Trawl/Comparison Surveys

See what happened on Leg I, Leg II, and Leg III of the 2003 Pelagic Trawl Cruise.

Standard trawling operations take place in the Gulf of Mexico and Southeastern US waters. Trawling operations normally employ a 180 ft. pelagic trawl or a 90 ft. high opening bottom trawl. Paired-comparison trawling with the NOAA ship Oregon II has also been conducted using 40 ft. shrimping nets. During trawling, CTD, Neuston, XBT and Bongo sampling devices may be deployed as well. Normal fishing depths range from 30 ft. to the continental slope. Tow lines are approximately 30 minutes for all nets. Normal towing speeds for these operations are usually no greater than two knots. Trawling operations take place 24 hours a day and there are no differences between daytime and nightime operations.

The trawling gear is set up on the starboard side of the fantail.	Chief Bo'sun Taylor oversees the operation and controls the winch from the control booth.	The 40 ft. net is trailed behind the ship before "shooting the doors".
The otter boards, or doors, are used to spread the net as it enters the water.	When deployment of the trawling gear is complete the trawl begins.	Upon completion of the trawl the net is hauled back in.
The catch is released from the cod-end.	The animals are collected into buckets.	If the catch is too big to empty directly to buckets it is dumped on deck and shovelled up.
The total weight of the catch is recorded.	The catch is then sent up to the Wet Lab via the conveyor belt.	The catch is sorted, counted and measured in the Wet Lab.