ME70 Water Column Sonar Data Collected During SH1703

Determine the selectivity characteristics of the Nordic 264 midwater trawl in relation to potential escapement of coastal pelagic species (CPS) between Newport, Oregon and San Diego, California. The following are specific objectives for this survey. I.D.1. Continuously sample pelagic fish eggs using the Continuous Underway Fish Egg Sampler (CUFES). The data will be used to locate potential adult CPS schools to fish on in the evening hours. I.D.2. Continuously sample multi-frequency acoustic backscatter using the Simrad EK60. The data will be used to locate potential CPS targets to fish on during the evening hours. I.D.3. Continuously sample sea-surface temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll-a using a thermosalinometer and fluorometer. These data will be used to estimate the physical oceanographic habitats for target species. I.D.4. Continuously sample air temperature, barometric pressure, and wind speed and direction using an integrated weather station. I.D.5. Sample fish near the surface each night by conducting 2-5 surface trawls at stations or random sites selected each night by the Chief Scientist (CS). The data will be used to determine the selectivity characteristics of the Nordic 264 midwater trawl for CPS. I.D.6. Conduct 24 hrs of Saildrone comparison operations to validate carbon, fisheries acoustics, ADCP, oceanographic, and meteorological sensors integrated onto the Saildrone UAS.