Fisheries and Ecosystems Monitoring and Analysis Division
Chief: Amy VanAtten
Woods Hole Laboratory
(508) 495-2266
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The Fisheries Sampling Branch collects, processes, manages, and provides fishery
dependent data and biological samples obtained from fishing vessels. Collection
of these data is mandated or otherwise needed for management under the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Marine Mammal
Protection Act, the Atlantic Tuna Convention Act, and the Endangered Species
Act.
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Branch staff and observers under contract perform at-sea operations
aboard commercial vessels to collect information on fishing operations,
fishing effort, and catch, including by-catch and discard information,
economic data and vessel efficiency, and biological samples of landed catch
and discard. Considerable effort is directed towards monitoring and biological
sampling of takes of protected species. The data are processed and maintained
in a central database for access by users or provided directly to the user.
Biological specimens and samples (e.g., scales and otoliths) are collected
and distributed.
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Fisheries Sampling Branch Website
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