1. NEFSC/Industry Cooperative Survey Gear Study 28 October – 6 November, 2002 To examine differences in catch rates of the R/V Albatross IV using standard Yankee #36 trawls in two configurations; one configuration that conformed to standard specifications and a second configuration that was known not to meet specifications, including offset trawl warps. OBJECTIVE Source Document: Specifications for Construction of NEFSC Standard #36 Bottom Trawl

2. General sampling areas provided by industry Specific areas determined onboard the ship shallow - approximately 87 m (47.5 fm) in depth mid-depth - approximately 139 m (76 fm) deep - approximately 198 m (108 fm) Areas selected in order to cover a range of depths and to sample as many species as possible SAMPLING AREAS  Original plan was to sample 2 areas in 1 depth zone then 2 areas in a second depth zone  Weather prevented occupation of 4 areas; therefore a third ‘shallow’ area was sampled

3. NEFSC/Industry Cooperative Survey Gear Study – Part I 28 October – 6 November, 2002 Location of Sampling Areas Area 1 Area 3 Area 2 Closed Area I 100m

4. BOTTOM PHOTO from NW CAI (Area 1) Albatross Cruise 99-08, July 1998, Site I2 Image provided by Page Valentine, USGS, Woods Hole Field Center

5. Albatross Cruise 99-08, July 1998, Site I2 Image provided by Page Valentine, USGS, Woods Hole Field Center BOTTOM PHOTO from NE CAI (Area 2)

6. The areas were 5-minutes by 5-minutes (approximately 25 nm 2 ) Each area was subdivided into 25 blocks, each 1-minute by 1-minute Each block was further subdivided into four quadrants Sixteen blocks were chosen, the maximum possible number of stations that could be performed during one 24 hour period, using uniformly distributed random numbers Stations were then placed in a randomly selected quadrant within each block STATION SELECTION

7. 4.754.253.753.252.752.25 1.751.250.750.25 GRID USED TO POSITION TOW STARTING POINTS

8. Each area sampled for 48 hours Order of gear configurations used determined by coin toss One randomly chosen gear configuration was used for 24 hours, then configurations switched and tows made at the same locations the following day Tows offset by approximately 1 additional hour to account for tide and light conditions Direction of tows determined by the Captain of the F/V Sea Breeze Constant scope used for all tows within an area. Scope chosen was that used for the deepest likely depth in an area TOWING PROTOCOLS

9. SCOPE AND TRAWL WARP OFFSETS USED IN EACH SAMPLING AREA

10. Net #21, constructed prior to the experiment and inspected to meet the specifications by industry representatives Doors used (Pair #38) were inspected by industry representatives to meet tuned door specifications Backstraps used were fitted with swivels (with the appropriate number of links removed to maintain standard specification) to ensure that there were no twists in the chain while the net was fishing Even trawl warps; re-measured and certified the day of sailing ‘ Optimal’ (OPT ) GEAR SPECIFICATIONS - R/V Albatross

11. ‘Worst Case Scenario’ (WCS ) GEAR SPECIFICATIONS - R/V Albatross Net #14, used during the 24-27 October, 2002 ‘video cruise’ (the last 4 days of Leg II of AL 02-09, Autumn Bottom Trawl Survey) Pair #37 doors considered to be performing poorly during the ‘video cruise’ Backstraps with no swivels and intentionally twisted 2 times Trawl warps offset to match the mis-marked warps used during 2001-2002 surveys

12. Standard 6" mesh groundfish net 16” (with 12” at wings) rockhopper footrope with 2” cookies 110' sweep 30 fm groundcable used in Area 1 50 fm groundcable used in Areas 2 and 3 2.4” (6 cm) mesh codend liner GEAR SPECIFICATIONS - F/V Sea Breeze

13. GEAR SPECIFICATIONS

14. Albatross IV Tows Sea Breeze Tows Location of Paired TowsArea 1: NW Closed Area I ‘Optimal’ Configuration

15. Location of Paired TowsArea 1: NW Closed Area I ‘Worst Case Scenario’ Configuration Albatross IV Tows Sea Breeze Tows

16. Albatross IV Tows Sea Breeze Tows Location of Paired TowsArea 1: NW Closed Area I 29-30 October, 2002

17. Location of Paired TowsArea 2: East of Cape Cod ‘Optimal’ Configuration Albatross IV Tows Sea Breeze Tows

18. Location of Paired TowsArea 2: East of Cape Cod ‘Worst Case Scenario’ Configuration Albatross IV Tows Sea Breeze Tows

19. Albatross IV Tows Sea Breeze Tows Location of Paired TowsArea 2: NW Closed Area I 31 October-3 November, 2002

20. Location of Paired TowsArea 3: NE Closed Area I ‘Optimal’ Configuration Albatross IV Tows Sea Breeze Tows

21. Location of Paired TowsArea 3; NE Closed Area I ‘Worst Case Scenario’ Configuration Albatross IV Tows Sea Breeze Tows

22. Albatross IV Tows Sea Breeze Tows Location of Paired TowsArea 3: NW Closed Area I 3-5 November, 2002

23. Albatross Catch sorted by species and weighed (nearest 0.001 kg) using motion compensated digital scales Lengths of all fish measured (nearest cm) All catch and biological data were recorded using the shipboard automated data entry system Sea Breeze Catch sorted by species and weighed using same scales Individual fish lengths were taken on a subsample of the catch when time allowed Catch weights were recorded on standard fisheries observer program logsheets and transmitted to the Albatross Catch numbers and individual fish length data were also recorded on fisheries observer program logsheets and processed at the Woods Hole Laboratory the day after the cruise ended SAMPLING PROTOCOLS

24. SUMMARY OF TOWS CONDUCTED IN EACH SAMPLING AREA