern trawler
None	stratified random sampling
None	survey
None	zooplankton

Thesaurus

Keyword

UNCONTROLLED

NMFS Data Category

age & growth

NMFS Data Category

biological measures

NMFS Data Category

fishery-independent surveys

NMFS Data Category

genotype/species identifications

NMFS Data Category

maturity data

NMFS Data Category

physical measures

NMFS Data Category

population surveys

None

age sampling

None

biological sampling

None

bottom trawl

None

distribution

None

feeding ecology

None

groundfish

None

ichthyoplantkon

None

invertebrates

None

oceanographic

None

relative abundance

None

seasonal distribution

None

size composition

None

stern trawler

None

stratified random sampling

None

survey

None

zooplankton

Temporal Keywords

Thesaurus	Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None	continuous
None	time series

Thesaurus

Keyword

UNCONTROLLED

None

continuous

None

time series

Spatial Keywords

Thesaurus	Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None	Cape Hatteras
None	Continental Shelf
None	Gulf of Maine
None	Mid-Atlantic Bight
None	northwest Atlantic
None	southern New England

Thesaurus

Keyword

UNCONTROLLED

None

Cape Hatteras

None

Continental Shelf

None

Gulf of Maine

None

Mid-Atlantic Bight

None

northwest Atlantic

None

southern New England

Stratum Keywords

Thesaurus	Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None	benthic
None	demersal
None	pelagic

Thesaurus

Keyword

UNCONTROLLED

None

benthic

None

demersal

None

pelagic

Organization:	Northeast Fisheries Science Center
City:	Woods Hole
State/Province:	MA
Country:	USA

Project Type:	Project
Is Mandated?:	Yes
Mandated By:	Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
Collection Authority:	Federal
Collection Method:	Biological Samples, Paper, Electronic

Author

CC ID: 181258

Date Effective From:	2014
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person):	McHugh, Nancy
Address:	166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026 USA
Email Address:	nancy.mchugh@noaa.gov
Phone:	508-495-2282
Fax:	508-495-2258
Contact Instructions:	Email

Data Steward

CC ID: 181259

Date Effective From:	2014
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person):	Kostovick, Paul
Address:	166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA
Email Address:	paul.kostovick@noaa.gov
Phone:	(508)495-2343
Fax:	(508)495-2230
Business Hours:	8am-4:30pm
Contact Instructions:	Email

Distributor

CC ID: 214534

Date Effective From:	2014
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization):	Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)
Address:	166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026 USA
Phone:	(508)495-2000
URL:	https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/northeast-fisheries-science-center
Business Hours:	8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday
Contact Instructions:	Email Point of Contact

Metadata Contact

CC ID: 214535

Date Effective From:	2018
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person):	Kostovick, Paul
Address:	166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA
Email Address:	paul.kostovick@noaa.gov
Phone:	(508)495-2343
Fax:	(508)495-2230
Business Hours:	8am-4:30pm
Contact Instructions:	Email.

Point of Contact

CC ID: 214536

Date Effective From:	2016
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person):	Politis, Philip J
Address:	166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543
Email Address:	philip.politis@noaa.gov
Phone:	(508) 495-2171
Contact Instructions:	Email

Currentness Reference:	Ground Condition

Extent Group 1

Extent Group 1 / Geographic Area 1

CC ID: 218959

W° Bound:	-81.24
E° Bound:	-63.2
N° Bound:	44.52
S° Bound:	28.47
Description	northwest Atlantic: Cape Hatteras, NC to Nova Scotia

Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 1

CC ID: 224477

Time Frame Type:	Continuing
Start:	1963
Description:	The first bottom trawl in the standard series began in the fall of 1963.

Security Class:	Unclassified
Data Access Policy:	Available to qualified researchers.
Data Access Procedure:	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 are available online.
Data Access Constraints:	If data are 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.
Data Use Constraints:	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 are suggested.

URL 1

CC ID: 181347

URL:	http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/series/whlrd/whlrd6902.pdf
URL Type:	Online Resource
File Resource Format:	PDF
Description:	Grosslein, M.D. 1969. Groundfish Survey Methods. WH Lab. Ref. Doc. 69-2. ADD URL IF CAN FIND Grosslein, M.D. 1969. Groundfish survey program of BCF Woods Hole. Comm. Fish. Rev. 31(8-9): 22-30.

URL 2

CC ID: 181348

URL:	http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/crd/crd0907/
URL Type:	Online Resource
File Resource Format:	HTML
Description:	Milliken HO, Fogarty MJ. 2009. Determination of Conversion Factors for Vessel Comparison Studies. US Dept. Commerce, Northeast Fish Sci Cent Ref Doc. 09-07; 18 p.

URL 3

CC ID: 181351

URL:	http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/tm/pdfs/tmfnec76.pdf
URL Type:	Online Resource
File Resource Format:	PDF
Description:	Finfish Maturity Sampling and Classification Schemes Used during Northeast Fisheries Center Bottom Trawl Surveys, 1963-89. By J.[M.] Burnett, L. O'Brien, R.K. Mayo, J.A. Darde, and M.L. Bohan. December 1989. NTIS Access. No. PB91-128389/AS.

URL 4

CC ID: 181353

URL:	https://archive.nafo.int/open/sc/2014/scr14-024.pdf
URL Type:	Other
File Resource Format:	PDF
Description:	NAFO. Serial No. N6319. NAFO SCR Doc. 14/024. History of the United States Bottom Trawl Surveys, NAFO Subareas 4-7 by Robert Johnston and Katherine Sosebee.

URL 5

CC ID: 181354

URL:	http://nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/crd/crd1005/
URL Type:	Online Resource
File Resource Format:	HTML
Description:	Miller TJ, Das C, Politis PJ, Miller AS, Lucey SM, Legault CM, Brown RW, Rago PJ. 2010. Estimation of Albatross IV to Henry B. Bigelow calibration factors. Northeast Fish Sci Cent Ref Doc. 10-05; 233 p. Available from: National Marine Fisheries Service, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026

URL 6

CC ID: 181355

URL:	http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/tm/tm122/tm122.pdf
URL Type:	Online Resource
File Resource Format:	PDF
Description:	Reid RN, Almeida FP, Zetlin CA. 1999. Essential fish habitat source document: Fishery-independent surveys, data sources, and methods. NOAA Tech Memo NMFS NE 122; 39 p.

URL 7

CC ID: 181356

URL:	http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/tm/pdfs/tmfnec52.pdf
URL Type:	Online Resource
File Resource Format:	PDF
Description:	SURVEY WORKING GROUP, NORTHEAST FISHERIES CENTER. 1988. An evaluation of the bottom trawl survey program of the Northeast Fisheries Center. NOAA [Nat. Ocean. Atmos. Admin.] Tech. Mem. NMFS [Nat. Mar. Fish. Serv.]-F/NEC-52. 83 pp.

URL 8

CC ID: 181359

URL:	http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/tm/pdfs/tmfnec76.pdf
URL Type:	Online Resource
File Resource Format:	PDF
Description:	NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/NEC-76. Finfish Maturity Sampling and Classification Schemes Used during Northeast Fisheries Center Bottom Trawl Surveys, 1963-89. Jay Burnett, Loretta O'Brien, Ralph K. May0o, Jeffrey A. Darde, and Margot Bohan. Woods Hole Lab., National Marine Fisheries Serv., Woods Hole, Ma 02563.

URL 9

CC ID: 181360

URL:	https://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/tm65.pdf
URL Type:	Online Resource
File Resource Format:	PDF
Description:	Stauffer, Gary (compiler). 2004. NOAA Protocols for Groundfish Bottom Trawl Surveys of the Nation's Fishery Resources. U.S. Dep. Comm, NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-65, 205 p.

URL 10

CC ID: 181390

URL:	http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/library/159761.pdf
URL Type:	Online Resource
File Resource Format:	PDF
Description:	Azarovitz, T. R. 1981. A brief historical review of the Woods Hole Laboratory trawl survey time series. In Doubleday, W.G. and D. Rivard,(eds.), Bottom trawl Surveys. Can. Spec. Publ. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 58:62-67.

URL 11

CC ID: 181405

URL:	http://ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Marine%20Science%20Symposia/Phase%202/ICES%20Marine%20Science%20Symposia%20-%20Volume%20215%20-%202002%20-%20Part%2055%20of%2070.pdf
URL Type:	Online Resource
File Resource Format:	PDF
Description:	Smith, T, D. 2002. The Woods Hole bottom-trawl resource survey: development of fisheries-independent multispecies monitoring. - ICES Marine Science Symposia, 215: 474-482.

URL 12

CC ID: 181406

URL:	http://icnaf.nafo.int/res-bull/res-bull-13.pdf
URL Type:	Online Resource
File Resource Format:	PDF
Description:	Sissenwine, M.P. and E.W. Bowman. 1978. An analysis of some factors affecting the catchability of fish by bottom trawls. ICNAF Res Bull. 13:81-87.

URL 13

CC ID: 181408

URL:	http://nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/series/whlrd/whlrd7808.pdf
URL Type:	Online Resource
File Resource Format:	PDF
Description:	Overholtz, W.J. and R.R. Lewis. 1978. Effects of Environmental Factors on Trawl Survey Operations and Catches as Evidenced by a Doppler Speed Log. WH Lab Ref Doc No. 78-08.

URL 14

CC ID: 182050

URL:	https://www.omao.noaa.gov/learn/marine-operations/ships/decommissioned/albatross-iv
URL Type:	Online Resource
File Resource Format:	HTML
Description:	NOAA's Research Vessel Albatross IV webpage. The Albatross IV was one of the standardized BTS platforms until Fall, 2008.

URL 15

CC ID: 182052

URL:	https://www.omao.noaa.gov/learn/marine-operations/ships/henry-b-bigelow
URL Type:	Online Resource
File Resource Format:	HTML
Description:	NOAA's Henry B. Bigelow webpage. The Henry B. Bigelow is the platforom for the standardized BTS since the Spring, 2009.

URL 16

CC ID: 182227

URL:	http://nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/crd/crd1406/index.html
URL Type:	Online Resource
File Resource Format:	PDF
Description:	PJ Politis, JK Galbraith, P Kostovick, RW Brown. 2014. Northeast Fisheries Science Center bottom trawl survey protocols for the NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow. US Dept Commer, Northeast Fish Sci Cent Ref Doc. 14-06; 138 p. Available from: National Marine Fisheries Service, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026

URL 17

CC ID: 182417

URL:	http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/login.jsp?tp=&arnumber=4393889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fieeexplore.ieee.org%2Fxpls%2Fabs_all.jsp%3Farnumber%3D4393889
URL Type:	Online Resource
File Resource Format:	HTML
Description:	MORRISON AT III, BROWN RW, DESPRES LI, NORDAHL VA Jr, GALBRAITH JK. 2006. FNET -- real-time fishnet evaluation tool [abstract]. Presented at: Oceans '06 Asia Pacific IEEE; 2006 May 16-19; Singapore. [WH]

URL 18

CC ID: 182476

URL:	https://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/series/whlrd/whlrd7613.pdf
URL Type:	Online Resource
File Resource Format:	PDF
Description:	Overho1tz, W.J. and E.S Monteiro. 1976. A Synopsis of Groundfish Survey Cruises (Albatross III, Delaware I) 1948-1962. WH Lab Ref Doc. 76-13.

Description:	RDBMS: Oracle

CTD	Conductivity, Temperature, Depth instrument
EFH	Essential Fish Habitat
ESA	Endangered Species Act
FNET	FishNet Evaluation Tool
FSCS	Fisheries Scientific Computer System
FSCS 2.0	Fisheries Scientific Computer System 2.0
ITIS	Integrated Taxonomic Information System
SARC	Stock Assessment Review Committee
SAW	Stock Assessment Workshop
SCS	Scientific Computer System
TOGA	Type, Operational, Gear and Acquisition
TRAC	Transboundary Resource Assessment Committee
WGFAST	Working Group on Fisheries Acoustics Science and Technology
XBT	Expendable Bathythermograph

FSCS

CC ID: 182268

Description:	FSCS (Fisheries Scientific Computer System) is an automated system for recording biological and oceanographic data during a trawl-based fishery resources survey.

SHG

CC ID: 182269

Description:	SHG (Station, Haul, Gear) is a coding system to validate the relative success of a tow. The validation takes into account tow duration, gear performance, gear damage, and gear interference.

TOGA

CC ID: 182270

Description:	T.O.G.A. is a detailed analysis of survey trawl and vessel performance during each tow, utilizing available data from trawl mensuration systems and vessel sensors.

SCS

CC ID: 182274

Description:	SCS (Scientific Computer System) is a high-powered computer system that collects, processes, displays, and archives data from the navigational and scientific sensors on NOAA ships. NOAA developed this system to modernize and standardize data collection on its primary ocean and coastal research vessels.

FAQ 1

CC ID: 182272

Date:	2014-12-15 14:00:00
Author:	Nancy McHugh
Question:	Where can I find specifications of the 4-Seam, 3-Bridle gear implemented on the Standard Bottom Trawl Surveys on the Henry B. Bigelow?
Answer:	Visit the following URL, http://nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/crd/crd1406/index.html, which provides the specifications in Appendix B.

FAQ 2

CC ID: 182273

Date:	2014-12-15 14:00:00
Author:	Nancy McHugh
Question:	Where can I find inshore and offshore strata information related to the NEFSC Bottom Trawl Surveys?
Answer:	Visit the URL, http://nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/crd/crd1406/index.html, which describes square mileage, depth ranges and charts.

FAQ 3

CC ID: 182275

Date:	2014-12-15 00:00:00
Author:	Nancy McHugh
Question:	Where can I find information regarding TOGA codes, which are used to evaluate a tow, calculations and tolerance limits?
Answer:	Visit the URL, http://nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/crd/crd1406/index.html, which provides the information in Appendix F.

FAQ 4

CC ID: 182276

Date:	2014-12-15 00:00:00
Author:	Nancy McHugh
Question:	Where is the scope table for the Henry B. Bigelow?
Answer:	Visit the URL, http://nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/crd/crd1406/index.html, which provides a scope table in Appendix E.

FAQ 5

CC ID: 182277

Date:	2014-12-15 00:00:00
Author:	Nancy McHugh
Question:	Where can I find a chart of inshore/offshore strata for the NEFSC Standard Bottom Trawl Survey?
Answer:	Visit the URL, xxxx, which provides the information in Appendix C. In addition, you will find the square mileage of each stratum and the depth range.

FAQ 6

CC ID: 182278

Date:	2014-12-15 00:00:00
Author:	Nancy McHugh
Question:	Where can I find the NEFSC Survey Trawl Reference Manual?
Answer:	Visit the URL, http://nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/crd/crd1406/index.html, which provides a scope table in Appendix A.

FAQ 7

CC ID: 182279

Date:	2014-12-15 00:00:00
Author:	Nancy McHugh
Question:	What are the procedures when the vessel nears protected resources (northern right whales, turtles,other endangered species).
Answer:	Visit the URL, http://nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/crd/crd1406/index.html, which provides protocol in reference to these species in Appendix D.

Rubric scores updated every 15m

	Type	Title
86	Data Set	Fall Bottom Trawl Survey
80	Data Set	Spring Bottom Trawl Survey
80	Data Set	Summer Bottom Trawl Survey
80	Data Set	Winter Bottom Trawl Survey

Type

Title

Data Set

Fall Bottom Trawl Survey

Data Set

Spring Bottom Trawl Survey

Data Set

Summer Bottom Trawl Survey

Data Set

Winter Bottom Trawl Survey

Catalog Item ID:	22557
GUID:	gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:22557
Metadata Record Created By:	Nancy McHugh
Metadata Record Created:	2014-11-13 17:23+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By:	SysAdmin InPortAdmin
Metadata Record Last Modified:	2022-08-09 17:11+0000
Metadata Record Published:	2019-05-31
Owner Org:	NEFSC
Metadata Publication Status:	Published Externally
Do Not Publish?:	N
Metadata Last Review Date:	2019-05-31
Metadata Review Frequency:	1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date:	2020-05-31

Summary

Project Information

Child Items

Contact Information

Extents

Item Identification

Keywords

Theme Keywords

Temporal Keywords

Spatial Keywords

Stratum Keywords

Physical Location

Project Information

Support Roles

Author

Data Steward

Distributor

Metadata Contact

Point of Contact

Extents

Extent Group 1

Extent Group 1 / Geographic Area 1

Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 1

Access Information

URLs

URL 1

URL 2

URL 3

URL 4

URL 5

URL 6

URL 7

URL 8

URL 9

URL 10

URL 11

URL 12

URL 13

URL 14

URL 15

URL 16

URL 17

URL 18

Technical Environment

Acronyms

Glossary Terms and Definitions

FSCS

SHG

TOGA

SCS

FAQs

FAQ 1

FAQ 2

FAQ 3

FAQ 4

FAQ 5

FAQ 6

FAQ 7

Child Items

Catalog Details