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Item Identification
Keywords
Physical Location
Project Info
Support Roles
Extents
Access Info
URLs
Issues
Tech Environment
Data Quality
Acronyms
Glossary
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Catalog Details

Summary

Description

The Headboat Survey began in 1972 in North Carolina and South Carolina. It has since expanded to cover the entire southeastern U.S including the Gulf of Mexico. This survey was originally designed to provide indices of abundance of reef fishes. These indices were derived from headboat estimates of annual catch, catch per unit effort (CPUE), length frequencies, and mean weights. In subsequent years up to the present, the survey has change very little with the exception of the expanded geographic coverage and technological advances.

In 1976 coverage was expanded to Cape Canaveral, Florida. The SAFMC requested the survey be expanded further in 1978 to include all vessels from Cape Hatteras, NC to Key West, Fla. (Dixon and Huntsman, draft). It wasn?t until 1986 that the GMFMC made the request for the Gulf of Mexico to be include in the headboat survey. This coverage has remained unchanged since 1986, however, many vessels have entered and left from this fishery and the various ports within this range. In 1972 the headboat survey included a total of 30 vessels, while currently the survey includes 96 vessels in the southeastern U.S. and 94 in the Gulf of Mexico.

Contact Information

Data Steward
Kenneth J Brennan
kenneth.brennan@noaa.gov
252-728-8618

Distributor
Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)
(305)361-5761

Extents

Geographic Area 1

-98° W, -75° E, 36° N, 23° S

There are 26 coded areas in states: NC, SC, GA, FL, LA and TX.

Time Frame 1
1972-01-01 - Present

1972 begins headboat survey from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Time Frame 2
1976-01-01 - Present

1976 the headboat survey was expanded from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Time Frame 3
1978-01-01 - Present

1978 the headboat survey was expanded from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to Key West, Florida.

Time Frame 4
1986-01-01 - Present

1986 the headboat survey was expanded to include the Gulf of Mexico, from Naples, Florida to the Texas/Mexico border.

Item Identification

Title: Southeast Region Headboat Survey
Short Name: Headboat Survey
Status: In Work
Abstract:

The Headboat Survey began in 1972 in North Carolina and South Carolina. It has since expanded to cover the entire southeastern U.S including the Gulf of Mexico. This survey was originally designed to provide indices of abundance of reef fishes. These indices were derived from headboat estimates of annual catch, catch per unit effort (CPUE), length frequencies, and mean weights. In subsequent years up to the present, the survey has change very little with the exception of the expanded geographic coverage and technological advances.

In 1976 coverage was expanded to Cape Canaveral, Florida. The SAFMC requested the survey be expanded further in 1978 to include all vessels from Cape Hatteras, NC to Key West, Fla. (Dixon and Huntsman, draft). It wasn?t until 1986 that the GMFMC made the request for the Gulf of Mexico to be include in the headboat survey. This coverage has remained unchanged since 1986, however, many vessels have entered and left from this fishery and the various ports within this range. In 1972 the headboat survey included a total of 30 vessels, while currently the survey includes 96 vessels in the southeastern U.S. and 94 in the Gulf of Mexico.

Purpose:

The headboat survey, operated by the Beaufort Laboratory of the SEFSC, collects biological data from headboats fishing in the southeastern United States from North Carolina through Texas. The data comes from two primary sources: actual biological information collected by the sampler, and individual vessel trip reports (VTR) provided by vessel personnel participating in the fishing trip. Biological samples are obtained opportunistically based on priority, and these samples are used to generate life history information (e.g. growth, maturity) necessary for stock assessments. The biological information consists of species, lengths, weight, and often biological samples such as otoliths, stomachs, gonads. One of the most valuable pieces of information for stock assessments obtained from the headboat program is abundance indices computed from CPUE data. Currently the survey includes 96 vessels in the southeastern U.S. and 94 in the Gulf of Mexico.

Supplemental Information:

The NMFS Southeast Zone Headboat Survey collects data on the catch and effort for a vessel trip. This includes information on the landing date and location, vessel identification, the number of anglers, a single fishing location (10' x 10' rectangle of latitude and longitude) for the entire trip, the type/duration of the trip (half/three-quarter/full/multi-day, day/night, morning/afternoon), and catch by species in number and weight.

Survey coverage varied with time and geographical location. Estimates of headboat catches were based on: (1) weights of individual fishes, and (2) records of the number of each species taken each trip. Survey samplers, who were on duty throughout the local fishing season, collected with data directly from catches made in an assigned region of responsibility.

Guidelines from sampling were that each vessel be visited one or more times in 10 to 14 days, and that highly repetitive sampling from any vessel be avoided. Fish sampled for weight were taken most often from catches of vessels that landed the largest numbers of fish.

The majority of samples were obtained from dockside during unloading or at nearby fish houses where catches were cleaned. Occasionally sampling occurred at sea during fishing. Samplers worked on board to allow more time for gathering biological materials and for educating crew members of the importance of cooperation in the program.

Samplers were trained to identify approximately 60 of the most common species in each region, and were provided with numerous guides and keys to assist them in species identifications. Fish weights and other pertinent data were recorded on a form and subsequently mailed to the Beaufort Laboratory for processing.

On almost every headboat, the daily catch was record recorded by a crew member, usually a mate.

Keywords

Theme Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
SEFSC BeaLab Eco Metadata Portfolio
None headboat
None headboat survey
None length frequency
None logbook
None otoltih collection
None party boat
None recreational fishery

Temporal Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None full day
None half day
None multiple day
None trip

Spatial Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None dockside
None Florida
None Georgia
None Gulf of Mexico
None inshore
None offshore
None South Atlantic
None Southeast region

Stratum Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None anglers fished
None area
None day
None distance from shore
None month
None number anglers
None pay type
None species
None state
None trip type
None vessel
None vessel type
None year

Physical Location

Organization: Southeast Fisheries Science Center
City: Beaufort
State/Province: NC
Country: USA
Location Description:

CCFHR NOAA NMFS Beaufort Laboratory 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, NC 28516

Project Information

Project Type: Project
Is Mandated?: Yes
Mandated By: Magnuson-Stevens Act
Collection Type: Observer
Collection Authority: Federal
Collection Method: Electronic and Paper

Support Roles

Data Steward

CC ID: 1172094
Date Effective From: 2021
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Brennan, Kenneth J
Address: 101 Pivers Island Road
Beaufort, NC 28516
Email Address: kenneth.brennan@noaa.gov
Phone: 252-728-8618
Fax: 252-728-8784
Business Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM EST/EDT

Distributor

CC ID: 264255
Date Effective From: 2015
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)
Address: 75 Virginia Beach Drive
Miami, FL 33149
USA
Phone: (305)361-5761
URL: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southeast-fisheries-science-center
Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST
View Historical Support Roles

Extents

Extent Group 1

Extent Group 1 / Geographic Area 1

CC ID: 7790
W° Bound: -98
E° Bound: -75
N° Bound: 36
S° Bound: 23
Description

There are 26 coded areas in states: NC, SC, GA, FL, LA and TX.

Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 1

CC ID: 6071
Time Frame Type: Continuing
Start: 1972-01-01
Alternate Start As Of Info: 1972 Headboat survey begins
Description:

1972 begins headboat survey from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 2

CC ID: 6090
Time Frame Type: Continuing
Start: 1976-01-01
Alternate Start As Of Info: 1976 headboat survey expanded
Description:

1976 the headboat survey was expanded from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 3

CC ID: 6091
Time Frame Type: Continuing
Start: 1978-01-01
Alternate Start As Of Info: 1978 headboat survey expanded
Description:

1978 the headboat survey was expanded from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to Key West, Florida.

Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 4

CC ID: 6092
Time Frame Type: Continuing
Start: 1986-01-01
Alternate Start As Of Info: 1986 headboat survey expanded to include the Gulf of Mexico
Description:

1986 the headboat survey was expanded to include the Gulf of Mexico, from Naples, Florida to the Texas/Mexico border.

Access Information

Security Class: Confidential
Data Access Procedure:

Waiver Needed

Read and sign for NOAA Administrative Order 216-100

Read and sign System Access Application (see URLs)

Data Access Constraints:

Access is restricted to personnel authorized in accordance with NOAA Administrative Order 216-100. A signed non-disclosure agreement must be on file for all authorized personnel.

URLs

URL 1

CC ID: 6070
URL: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/50-years-celebrating-history-southeast-region-headboat-survey
URL Type:
Online Resource
Description:

Web story Headboat Program

URL 2

CC ID: 1200440
URL: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/recreational-fishing/southeast-region-headboat-survey
Name: Landing Page SEFSC Headboat Program
URL Type:
Online Resource

Issues

Issue 1

CC ID: 6305
Issue Date: 1972-01-01
Author: Robert Dixon
Issue:

From 1972 through 1975 the survey included vessels fishing in NC and SC, however, it did not include boats in SC that targeted black sea bass. In these early years BSB were not consider part of the snapper grouper complex, consequently, these vessels were omitted from the survey.

Issue 2

CC ID: 6306
Issue Date: 1973-01-01
Author: Robert Dixon
Issue:

Black sea bass were recorded in 100lb boxes on trip reports. The boxes were converted to pounds and recorded in the CAUGHT field (number of fish) in the CR dbase from 1973 to 1977.

Issue 3

CC ID: 6111
Issue Date: 1978-01-01
Author: Robert Dixon
Issue:

Black sea bass were recorded in pounds of fish on trip reports. These pounds were recorded in the CAUGHT field (number of fish) in the CR dbase from 1978 to 1987.

Issue 4

CC ID: 6112
Issue Date: 1988-01-01
Author: Robert Dixon
Issue:

Black sea bass were recorded in pounds of fish on trip reports. These pound were recorded in the WEIGHT field in the CR dbase files. The estimated numbers of fish were derived by converting pounds to kilograms, and dividing by mean weight. Recorded this way from 1988 to 1989.

Issue 5

CC ID: 6113
Issue Date: 1990-01-01
Author: Robert Dixon
Issue:

Black sea bass were recorded in pounds of fish on the trip reports. These pounds were recorded in the CAUGHT field (number of fish) in the CR dbase files from 1990 to 1991.

Issue 6

CC ID: 6114
Issue Date: 1992-01-01
Author: Robert Dixon
Issue:

Black sea bass were recorded by numbers of fish and weights (pounds) of fish on trip reports. In the bdase files, numbers of fish are in the CAUGHT field and weights of fish are in the WEIGHT field. Recorded this way from 1992 to present.

Technical Environment

Description:

Oracle Database

Data Quality

Quality Control Procedures Employed:

National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fishery Science Center, Beaufort Laboratory. 2015

Acronyms

SRHS Southeast Region Headboat Survey
VTR vessel trip reports

Glossary Terms and Definitions

Headboat

CC ID: 6115
Description:

Headboat is a vessel licensed to carry 7 or more anglers in the EEZ (3-200 miles)of the South Atlantic and 15 or more anglers in the EEZ (10- 200 miles) of the Gulf of Mexico.

Catalog Details

Catalog Item ID: 2503
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:2503
Metadata Record Created By: Lee M Weinberger
Metadata Record Created: 2006-08-14 01:40+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By: Lee M Weinberger
Metadata Record Last Modified: 2022-12-23 15:42+0000
Metadata Record Published: 2021-05-07
Owner Org: SEFSC
Metadata Publication Status: Published Externally
Do Not Publish?: N
Metadata Last Review Date: 2021-05-07
Metadata Review Frequency: 1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date: 2022-05-07