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NEFSC Metadata Library > Population and Ecosystems Monitoring and Analys... > Ecosystems Surveys Branch > Fisheries Acoustic Research Program >

Acoustics Research

Data Set (DS)  |  Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:26654  |  Updated: March 4, 2026  |  Published / External 
Short Citation:
Full Citation Examples
Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 2026: Acoustics Research, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/26654.

Item Identification

Title: Acoustics Research
Short Name: Acoustics Research
Status: Completed
Abstract:

Fisheries acoustics data are collected from more than 200 sea-days each year aboard the FRV DELAWARE II and FRV ALBATROSS IV (decommissioned) and the FSV Henry B. Bigelow during pelagic, bottom-trawl, and marine mammal surveys. Acoustic sampling operations include continuous measurements using hull-mounted transducers and multi-frequency scientific echosounders. Biological sampling with midwater and bottom trawls, and underwater video deployments is conducted to verify species-specific backscatter and characterize sea-floor habitat. In-situ and laboratory experiments aid in understanding species-specific acoustic measurements. We are continuously developing, testing, and evaluating advanced sampling technologies during laboratory and field experiments to improve abundance estimates and map spatial and temporal distributions of fish and invertebrates. Acoustic, optic, and biological data are audited and archived in the NEFSC relational data management system.

Purpose:

The Fisheries Acoustic Research Program Advanced Sampling Technologies Research Group (ASTRG) implements state-of-the-art fisheries acoustic technologies to provide cost-effective and accurate fisheries-independent population estimates of commercially important pelagic fish stocks in the Northwest Atlantic.

Keywords

Theme Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None acoustic sampling
None advanced sampling technologies
None biological sampling
None echosounders
None fisheries-independent
None optic sampling
None plantkton sampling
None population estimates
None underwater video deployments

Spatial Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None Georges Bank
None Gulf of Maine
None Jeffreys Ledge
None Northwest Atlantic

Stratum Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None midwater trawls
None pelagic species

Physical Location

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

Data Set Information

Data Set Scope Code: Data Set
Data Set Type: Oracle Database
Maintenance Frequency: As Needed
Data Presentation Form: Table (digital)
Entity Attribute Overview:

For each deployment within a cruise, the following data are captured: cruise id, transect number, date/time, type of transect, gear deployed, start/end latitude and longitude, start/end EK vessel logs, horizontal resolution of the Sa data, the vertical layer of the water column, the lower/upper depths of the water column layer, volume back-scatter, minimum Sv threshold applied to the data, code for species caught, acoustical integrated energy for a specific species, EK transceiver frequency, CTD cast information, the Sa value for the layer and ESDU interval scaled to nautical miles squared.
Data Set Credit: NOAA/NEFSC/FEMAD/ESB

Support Roles

Data Steward

CC ID: 215088
Date Effective From: 2014
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Jech, Michael
Address: 166 Water Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543
Email Address: michael.jech@noaa.gov
Phone: 508-495-2353
Fax: 508-495-2258
Contact Instructions:

Email

Distributor

CC ID: 215085
Date Effective From: 1998
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)
Address: 166 Water Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026
USA
ROR: https://ror.org/02nc0ck44
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

Metadata Contact

CC ID: 215086
Date Effective From: 2018-09
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Jech, Michael
Address: 166 Water Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543
Email Address: michael.jech@noaa.gov
Phone: 508-495-2353
Fax: 508-495-2258

Point of Contact

CC ID: 215090
Date Effective From: 2014
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Jech, Michael
Address: 166 Water Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543
Email Address: michael.jech@noaa.gov
Phone: 508-495-2353
Fax: 508-495-2258
Contact Instructions:

Email Point of Contact

Extents

Currentness Reference: Ground Condition

Extent Group 1

Extent Group 1 / Geographic Area 1

CC ID: 217064
W° Bound: -75
E° Bound: -66
N° Bound: 44
S° Bound: 38
Description

northwest Atlantic: southern New England, Georges Bank, Gulf of Maine

Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 1

CC ID: 217062
Time Frame Type: Continuing
Start: 1998-08-26
Description:

The first station of the first Acoustics cruise took place on 08-26-1998.

Access Information

Security Class: Unclassified
Data Access Procedure:

Submit e-mail or web-base request to NCEI
Data Access Constraints:

There may be constraints due to the timing between the time the data is archived and when it becomes available

Data Use Constraints:

All the data have doi numbers. It is highly recommended that any use of the data includes citation of the doi.

Distribution Information

Distribution 1

CC ID: 247328
Download URL: https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/maps/water_column_sonar/index.html
Distributor:
Description:

NCEI Water Column Sonar Data (northeast to mid-Atlantic data sets)

Technical Environment

Description:

RDBMS: Oracle

Data Quality

Accuracy:

Very high
Completeness Report:

Rare. Omissions could occur if a sensor data value is out of range or missing.
Quality Control Procedures Employed:

All instruments are calibrated prior to data collection cruise. Data collection software provides validations.

Data Management

Have Resources for Management of these Data Been Identified?: Yes
Approximate Percentage of Budget for these Data Devoted to Data Management: Unknown
Do these Data Comply with the Data Access Directive?: Yes
Is Access to the Data Limited Based on an Approved Waiver?: No
Approximate Delay Between Data Collection and Dissemination: 3 months
Actual or Planned Long-Term Data Archive Location: NCEI-CO
Approximate Delay Between Data Collection and Archiving: To be determined
How Will the Data Be Protected from Accidental or Malicious Modification or Deletion Prior to Receipt by the Archive?:

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

Lineage

Lineage Statement:

There exist event log files for source data; a step by step users manual which includes parameter settings on instruments and calibration steps; publications describe how data are post-processed and the perl code which is used in post-processing.

Related Items

Item Type Relationship Type Title
Project (PRJ) Cross Reference Acoustics Research Documents

Documents related to Acoustics Research

Catalog Details

Catalog Item ID: 26654
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:26654
Metadata Record Created By: Nancy McHugh
Metadata Record Created: 2015-08-28 13:31+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By: SysAdmin InPortAdmin
Metadata Record Last Modified: 2026-03-04 19:17+0000
Metadata Record Published: 2019-07-18
Owner Org: NEFSC
Metadata Publication Status: Published Externally
Do Not Publish?: N
Metadata Last Review Date: 2019-07-18
Metadata Review Frequency: 1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date: 2020-07-18