Gulf of Alaska Ground Fish Survey

Miller Freeman supports the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) triennial groundfish survey of the Gulf of Alaska Shelf. Utilizing standardized bottom trawl gear, a grid of trawl stations are sampled to:

1. Determine the distribution, abundance, and size of major groundfish species in outside waters of the eastern Gulf of Alaska.
2. Collect ancillary biological data for selected species, such as otoliths for age determination, and DNA and electrophoretic genetic samples.
3. Utilize hydroacoustic gear (Simrad EK-500) to categorize bottom type and conduct a feasibility study of using hydroacoustics to assess abundance of Pacific Ocean Perch.

West Coast Slope Groundfish Survey

Miller Freeman supports the annual Fall bottom trawl survey of the groundfish resources of the upper continental slope off northern California, Oregon, and Washington. The slope groundfish surveys are designed to describe and monitor the abundance, geographic, and bathymetric distribution and biological characteristics of major groundfish resources inhabiting the upper continental slope of the US Pacific coast. The specific objectives are:

1. To obtain extensive biological data including sex, length, length-weight, and maturity for sablefish, Dover sole, shortspine and longspine thornyhead, arrowtooth flounder, and key slope rockfish species.
2. To obtain age samples (otoliths) from shortspine and longspine thornyhead, sablefish, Dover sole, and arrowtooth flounder for stock assessment purposes.

Miller Freeman has completed this survey in 1988 and 1990-1995. Trawl gear experiments were conducted during 1994 to refine fishing and resource assessment techniques. These experiments were supported with a camera sled for observing slope habitat information.