AFSC/REFM: Pacific cod Localized Depletion Study

Data from Localized Depletion study for Pacific cod 2001-2005. Study was conducted using cod pot gear to measure localized abundance of Pacific cod inside and outside of a trawl exclusion zone in the southeast Bering Sea, both before and after the intensive winter season cod trawl fishery. Data includes early feasibility and gear trials as well as before and after data from each of three years of the experiment. Pot gear was fished in 40 fixed stations in two adjacent areas, one of which was subject to heavy trawling and one within a trawl exclusion zone. Average of three or more pot catches at each station for each time period (before/after) was computed, the variable for final analysis was the change in catch at each station between the two periods. There are three main data tables. Cruise data identifies the dates, vessels, and personnel for each charter. Haul data includes information on location, date, soak time, and identifier for each pot launched, while Catch data includes numbers and weight of cod and bycatch by pot. Assorted small tables define categories for descriptive variables in main tables. Length and maturity data were collected on a random subset of cod catch. Some CTD profiles and oceanographic data were also collected.