Species analyses
Once onboard, the catch from each tow is sorted and measured by species and size-class if distinct classes within a particular species are evident. A subsample of each species/size-class is further processed for individual weight determination, stomach contents, ageing, and determination of sex and maturity stage.
Single-species assessment models typically require information on (among others) age-, length-, and weight-structure, sex ratio, and maturity stage. Data were synthesized to characterize annual length- and age-frequency distributions. Analytical computer programs to characterize each of the assessment-related data elements (length, weight, age, sex, maturity) were developed to allow for the summarization of these characteristics across a variety of spatial and temporal scales (e.g., by year, season, or region of the bay) for each species.
ChesMMAP
Number of specimens collected, measured and processed for age determination and diet composition, 2002-2010
| Year | Number of Species | Specimens Collected | Specimens Measured | Otoliths Sampled/ | Processed | Stomachs Sampled/ | Processed |
| 2002 | 80 | 32,019 | 23,605 | 5,487 | 4,944 | 4,560 | 3,019 |
| 2003 | 75 | 30,924 | 20,828 | 3,913 | 3,055 | 3,250 | 2,416 |
| 2004 | 71 | 47,622 | 31,245 | 5,169 | 4,290 | 4,272 | 3,330 |
| 2005 | 77 | 45,204 | 36,909 | 6,065 | 5,006 | 5,067 | 3,375 |
| 2006 | 79 | 43,957 | 31,243 | 5,413 | 4,229 | 4,402 | 2,940 |
| 2007 | 75 | 30,893 | 22,124 | 4,282 | 3,253 | 3,674 | 2,871 |
| 2008 | 80 | 26,299 | 19,596 | 4,206 | 3,048 | 3,678 | 3,427 |
| 2009 | 103 | 22,050 | 15,694 | 3,227 | 2,206 | 2,722 | 2,613 |
| 2010 | 100 | 26,337 | 20,566 | 4,003 | 0 | 3,424 | 3,236 |
| 2011 | 89 | 21,185 | 16,397 | 3,429 | 0 | 2,742 | 2,023 |
| TOTAL | 326,490 | 238,207 | 45,194 | 30,031 | 37,791 | 29,250 | |
NEAMAP
Total number of species collected, along with the number of specimens caught, the weight of these animals in kilograms, and the number sampled for individual length measurements, given by survey cruise and overall. The numbers sampled and processed (to date) for age and diet determination are also provided.
| Cruise | Number of Species | Specimens Collected | Specimens Measured | Otoliths Sampled/ | Processed | Stomachs Sampled/ | Processed |
| Fall 2007 | 126 | 1,101,152 | 73,473 | 5,150 | 3,245 | 3,905 | 3,663 |
| Spring 2008 | 85 | 298,923 | 54,700 | 6,132 | 1,373 | 4,810 | 3,807 |
| Fall 2008 | 128 | 731,429 | 61,334 | 4,609 | 1,390 | 3,383 | 3,241 |
| Spring 2009 | 93 | 285,304 | 77,276 | 6,570 | 1,409 | 4,851 | 3,879 |
| Fall 2009 | 102 | 1,242,518 | 105,757 | 6,446 | 2,230 | 4,562 | 4,256 |
| Spring 2010 | 91 | 284,602 | 50,617 | 5,285 | 1,314 | 4,016 | 2,811 |
| Fall 2010 | 125 | 803,121 | 93,025 | 5,149 | 1,587 | 3,570 | 3,466 |
| Spring 2011 | 108 | 317,030 | 72,365 | 5,262 | 1,063 | 3,901 | 3,772 |
| Fall 2011 | 124 | 705,925 | 86,525 | 4,766 | 870 | 3,434 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 5,770,004 | 675,072 | 49,369 | 14,481 | 36,432 | 28,895 | |
The species descriptions provided on this site are directly from:
FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes - The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Atlantic
Volume 1 : Introduction, molluscs, crustaceans, hagfishes, sharks, batoid fishes and chimaeras
Volume 2 : Bony Fishes Part 1 (Acipenseridae to Grammatidae)
Volume 3 : Bony Fishes Part 2 (Opistognathidae to Molidae), sea turtles and marine mammals
