Trawl Data from the F/V Northwest Explorer during the 2022 International Year of the Salmon Pan-Pacific Winter High Seas Expedition

Study Extent

Surface trawl operations were conducted at 22 stations in the northwestern Gulf of Alaska.

Sampling

Surface trawl operations were conducted with a Cantrawl 400/601 rope trawl, 5 m alloy trawl doors, and 55m wire rope bridals. The trawl was configured to sample in the deeper habitats of the central North Pacific Ocean by adding tom weights (300 lbs) to the wingtips of the foot rope and by increasing the chain setbacks (0, 10’ and 15’ for the top, middle, and bottom bridals, respectively) than is typically used to sample shallow habitats for juvenile salmon in the northern Bering Sea. All surface trawl tows were one hour in duration. Total catch was sorted by species, which were identified to the lowest taxonomic rank possible or practical. Total species catch weight (kg) was recorded and the total count for each identified species was recorded.

Method steps

1. Species were identified onboard the vessel to the lowest taxonomic rank possible or practical, and individual lengths and wet weights were recorded.

Northwestern Gulf of Alaska