ME70 Water Column Sonar Data Collected During SH1306

Summer 2013 CCE. This objective was accomplished using the following equipment and protocols:
• The primary goal of the survey is to estimate the biomasses, distributions, and biological compositions of Pacific hake and Pacific sardine populations using data from an integrated acoustic and trawl survey off the west coast of the U.S. and Canada from approximately San Diego, California (lat 32°48.0174’N) to the north end of Vancouver Island, Canada (lat 50°45.65’N).
• Continuously sample multi-frequency acoustic backscatter data using the ship’s Simrad EK60 scientific echo sounder system. These data will be used to estimate the distributions and abundances of hake and sardine.
• Conduct daytime trawling to classify observed backscatter layers to species and size composition and to collect specimens of hake and other organisms.
• Conduct nighttime (i.e., between sunset and sunrise) surface trawling to collect specimens of coastal pelagic fishes (CPS) and other organisms. These data will be used to classify observed backscatter to species and their size distributions. Nighttime sampling operations will conclude in time for the ship to resume running east-west acoustic transects by sunrise.
• Image fish using a portable X-radiograph machine for the purpose of target strength modeling and estimation.
• Collect a variety of other acoustic, biological, and oceanographic samples relevant to hake and sardine distributions. These data are vital for the surveys and assessments of hake and sardine.
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• Continuously sample sea-surface temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll a using the ship’s thermosalinograph and fluorometer. These data will be used to estimate the physical oceanographic habitats for each target species.
• Continuously sample air temperature, barometric pressure, and wind speed and direction using the ship’s integrated weather station.
• Continuously sample pelagic fish eggs using the Continuous Underway Fish Egg Sampler (CUFES). The data will be used to estimate the distributions and abundances of spawning hake, anchovy, mackerel, and sardine.
• Sample profiles of temperature and salinity using either an underway conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) system during the day or a standard CTD system with water-sampling rosette and other instruments at nighttime stations, as time allows.
• Sample plankton using a CalBOBL (CalCOFI Bongo) net at nighttime stations, as time allows. These data will be used to estimate the distribution and abundance of ichthyoplankton and zooplankton species.
• Continuously sample multi-frequency acoustic backscatter data using the ship’s Simrad ME70 multibeam echosounder system, synchronized and configured to not interfere with the EK60s.
• Optically verify CPS backscatter while underway conducting acoustic transects, using a towed stereo camera system.
• Optically observe fish behavior inside nighttime trawls using cameras and lights mounted inside the net.