Data report: 1996 Gulf of Alaska bottom trawl survey

Abstract

The fifth triennial groundfish assessment survey of the Gulf of Alaska was conducted during the summer of 1996 by the Alaska Fisheries Science Center's Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering (RACE) Division. The survey area covered the continental shelf and upper continental slope to 500 m in the Gulf of Alaska from Islands of Four Mountains (170°W long.) to Dixon Entrance (132°40W long.). The survey was conducted aboard three chartered trawlers, the F/V Dominator, F/V Golden Dawn, and F/V Vesteraalen. A total of 804 survey stations was successfully sampled using standard RACE Division Nor'eastern high-opening bottom trawl nets with rubber bobbin roller gear.

The primary survey objectives were to define the distribution and estimate the relative abundance of the principal groundfish and commercially important invertebrate species within the survey area and to collect data on biological parameters useful to groundfish researchers and managers including age, growth, length-weight relationships, feeding habits, and size, sex, and age composition. The survey also collected ancillary data requested by other research groups.