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2024 Ecosystem Monitoring of the Northeast US Continental Shelf: Hydrographic and Plankton Cruise Directory

2024 welcomed the return of the winter EcoMon survey. In total, 15 surveys were added to our long-term, comprehensive, shelf-wide hydrographic measurements and plankton abundances on the northeast US shelf in 2024.

New England/Mid-Atlantic

On This Page

Two plastic water sampling bottles attached to a round frame are sitting vertically on the deck of a ship. The ocean behind them is tumultuous with many small waves. The sunrise is visible through clouds in the distance.
View of hydrographic instruments on the side sampling station on a choppy morning during winter EcoMon February 2024. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Katey Marancik

This directory provides information on the 15 surveys that collected hydrographic and plankton data on the Northeast US Continental Shelf in 2024. Four of these surveys were documented in a photo gallery from the 2024 EcoMon cruises. These surveys covered:

Data from these surveys is publicly available for

The details of each survey are described below.

Fall North Atlantic Right Whale Prey Survey - GM2411

A map showing the locations of plankton samples collected. Bongo with CTD stations were sampled in close proximity to each other and distributed on the shelf southwest of Martha’s Vineyard.
Map of the Northeast U.S. coastline showing locations of plankton sampling covered by a 2024 fall North Atlantic Right Whale Prey survey. Credit NOAA Fisheries/Chris Melrose
  • Dates of survey:  December 9, 2024 -  December 10, 2024
  • Stations Sampled: 6
  • Conductivity, Temperature, Depth measurements: 6
  • Ocean chemistry samples: 0
  • Plankton: 6 bongo net tows

Mission and Partnerships

This project shares a joint protected species and oceanographic mission. Our objective on this survey was to collect samples of the planktonic prey and the environment near North Atlantic right whales in the southern New England region. We want to know what prey species are most abundant and why, so we can understand the needs of large whales in the area.

Data Reports

Details on the conductivity-temperature-depth data collected during this cruise are in the GM2411 Hydrographic Report.

Passive Acoustic Monitoring and eDNA Survey - SG2412

A map showing the locations of vertical CTD casts. Casts were made from southwest of Martha’s Vineyard and cascading offshore to the southeast.
Map of the Northeast U.S. coastline showing locations of CTD casts covered by a 2024 fall Passive Acoustics Monitoring and eDNA Sampling survey. Credit NOAA Fisheries/Chris Melrose
  • Dates of survey: December 3, 2025 - December 16, 2024
  • Stations Sampled: 19
  • Conductivity, Temperature, Depth measurements: 19
  • Ocean chemistry samples: 0
  • Plankton: 0 bongo net tows

Mission and Partnerships

Comparing the species identified by passive acoustic and eDNA methods over time will allow us to document which species occupy habitats in the region both before and after construction of the wind turbines planned in this area.

News and Blogs

Learn more about the 2024 PAM/eDNA Survey

Data Reports

Details on the conductivity-temperature-depth data collected during this cruise are in the SG2412 Hydrographic Report.

Fall Ecosystem Monitoring Survey - PC2406

A map showing the locations of each type of sample. These stations are scattered over the entire shelf Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Station dots are color coded to show locations of the type of sample collected at each location: Bongo and CTD tow (most stations), a vertical CTD cast, and SBE911 water casts. Bongo and CTD tows are distributed throughout the shelf. The single vertical CTD cast occurred near the shelf edge east of Albemarle Sound. Water casts are located along
Map of the Northeast U.S. coastline showing locations of sampling covered by the 2024 fall Ecosystem Monitoring survey, from Cape Hatteras to Cape Cod. Credit NOAA Fisheries/Chris Melrose
  • Dates of survey: October 27, 2004  - November 12,  2024
  • Stations Sampled: 82 of 166 planned stations
  • Conductivity, Temperature, Depth measurements: 95
  • Ocean chemistry samples: 15 multi-depth water sample locations
    • 45 chlorophyll samples
    • 58 dissolved inorganic carbon samples
    • 45 nutrient samples
    • 36 oxygen samples
  • Plankton: 80 bongo net tows

Regional coverage was affected by:

  • leaving the repair period late (2 days)
  • propulsion repairs mid cruise (7 days)

Mission and Partnerships

News and Blogs

Learn more about the 2024 Fall EcoMon

Data Reports

The 2024 Fall Ecosystem Monitoring Survey Cruise Report

Details on the conductivity-temperature-depth data collected during this cruise are in the PC2406 Hydrographic Report.

Fall North Atlantic Right Whale Survey - JP2401

A map showing the locations of plankton samples collected. Bongo with CTD stations were sampled in clusters in the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, the northern edge of Georges Bank, and the southern edge of Georges Bank.
Map of the Northeast U.S. coastline showing locations of plankton sampling covered by a 2024 fall North Atlantic Right Whale survey. Credit NOAA Fisheries/Chris Melrose
  • Dates of survey: Sep 28, 2024 - Oct 3, 2024
  • Stations Sampled: 17
  • Conductivity, Temperature, Depth measurements: 17 casts
  • Ocean chemistry samples: 0
  • Plankton: bongo net tows: 17 oblique Bongo net tows

Mission and Partnerships

Our goal aboard the Capt Jack E Pearce was to collect data around groups of endangered North Atlantic right whales, including:

News and Blogs

Learn more about this survey

Data Reports

Details on the conductivity-temperature-depth data collected during this cruise are in the JP2401 Hydrographic Report.

Fall Bottom Trawl Survey - HB2407

A map showing the locations of each type of sample. These stations are scattered over the entire shelf from Cape Hatteras to Nova Scotia. Station dots are color coded to show locations of the type of sample collected at each location: vertical CTD cast (most stations), Bongo and CTD tow, SBE911 water cast, SBE19 water cast. All types are distributed throughout the shelf.
Map of the Northeast U.S. coastline showing locations of sampling covered by the 2024 fall bottom trawl survey, from Cape Hatteras to Maine and southern Nova Scotia. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Chris Melrose
  • Dates of survey: Sep 7, 2024  - Nov 11, 2024
  • Stations Sampled: 386
  • Conductivity, Temperature, Depth measurements: 386 casts
  • Ocean chemistry samples: 0 samples
  • Plankton: 117 bongo net tows

Mission and Partnerships

A long-standing partnership within the northeast collects plankton and hydrographic data concurrent with bottom trawls, including:

  • EcoMon standard sampling of hydrographic data at all stations
  • EcoMon standard bongo tows at a subset of stations

Data Reports

Details on the conductivity-temperature-depth data collected during this cruise are in the HB2407 Hydrographic Report.

Summer Ecosystem Monitoring Survey - HB2406

A map showing the locations of each type of sample. These stations are scattered over the entire shelf from Hudson Canyon to Nova Scotia. Station dots are color coded to show locations of the type of sample collected at each location: Bongo and CTD tow (most stations), SBE911 water cast, SBE19 water cast, and ring net and 90-cm bongo tows. Bongo and CTD tows are distributed throughout the shelf. Water casts are located along transects crossing the southern New England shelf, Georges Bank, and Gulf of Main
Map of the Northeast U.S. coastline showing locations of sampling covered by the 2024 summer Ecosystem Monitoring survey, from Cape Hatteras to Maine and southern Nova Scotia. Credit NOAA Fisheries/Chris Melrose
  • Dates of survey: August 1, 2042 - August 23, 2024
  • Stations Sampled: 112
  • Conductivity, Temperature, Depth measurements: 144
  • Ocean chemistry samples: 24 multi-depth water sample locations
    • 64 chlorophyll samples
    • 80 dissolved inorganic carbon samples
    • 72 nutrient samples
  • Plankton:
    • 98 61-cm bongo net tows
    • 18 vertical ring net casts
    • 3 90-cm bongo net tows

Regional coverage was affected by:

  • Reduced sea days due to staffing issues

Mission and Partnerships

News and Blogs

Learn more about the 2024 Summer EcoMon

Data Reports

The 2024 Summer Ecosystem Monitoring Survey Cruise Report

Details on the conductivity-temperature-depth data collected during this cruise are in the HB2406 Hydrographic Report.

Passive Acoustics Monitoring and eDNA Survey - SG2407

A map showing the locations of vertical CTD casts. Casts were made from southwest of Martha’s Vineyard cascading offshore to the southeast.
Map of the Northeast U.S. coastline showing locations of CTD casts covered by a 2024 summer Passive Acoustics Monitoring and eDNA Sampling survey. Credit NOAA Fisheries/Chris Melrose
  • Dates of survey: Jul 10–14, 2024
  • Stations Sampled: 19
  • Conductivity, Temperature, Depth measurements: 19
  • Ocean chemistry samples: 0
  • Plankton: 0 bongo net tows

Mission and Partnerships

Comparing the species identified by passive acoustic and eDNA methods over time will allow us to document which species occupy habitats in the region both before and after construction of the wind turbines planned in this area.

Data Reports

Details on the conductivity-temperature-depth data collected during this cruise are in the SG2407 Hydrographic Report.

Cooperative Research Squid Survey - D22401

A map showing the locations of each type of sample. These stations mosly align along the shelf edge offshore from southern New Jersey to Delaware with a few scattered mid-shelf stations. Station dots are color coded to show locations of the type of sample collected at each location: CTD and ring net tows (most stations) and vertical CTD casts (1 station off Cape May, New Jersey).
Map of the Northeast U.S. coastline showing locations of sampling covered by the 2024 Cooperative Research squid survey in the mid-Atlantic region offshore of Delaware Bay. Credit NOAA Fisheries/Chris Melrose
  • Dates of survey: Jun 25–27, 2024
  • Stations Sampled: 14
  • Conductivity, Temperature, Depth measurements: 14 casts
  • Ocean chemistry samples: 0
  • Plankton: 13 ring net tows

Mission and Partnerships

Resulting data are used to investigate how oceanography affects shortfin squid movement and biology in the Mid-Atlantic Bight. This work is just one component of our center’s cooperative effort with industry to better understand our squid stocks .

News and Blogs

Learn more about the 2024 Squid Survey

Data Reports

Details on the conductivity-temperature-depth data collected during this cruise are in the D22401 Hydrographic Report.

Spring Ecosystem Monitoring Survey - HB2403

A map showing the locations of each type of sample. These stations are scattered over the entire shelf from Assateague Island to Nova Scotia. Station dots are color coded to show locations of the type of sample collected at each location: Bongo and CTD tow (most stations), SBE911 water cast, SBE19 water cast, and ring net tows. Bongo and CTD tows are distributed throughout the shelf. Water casts are located along transects crossing the mid-Atlantic and southern New England shelf, Georges Bank, Gulf of Mai
Map of the Northeast U.S. coastline showing locations of sampling covered by the 2024 spring Ecosystem Monitoring survey, from Cape Hatteras to Maine and southern Nova Scotia. Credit NOAA Fisheries/Chris Melrose
  • Dates of survey: May 26, 2024 – June 14, 2024
  • Stations Sampled: 131
  • Conductivity, Temperature, Depth measurements: 172
  • Ocean chemistry samples: 28 multi-depth water sample locations
    • 79 chlorophyll samples
    • 100 dissolved inorganic carbon samples
    • 84 nutrient samples
    • 64 oxygen samples
  • Plankton: 125 bongo net tows

Regional coverage was affected by:

  • Reduced sea days due to ship maintenance issues

Mission and Partnerships

News and Blogs

Learn more about the 2024 Spring EcoMon

Data Reports

The 2024 Spring Ecosystem Monitoring Survey Cruise Report

Details on the conductivity-temperature-depth data collected during this cruise are in the HB2403 Hydrographic Report.

Apex Predator Longline Survey - EY2401

A map showing the locations of CTD casts. These stations are scattered over the shelf between Beaufort Inlet and Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
Map of the Northeast U.S. coastline showing locations of sampling covered by the 2024 spring Apex Predator Longline survey, from Cape Hatteras to Maine and southern Nova Scotia. Credit NOAA Fisheries/Chris Melrose
  • Dates of survey: Apr 14 – May 18, 2024
  • Stations Sampled: 45
  • Conductivity, Temperature, Depth measurements: 45 casts
  • Ocean chemistry samples: 0
  • Plankton: 0 bongo net tows

Regional coverage was affected by:

  • Reduced sea days due to weather

Mission and Partnerships

We worked with the captain and crew of the Eagle Eye II. In addition to collecting hydrographic data, researchers used longline sampling to tag and release sharks. Resulting data are used to understand the distribution and biology of Atlantic sharks.

News and Blogs

Learn more about the 2024 Apex Predator Longline Survey

Blogs:

Data Reports

Details on the conductivity-temperature-depth data collected during this cruise are in the EY2401 Hydrographic Report.

Spring North Atlantic Right Whale Prey Survey - GM2402

A map showing the locations of plankton samples collected. Bongo with CTD stations were sampled in close proximity to each other and distributed on the shelf southwest of Martha’s Vineyard.
Map of the Northeast U.S. coastline showing locations of plankton sampling covered by a 2024 spring North Atlantic Right Whale Prey survey. Credit NOAA Fisheries/Chris Melrose
  • Dates of survey: Apr 8-11, Apr 15-18, 2024
  • Stations Sampled: 79
  • Conductivity, Temperature, Depth measurements: 79
  • Ocean chemistry samples: 0
  • Plankton: 79 bongo net tows

Mission and Partnerships

This project shares a joint protected species and oceanographic mission. Our objective on this survey was to collect samples of the planktonic prey and the environment near North Atlantic right whales in the southern New England region. We want to know what prey species are most abundant and why, so we can understand the needs of large whales in the area.


Data Reports

Details on the conductivity-temperature-depth data collected during this cruise are in the GM2402 Hydrographic Report.

Spring Bottom Trawl Survey - HB2402

A map showing the locations of each type of sample. These stations are scattered over the entire shelf from Cape Lookout, North Carolina, to Nova Scotia. Station dots are color coded to show the type of sample collected at each location: vertical CTD cast (most stations), Bongo and CTD tow, SBE911 water cast, SBE19 water cast. All types are distributed throughout the shelf.
Map of the Northeast U.S. coastline showing locations of sampling covered by the 2024 spring bottom trawl survey, from Cape Hatteras to Maine and southern Nova Scotia. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Chris Melrose
  • Dates of survey: Mar 7 – May 13, 2024
  • Stations Sampled: 373
  • Conductivity, Temperature, Depth measurements: 379
  • Ocean chemistry samples: 0
  • Plankton: 109 bongo net tows

Mission and Partnerships

A long-standing partnership within the northeast collects plankton and hydrographic data concurrent with bottom trawls, including:

  • EcoMon standard sampling of hydrographic data at all stations
  • EcoMon standard bongo tows at a subset of stations

News and Blogs

Learn more about the 2024 Spring Bottom Trawl Survey

Data Reports

Details on the conductivity-temperature-depth data collected during this cruise are in the Spring Bottom Trawl Survey Hydrographic Report.

Winter Ecosystem Monitoring Survey - HB2401

A map showing the locations of each type of sample. These stations are scattered over the entire shelf around Hudson Canyon, Southern New England, and Massachusetts Bay. Station dots are color coded to show the type of sample collected at each location: Bongo and CTD tows (most stations), SBE911 water cast, SBE19 water cast. Bongo tows are distributed throughout the shelf. Water casts are located along cross-shelf transects off New Jersey and Southern New England and 1 station in Wilkinson Basin in the G
Map of the Northeast U.S. coastline showing locations of sampling covered by the 2024 winter Ecosystem Monitoring survey, from Cape Hatteras to Maine and southern Nova Scotia. Credit NOAA Fisheries/Chris Melrose
  • Dates of survey: 17-22 February
  • Stations Sampled: 39
  • Conductivity, Temperature, Depth measurements: 52
  • Ocean chemistry samples: 7 multi-depth water sample locations
    • 0 chlorophyll samples
    • 40 dissolved inorganic carbon samples
    • 20 nutrient samples
  • Plankton: 39 bongo net tows

Regional coverage was affected by:

  • Reduced sea days due to ship maintenance issues
  • Lost sampling hours due to weather

Mission and Partnerships

News and Blogs

Learn more about the 2024 Winter EcoMon

Data Reports

The 2024 Winter Ecosystem Monitoring Survey Cruise Report

Details on the conductivity-temperature-depth data collected during this cruise are in the HB2401 Hydrographic Report.

Passive Acoustics Monitoring Survey - SG2402

A map showing the locations of vertical CTD casts. Casts were made from southwest of Martha’s Vineyard cascading offshore to the southeast.
Map of the Northeast U.S. coastline showing locations of CTD casts covered by a 2024 winter Passive Acoustics Monitoring and eDNA Sampling survey. Credit NOAA Fisheries/Chris Melrose
  • Dates of survey: Jan 31 – Feb 4, 2024
  • Stations Sampled: 19
  • Conductivity, Temperature, Depth measurements: 19
  • Ocean chemistry samples: 0
  • Plankton: 0 bongo net tows

Mission and Partnerships

Comparing the species identified by passive acoustic and eDNA methods over time will allow us to document which species occupy habitats in the region both before and after construction of the wind turbines planned in this area.

Data Reports

Details on the conductivity-temperature-depth data collected during this cruise are in the SG2402 Hydrographic Report.

Winter North Atlantic Right Whale Prey Survey - GM2401

A map showing the locations of plankton samples collected. Bongo with CTD stations, VPR tows, and Tucker Sled tows were sampled in close proximity to each other and distributed on the shelf southwest of Martha’s Vineyard.
Map of the Northeast U.S. coastline showing locations of plankton sampling covered by a 2024 winter North Atlantic Right Whale Prey survey. Credit NOAA Fisheries/Chris Melrose
  • Dates of survey: Jan 9, Feb 21–22 and Mar 13–15, 2024
  • Stations Sampled: 43
  • Conductivity, Temperature, Depth measurements: 43
  • Ocean chemistry samples: 0
  • Plankton:
    • 38 bongo net tows
    • 5 Tucker sled tows

Mission and Partnerships

This project shares a joint protected species and oceanographic mission. Our objective on this survey was to collect samples of the planktonic prey and the environment near North Atlantic right whales in the southern New England region. We want to know what prey species are most abundant and why, so we can understand the needs of large whales in the area.

Data Reports

Details on the conductivity-temperature-depth data collected during this cruise are in the GM2401 Hydrographic Report.

Learn more about the Northeast U.S. Hydrographic and Plankton Surveys >

More Information

More Information

Last updated by Northeast Fisheries Science Center on 06/25/2026

Northeast EcoMon Survey