Field Methods

At each station the net is trawled along the bottom for 20 minutes, at an average speed of 3 knots.

The Multispecies fisheries research trawl surveys use Netmind sensors to assure the net if fishing properly.

At each sampling location supplementary data are recorded:

• Atmospheric conditions (wind speed & direction, air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, and sea state)
• Hydrographic conditions  (water temperature, water depth, salinity, surface and bottom readings of dissolved oxygen) using Hydrolab MS-5 Sonde
• Invertebrate species (crabs, shrimps, hydroids, dead mans fingers, sponges, etc.)
• Habitat (ghost crap pots, tires, wood, rocks, etc.)

The catch at each station is sorted by species and size class. Aggregate weights, counts and individual length measurements are recorded from all species collected. Individual length, weight, sex, maturity, and eviscerated weight are recorded from species of management interest. All data is recorded using Scantrol electronic fish measuring boards.

Stomachs and otoliths (or other appropriate aging structure) are removed  and taken back to our laboratories at VIMS for further analysis.