ES60 Water Column Sonar Data Collected During GOA15AP

Scientists of the Groundfish Assessment Program of Alaska Fisheries Science Center's Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering (RACE) Division conducted the ninth Gulf of Alaska Biennial Bottom Trawl Survey during the summer of 2015. This survey extends to 13 the series of surveys, previously conducted every 3 years between 1984 and 1999, which constitute the time series used in stock assessments of Gulf of Alaska groundfish resources. The survey area covered the continental shelf and upper continental slope to 1,000 m in the Gulf of Alaska from Islands of Four Mountains (170°W long.) and approximately 2,800 km across the Gulf of Alaska to Dixon Entrance (133°25'W long.). The survey was conducted aboard three chartered commercial trawlers, the FV Alaska Provider, FV Sea Storm, and FV Cape Flattery. Trawl haul samples were successfully collected at 772 survey stations using standard RACE Division Poly Nor'Eastern high-opening bottom trawl nets with rubber bobbin roller gear.