Bottomfish Fishery-Independent Survey in Hawaii: Season and Gear Effects on Abundance
September 18, 2019
A study evaluating the impact of sampling season and survey gear the Bottomfish Fishery-Independent Survey designed to provide species-specific, size structured abundance and biomass for the Hawaiian Islands “Deep7” bottomfish complex.
To improve the data used in stock assessments, the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center has developed a multi-gear, Bottomfish Fishery-Independent Survey in Hawaii (BFISH). BFISH was designed to provide species-specific, size structured abundance and biomass for the main Hawaiian Islands “Deep7” bottomfish complex. This study evaluated the impact of sampling season and survey gear on abundance estimates.
The survey employs two gears:
1) hook and line, the standard gear in the commercial fishery
2) stereo cameras
In 2016 and 2017, surveys were conducted using the two gears in two seasons (spring, fall). However, there were significant disparities in the spatial distribution and intensity of sampling effort with respect to season and gear. Despite these limitations, data were sufficient for a preliminary analysis of season and gear effects.
Swanson DW, Smith SG, Richards BL, Yau AJ, Ault JS. 2019. Bottomfish fishery-independent survey in Hawaii: Season and gear effects on abundance. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-PIFSC-88, 48 p. https://doi.org/10.25923/svzx-2k78