Sea Scallop Survey

The standardized NEFSC Sea Scallop Survey began in 1980 and has covered an area from Cape Hatteras to Georges Bank. The survey aims to determine the distribution and abundance of scallops and associated fauna utilizing two sampling devices: the 8-foot wide New Bedford style dredge, standardized sea scallop dredge and the stereo-optic towed camera array (HabCam). Fifteen minute dredge hauls are made at stations that are randomly selected using the NEFSC shellfish strata to provide unbiased abundance measurements. The HabCam is conducted using transects across bathymetry lines in the same area as the dredge tows. Various vessels have served as a platform for the survey, including NOAA vessels: FRV Albatross IV, FRV Oregon II, FRV Chapman, FV Tradition and currently, the UNOLS vessel RV Hugh R. Sharp.

The NEFSC Sea Scallop Survey is an annual quantitative cruise to determine the distribution and abundance of scallops, Placopecten magellanicus, and Icelandic scallops, Chlamys islandica, and to characterize the associated fauna. There are three parts to the survey covering the following areas: Mid-Atlantic Bight/Southern New England, Southern New England/Georges Bank, and Georges Bank although coverage in earlier surveys spanned as far south as Cape Hatteras.

With the decommissioning of the FRV Albatross IV in 2008, the Sea Scallop Survey was transitioned to the UNOL's vessel, RV Hugh R. Sharp.

Since 2009, a habitat mapping camera system (HabCam) has been deployed. The camera system is towed by the vessel to a depth within one to two meters of the seafloor. Rapid photo streams (6 images per second) are sent to the ship over a fiber-optic cable, where they are recorded on large scale servers. This stream of images can later be stitched together to form a mosaic of the seafloor. Scientists on the ship see images and data while flying HabCam. Scallop measurements from the images are translated into a true size and biomass measurement. In addition, new software allows automated counting and measurement on the ship while the instrument is being towed.

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

SCS and FSCS data collection software programs employ real-time validation and must meet database integrity constraints. Prior to FSCS data collection, paper logs were pre-audited prior to keypunching. Data were then subject to post-audits.

Archival of source data preserving unaltered collected data, Scheduled backups, Remote storage backups, Password protection.

Vessel sensor data are collected electronically using SCS. Station, catch and biological data were collected manually using paper logs until 2000. At the completion of each cruise leg, the logs were keypunched and data audited extensively prior to being released.

Starting with year 2001, FSCS 1.0 was implemented to electronically capture station, catch and biological data. Data were subject to extensive audits prior to being released.