EK80 Water Column Sonar Data Collected During DY2308

The Midwater Assessment and Conservation Engineering (MACE) program of NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), conducted an acoustic-trawl (AT) stock assessment survey in areas of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) in the summer of 2023 to estimate distribution and abundance of walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus). This survey was conducted aboard NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson (built in 2003, 64 meters, 2500 tons, 3100 hp), a research stern trawler equipped with acoustic and oceanographic instrumentation. The primary water column acoustic instrument for the survey was a Kongsberg EK80 split-beam scientific echosounder system utilizing five frequencies (18, 38, 70, 120, and 200 kHz). The survey was conducted in three segments (10-22 June, 30 June to 21 July, and 7-20 August) starting and ending in Kodiak, Alaska with two port calls also in Kodiak. The vessel departed Kodiak, Alaska on 11 June and conducted a standard sphere calibration on the Kongsberg EK80 echosounder system on 11 June in Uyak Bay, Kodiak Island, Alaska. The survey areas included the Gulf of Alaska Shelf (between 14 June and 17 August), the Shumagin Islands (18-20 June), Shelikof Strait (1-8 July), Barnabas Trough (15-18 July), and Chiniak Trough (19-21 July). A second calibration of the EK80 echosounder system was conducted on 12 August in North Arm, Nuka Sound, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. Mid-water trawl operations were conducted using an LFS1421 mid-water trawl net. Water column CTD casts were conducted at select positions on most days throughout the cruise using a Sea-Bird Scientific SBE 911Plus water column profiling system. During the second segment of the cruise, experimental operations were conducted using an iXblue DriX unmanned surface vessel (USV) remotely operated from the vessel and/or shore stations. The USV was equipped with a Kongsberg EK80 echosounder system. Survey operations were concluded on 18 August and the vessel returned to port (Kodiak) on 20 August.