The Midwater Assessment and Conservation Engineering (MACE) program of NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) conducted acoustic stock assessment surveys in the eastern Bering Sea (EBS) in summer of 2020 to estimate distribution and abundance of walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus). This survey was initially intended as a ship-based survey, but this was cancelled due to the emerging COVID-19 pandemic. The survey was completed by three chartered 7 meter saildrone USVs.

The Midwater Assessment and Conservation Engineering (MACE) program of NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) conducted acoustic stock assessment surveys in the eastern Bering Sea (EBS) in summer of 2020 to estimate distribution and abundance of walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus). This survey was initially intended as a ship-based survey, but this was cancelled due to the emerging COVID-19 pandemic. The survey was completed by three chartered 7 meter saildrone USVs.

During the cruise, watercolumn sonar data was collected using EK80 with single frequency transcievers at 38, 70, 120, and 200 kHz frequencies (7 degree circular beam angles). Instrument successfully calibrated on 06/09/2022 and data collected with updated settings. Note: sound speed is not updated accoring to CTD - should be updated before use

Ancillary data: CTD casts, ADCP (continuous during survey), TSG (continuous during survey)

Acoustic-Trawl Surveys of Walleye Pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) in the Gulf of Alaska (SH2019-04). The Midwater Assessment and Conservation Engineering (MACE) program of NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) conducted acoustic-trawl (AT) stock assessment surveys in the Shelikof Strait, Chirikof shelf break,and Marmot Bay areas of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) in the late winter/early spring of 2019 to estimate the distribution and abundance of walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus). This survey was conducted aboard NOAA Ship Bell M.

2019 Joint US-Canada Integrated Ecosystem and Pacific Hake Acoustic-Trawl Survey

2021 Joint U.S.and Canada Integrated Ecosystem and Pacific Hake Acoustic Trawl Survey

Scientists from the NWFSC conducted an inter-vessel calibration (IVC) with a Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) vessel (Sir John Franklin) as well as lead investigations into the Simrad EK80 scientific echosounder system, advanced technologies, and associated ecosystem components (e.g., research focused on rockfish and krill) in support of the Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) stock assessment.

Transit

Northern Gulf of Alaska Long Term Ecological Research

LTER: Resiliency in the Environmental Mosaic of the Northern Gulf of Alaska Ecosystem