Results of the 2010 eastern Bering Sea upper continental slope survey of groundfish and invertebrate resources

Abstract

The results of the 2010 Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s (AFSC) bottom trawl survey of the groundfish and invertebrate resources of the eastern Bering Sea upper continental slope (EBSS) is presented. The 2010 EBSS survey is the fourth standardized biennial groundfish bottom trawl survey of this region. Two hundred successful survey bottom trawls were conducted from 200 to 1,200 m on the eastern Bering Sea slope. The survey area stretched from Unalaska and Akutan Island in Alaska (54° N) to the U.S-Russian border at 61° N. Sampling was stratified by six subareas running south to north and by five depth strata within each subarea. Stations were chosen randomly and target sampling density was proportional to the area (km²) in each subarea and depth stratum. Mean sampling density was approximately one tow per 204 km². This report provides estimates of biomass in metric tons (t), population number, and catch per unit effort (CPUE; no./ha and kg/ha) for all species identified on the survey. Size frequencies (43 species) and CPUE distribution plots (43 species) are presented for the most abundant species or species of commercial and ecological interest. The largest biomass of fish and invertebrate species, respectively, were the giant grenadier (Albatrossia pectoralis), Pacific ocean perch (Sebastes alutus), arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias), popeye grenadier (Coryphaenoides cinereus), shortspine thornyhead (Sebastolobus alascanus), deep sea papillate sea cucumber (Pannychia moseleyi), the brittlestar (Ophiacantha normani), and the claypipe sponge (Aphrocallistes vastus).

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