Eastern Bering Sea shelf walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) midwater abundance and distribution were assessed from Bristol Bay in the United States, to Cape Navarin, Russia, between 7 June and 10 August 2012 using acoustic-trawl techniques aboard the NOAA ship Oscar Dyson. Most of the pollock biomass in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) was distributed between the Pribilof Islands and Cape Navarin, between roughly the 80 m and 200 m isobaths. Estimated pollock abundance in midwater (between 16 m from the surface and 3 m off bottom) in the U.S.

Analysis of two different surveys of acoustic and biological data from the Albatross Bank region of the Gulf of Alaska off eastern Kodiak Island indicates that humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) can both be found in close association with their preferred prey items. Notably, humpback whales are most often found in association with highly concentrated patches of krill, and fin whales are found in association with schools of capelin.

Eastern Bering Sea shelf walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) midwater abundance and distribution were assessed from Bristol Bay in the United States, to Cape Navarin, Russia, between 12 June and 13 August 2014 using acoustic-trawl survey methods aboard the NOAA ship Oscar Dyson. Water column temperatures were warm in 2014 compared with the cold temperatures of the past several survey years (2006-2012). Most walleye pollock biomass was distributed relatively evenly across the shelf from a region north of Unimak Island to Navarin Canyon, between roughly the 50 m and 1,000 m isobaths.

The Midwater Assessment and Conservation Engineering (MACE) Program of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center's (AFSC) Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering (RACE) Division conducts annual acoustic-trawl (AT) stock assessment surveys in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) during late winter and early spring to estimate the distribution and abundance of walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus).

Aerial surveys were flown during the spring of 2012 and 2013 as part of the Bering Okhotsk Seal Surveys (BOSS) project to gather data on distribution and abundance of ice-associated seals in the eastern Bering Sea. The distributions of these seals are broad and patchy, resulting in surveys that cover large areas and encounter rapidly changing environmental conditions. Surveys were flown using a fixed-wing aircraft with a paired system of digital cameras and thermal imagers operated by observers and mounted in the belly port.

US surveys were conducted of the Bering Sea pack ice for bearded, spotted, ribbon, and ringed seals using digital cameras and thermal imagers mounted in the belly ports of two fixed-wing aircraft from 6 April to 23 May 2012 and 4 April to 9 May 2013. U.S. flights were flown at a target altitude of 1,000 ft (300 m) to maximize the area surveyed while maintaining the required imaging resolution and minimizing the chance of disturbance to seals and other wildlife.

US surveys were conducted of the Bering Sea pack ice for bearded, spotted, ribbon, and ringed seals using digital cameras and thermal imagers mounted in the belly ports of two fixed-wing aircraft from 6 April to 23 May 2012 and 4 April to 9 May 2013. U.S. flights were flown at a target altitude of 1,000 ft (300 m) to maximize the area surveyed while maintaining the required imaging resolution and minimizing the chance of disturbance to seals and other wildlife.

Scientists from the Midwater Assessment and Conservation Engineering (MACE) Program of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center's (AFSC) Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering (RACE) Division routinely conduct acoustic-trawl (AT) stock assessment surveys in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) during late winter and early spring to estimate the distribution and abundance of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma). Historically, most of these efforts have been focused on the Shelikof Strait area, which has been surveyed annually since 1980, except in 1982 and 1999.

The survey’s primary objective was to collect acoustic data and trawl information to estimate midwater abundance and distribution of walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Shumagins Region during late winter and early spring. Acoustic data were collected using five split-beam transducers (18, 38, 70, 120, and 200 kHz) and Simrad ER60 scientific echo sounders. Midwater and near-bottom acoustic backscatter was sampled using an Aleutian Wing 30/26 Trawl (AWT) and a poly Nor’eastern bottom trawl (PNE) with roller gear.

The survey’s primary objective was to collect acoustic data and trawl information to estimate midwater abundance and distribution of walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Shumagins Region during late winter and early spring. Acoustic data were collected using five split-beam transducers (18, 38, 70, 120, and 200 kHz) and Simrad ER60 scientific echo sounders. Midwater and near-bottom acoustic backscatter was sampled using an Aleutian Wing 30/26 Trawl (AWT) and a poly Nor’eastern bottom trawl (PNE) with roller gear.