Bigelow Paired Gear Efficiency Study

This study was conducted in a relatively small area of Georges Bank where an earlier Georges Bank pilot flatfish survey indicated the highest abundance of yellowtail flounder. Side-by-side towing was conducted on the F/V Hera using the same gear and methods used for the Georges Bank flatfish survey and on the R/V Bigelow using the standard NEFSC bottom trawl survey gear and methods. In addition, an independent method of abundance estimation will be derived using images from HabCam transects conducted simultaneously aboard the R/V Connecticut. The results from this study will be used to estimate the relative catchability of the three different methods for yellowtail flounder which will provide additional information for fisheries managers to allow comparison between the gear used for the Georges Bank pilot flatfish survey and the standard bottom trawl survey.

To estimate the relative catchability of the three different methods for yellowtail flounder.

Available to qualified researchers.

Please contact Point of Contact via email.

NEFSC Data Access Procedure:

1. Formal request in writing usually to the data owner/contact or Center Director;

2. Requester is contacted by data owner to review and verify the request content and details for data delivery options.

3. If data is confidential then owner will determine if the data may be released to the requester;

4. If data can be released, the data is downloaded and packaged for delivery electronically; or the requester may be directed to where the data is available online.

User must read and fully comprehend the metadata prior to use. Applications or inferences derived from the data should be carefully considered for accuracy.

NEFSC Data Access Constraint:

If data is stored on an internal NEFSC network, the requester may not have direct access to query the data unless they are also authorized for network access.

Acknowledgement of NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC, as the source from which these data were obtained in any publications and/or other representations of these, data is suggested.

Oracle database on Centralized Database Management System

Data validation during data collection using FSCS 2.0, Data auditing post-survey by established auditing routines, Data validation during database load

Archiving solution for Oracle Data Sets is yet to be determined

Archival of source data preserving unaltered collected data, Scheduled backups, Remote storage backups, Password protection

Vessel sensor data were collected electronically using SCS. Catch and biological data were collected electronically using FSCS 2.0. At the completion of the cruise, a database copy was inserted into the shoreside database.